Cycle 21- 2025
The BizTec competition – the Technion's entrepreneurship accelerator program – celebrated its 21st cohort this year, once again setting a new bar for innovation, audacity, and creativity. Dozens of entrepreneurs were selected to undergo a unique process of professional guidance, mentoring, and hands-on learning, culminating in an impressive final event in Tel Aviv before an audience of hundreds of investors, industry partners, and innovation community members.
Over the past few months, the participants embarked on a challenging and empowering journey: developing breakthrough ideas, gaining real-world experience facing markets and investors, and experiencing the Israeli entrepreneurial ecosystem at its peak.
The Grand Finale Winners
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1st Place: FiBreath Developing the next generation of inhalers for treating Asthma and COPD using unique electro-charged fiber technology. The device significantly improves drug distribution in the lungs, reduces side effects, and maximizes treatment efficiency.
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2nd Place: Turbo DNA A breakthrough company in the field of DNA data storage. The system is based on unique encoding and decoding algorithms that allow for durable, compressed, and far more efficient storage than existing technologies—offering precision, speed, and cost savings.
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3rd Place (Tie): URINA A women's health startup redefining UTI testing. Their product is a smart, disposable fabric that replaces the traditional urine cup and lab work, providing immediate, accurate results while preventing errors, infections, and re-diagnoses.
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3rd Place (Tie): EvronX Therapeutics Developing an innovative therapeutic approach for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and regenerative medicine. Their solution is based on organoids derived from the patient's own autologous intestinal stem cells, potentially redefining personalized treatment in gastroenterology.
Inspiration from the Best
The event featured an inspiring keynote by Dov Moran, one of the founding fathers of the Israeli high-tech industry. Moran shared his "secret sauce" for a successful startup, offering tips on how to build a technology company and, most importantly, how to stay in the game even during challenging times.
The Class of 2025 epitomizes our vision: to provide the next generation of founders with the real-world tools they need to break through and build the future technology companies that will change the world.
Cycle 20- 2024
The BizTec Grand Finale – the Technion’s entrepreneurial accelerator program – marks the pinnacle of an intensive and inspiring journey. After months of hard work, professional guidance, and close mentoring, the participating startups present their ventures to investors, mentors, donors, and guests from the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In BizTec’s 20th cohort, the event was attended by Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan, the program’s esteemed donors Dita and Yehuda Bronicki, and successful alumni: Ran Korber, co-founder of BreezoMeter, and Gal Yanuka, co-founder of FEMINAI. Gal served as both a judge and a fascinating Keynote Speaker, sharing tips for early-stage entrepreneurs—from handling "the day after" a big BizTec win to the challenging path of securing a first investment.
The Winners
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1st Place: LCAi An AI-based platform that performs Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) quickly, efficiently, and at a low cost, helping businesses measure and reduce their environmental impact.
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2nd Place: Genetrix Innovation A breakthrough solution in women’s health that allows women to monitor cervical dilation from home during pregnancy. This grants them medical autonomy and reduces unnecessary hospital visits.
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3rd Place: FinFluencer An innovative app that translates social media investment ideas into personalized strategies. The system verifies information reliability, enabling young investors to turn social media inspiration into smart, secure action.
The event took place at the offices of S. Horowitz & Co., who hosted us warmly in an atmosphere that highlighted innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship at its finest.
The 20th cohort was not just an exciting milestone in the history of BizTec—it was another leap forward in the journey toward a new generation of founders who will change the world.
Cycle 19- 2023
The BizTec 2024 Grand Finale was originally scheduled for October 2023 but due to the painful events the plans changed. Instead we held a unique integrated event showcasing the ten startups that reached the Demo Day finals alongside the launch of the 20th cohort of the program.
The integrated event was especially moving as the entrepreneurial vision met the strength of community memory and hope. A special thank you to Izhar Shay who honored us with his presence and shared the heroic story of his son the late Yaron. We commit to be inspired by you Izhar and to continue operating through the NEXT OCTOBER initiative to establish startups in memory of all the fallen and murdered as part of ensuring the continued existence and economic prosperity of the State of Israel.
During the event the leading ventures presented their vision and products.
CommU. A real time AI based medical translator that is culturally adapted and context sensitive bridging language and cultural gaps between patients and medical staff.
FitTech. A Sport Tech startup developing an advanced system for data management and analytics for professional sports streamlining the work of coaches and analysts and providing AI based insights.
EyeHope. A solution for preventing global blindness through a combination of an app a smart device for administering eye drops and AI based data analysis for optimal eye health management.
Cow Valation. Technology based on smart cameras and AI for monitoring feeding and milk yield of cows allowing farmers to maximize profitability and promote sustainable agriculture.
VACURE. A breakthrough FemTech solution for treating pregnancy loss. A non invasive device for uterine evacuation that is safe affordable and protects the health and future fertility of the woman.
Refine Robotics. Smart robotics with AI for an adaptive automation solution in electronics manufacturing. The system adapts quickly to different components and processes.
GOS. An advanced remote scanning system for glass factories that prevents spontaneous breakage in tempered glass saving costs reducing carbon emissions and improving profitability.
Nobook. An adaptive AI based education platform for personalized learning. It allows students a unique learning path provides teachers with data based tools and gives parents involvement and transparency in the process.
This event illustrated above all the spirit of BizTec. A combination of innovation and breakthrough entrepreneurship with a cohesive community that looks forward even in the most difficult times.
Cycle 18- 2022
The Technion is the Best Place for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Summary of BizTec Demo Day 2022
In a hall filled with entrepreneurs mentors and investors the BizTec 2022 Grand Finale took place marking the conclusion of the 18th cohort of the program. Nine finalist teams presented their innovative solutions and at the end of an exciting evening the three winners were announced.
First place was awarded to team Feminai which developed a wearable home kit combined with AI capabilities for early diagnosis of breast cancer. This is a breakthrough solution that puts women health at the forefront. The winning team included Karni Ilan an intern at Sheba. Shani Klein a Data Scientist at Microsoft. And Gal Yanuka a student at the Technion Faculty of Biomedical Engineering.
Second place went to team Speculate Gynecology which developed an innovative device for gynecological examinations. This is a modern alternative to the traditional speculum which has been in use for thousands of years. The team consisted of Vardit Rosenthal Anastasia Nepomnyashchaya and Gili Gips all graduates of the Technion Faculty of Biomedical Engineering. Chen Hezekiah a medical student. And Or Ginzburg who is studying in the dual track for Biomedical Engineering and Medicine at the Technion.
Third place was won by team Tailorr which developed a smart platform for product teams that allows for personalizing SaaS product prices for different customers based on usage habits without the need for code. The team members Tal Peled Noam Hertz and Ido Fishbein all Technion graduates were not present at the event as they were attending the American accelerator Y Combinator which is one of the largest and most prestigious in the world.
The event was held under the sponsorship of the law firm S. Horowitz and Co. and in the presence of public figures industry leaders and long time donors. Speakers included Yehuda and Dita Bronicki founders of the Bronica Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center at the Technion and supporters of BizTec since its inception. Professor Ezri Tarazi head of the t hub Innovation Center. Professor Reuven Katz. Professor Wayne Kaplan Technion Vice President for External Relations and Resource Development. Hilla Haddad Chmelnik Director General of the Ministry of Science and Innovation. And Doctor Lital Attia the program director.
A major highlight was the appearance of Ran Korber CEO of BreezoMeter and a BizTec alumnus who spoke about the journey the company made from its roots in the program until it was acquired this year by Google for approximately a quarter of a billion dollars.
The words of Yehuda Bronicki also resonated with the audience. Dita and I were the first startup founders more than 60 years ago. Back then you had to come with a finished and perfect product and even then they said it was not good enough. Today an idea and high risk are enough to find interested parties. I know that the Technion is the best place for innovation and entrepreneurship and that is why we chose to invest in the Bronica Center.
Hilla Haddad Chmelnik added another layer to the importance of the program. To continue being international leaders we must ensure broader diversity in the high tech industry. Future challenges are already here in FoodTech climate and energy and we have the power to lead in them.
Alongside the inspiring words the event reflected the essence of BizTec. A connection between academic and industrial vision a community of mentors and supporters and teams of entrepreneurs who receive real tools for the day after the competition to build a company raise investments and have a real impact on the world.
The 2022 cohort added nine more talented teams to the impressive line of BizTec alumni. Three of them won the competition but all of them together demonstrated the strength of the program as a fertile ground for breakthrough technological ventures that will continue to grow the next generation of Israeli high tech founders.
Cycle 17- 2021
Defi – A Portable and Compact Defibrillator Won First Place at BizTec 2021
At the Grand Finale of the BizTec 2021 entrepreneurship program held in Tel Aviv in the presence of the Technion President entrepreneurs and the Israeli venture capital industry the Defi group won first place and a cash prize of 10,000 dollars. Their development – a portable compact affordable and easy to use defibrillator – is designed to provide a fast and accessible response to medical emergencies where seconds save lives.
Defibrillators currently exist mainly in large public institutions but their accessibility at the moment of truth is very limited. The team members – Ravit Abel a graduate of the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering. Idan Shenfeld a graduate of Computer Engineering from the Rothschild Technion Program for Excellence. And Alon Gilad a Master degree student in Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering – set a goal to develop a fast light and accessible alternative for everyone. Their journey was accompanied by a senior medical team from Ichilov Hospital: Eyal Kelner the hospital Chief Information Officer and Professor Yaron Arbel Director of the Cardiovascular Research Center.
This is not the first victory for Defi. A few months earlier the team also took first place in the iTrek competition held at the Technion and the Jacobs Technion Cornell Institute in New York.
Alongside Defi other groups also won prizes:
BrainSense. An innovative system for stroke monitoring by identifying changes in brain activity.
Oral Detect. A home system for early detection of tooth decay which earlier won the BME Hack at the Technion.
Soltrex. A fully autonomous technology for cleaning and operating panels in solar power plants which won the team third place.
The event was held in the presence of Technion President Professor Uri Sivan who said in his remarks: "Entrepreneurship is not just technology or business. Entrepreneurship is a mindset. It is related to leadership and the ability of people to act together with their community to change reality. This is the great power of BizTec."
Professor Ezri Tarazi head of the t:hub Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center emphasized the program contribution: "BizTec gives students tools for the application of deep technology in the fields of health sustainability and the digital world. It proves time and again the central place of the Technion in the Israeli economy."
Ohad Yaniv manager of startup programs at the Technion summarized: "BizTec is a unique place that allows teams to arrive with only an idea and in less than six months hold a business model validation demo investor presentation and even a first pilot. The results compared to other accelerators both in Israel and globally are extraordinary."
Since its founding in 2004 BizTec has become a breeding ground for startups that turned into successful companies. Its alumni have founded dozens of companies including BreezoMeter Augmedics Windward Houseparty and Presenso which together have raised more than a billion dollars. In 2021 about 100 groups applied to the program of which 37 were accepted and only 11 reached the finals.
The event was held under the sponsorship of S. Horowitz and Co. and in the presence of the high tech and investment industry: Yehuda and Dita Bronicki founders of Ormat and donors to the program. Entrepreneur Yossi Vardi. Dadi Perlmutter former Executive Vice President at Intel. Izhar Shay former Minister of Science and serial entrepreneur. Shaul Olmert founder of Playbuzz. Yoram Yaacobi former CEO of Microsoft Israel. And entrepreneur Dan Vilenski.
BizTec 2021 proved once again that the combination of bold ideas top mentors in Israel and support from an international innovation community is a guaranteed recipe for growing the next generation of entrepreneurs who will tackle the great challenges of our time.
Cycle 16- 2020
Lightcode Won First Place at BizTec 2020. An Exciting Finale Event for the 16th Cohort
The BizTec 2020 Grand Finale the veteran entrepreneurship program of the Technion took place this year in an especially festive and moving format. Dozens of teams started the journey at the beginning of the year and after months of guidance mentoring and intensive work the ten prominent ventures reached the finals and presented their solutions to judges investors mentors and guests.
First place was won by Doctor Gilad Rosenblatt and Doctor Boris Simkhovich from the Lightcode group who developed an innovative device to streamline and accelerate the drug discovery process. The device allows for sensitive and fast measurement of biomolecular reactions based on advanced optical sensing technology developed at the Technion with funding from the Innovation Authority and is intended for clients in the global pharma industry.
Second place was won by the A chord team which developed a unique digital solution for people dealing with schizophrenia. The system based on voice language and daily activity analysis allows for real time assessment of their mental state and alerts to worsening conditions for the patient the family and the care team thereby preventing hospitalizations reducing suffering and restoring a sense of control.
Third place was taken by team Harmony which develops wearable nanosensors for continuous hormonal monitoring primarily for patients undergoing IVF treatment. The sensors allow for comfortable and non invasive remote monitoring and serve as an innovative platform for personalized gynecological medicine.
Alongside the top three places an Impact category was opened this year in collaboration with the Rothschild Foundation. It was won by team Experium which was born during the BizTec Corona Hackathon and also won the Audience Choice award thanks to the broad social potential of the solution they developed.
Beyond the winners eight other outstanding teams presented their innovative solutions in the finals:
WatchAfter. A smart system for child safety in homes kindergartens and daycare centers with real time alerts for dangerous situations like choking running to the road kidnapping or abuse.
Easyline. A unique venous catheter that allows replacing an old catheter with a new one without the need for an additional puncture.
FootVibes. A smart insole for remote walking rehabilitation allowing therapists to accompany patients even outside the clinic.
Robotip Medical. An innovative catheter for procedures capable of changing shape using soft robotics technology.
Lectio. An open knowledge library for scientific collaborations to manage and create academic knowledge in a global community.
SoundFlow. A smart and easy to use device for identifying leg vein diseases reducing loads on the healthcare system and making patients lives easier.
The event concluded a fascinating year in which not only promising technological ventures were born but also the community around BizTec was strengthened. Mentors lecturers judges donors and partners who turned the entrepreneurial journey of the participants into an empowering experience.
BizTec 2020 illustrated once again how much the program is a unique incubator for breakthrough ideas. A place where Technion students take a raw idea and elevate it step by step until development demo and investor presentation.
Cycle 15- 2019
Fly Free – The Ecological Venture that Won First Place at BizTec 2019
Imagine a world without flies: cleaner cowsheds, healthier cows, and higher milk yields. This was the vision presented by Sivan Goltsman, a medical doctoral student at the Technion, with the venture Fly Free, which won first place in the BizTec 2019 entrepreneurship competition.
Fly Free offers an innovative ecological solution to the fly problem in cowsheds: unique lighting that eliminates insects during their soil development stage – which accounts for about 70 percent of their life cycle – before they even emerge. This achieves a dramatic reduction in health and environmental hazards, alongside a significant improvement in animal welfare and milk production.
Goltsman drew inspiration for the venture from two worlds: her medical research involving embryos (specifically chickens in early stages), and her close acquaintance with the agricultural sector through her father, Daniel Goltsman, a manager in a plant protection company. For this impressive achievement, she received a 5,000 dollar prize.
The BizTec 2019 Finalist Teams
Alongside Fly Free, nine other ventures presented their innovative solutions in the finals:
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CarCom. An app based on Vehicle to Vehicle communication for exchanging processed images of traffic hazards in real time.
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Future Perfect. An AI based tool for the optimal management of integrating renewable energy into the power grid.
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Deep Scout. A Deep Learning based platform for identifying and recruiting talent in professional sports.
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Virtual Stylist App. A personal app for virtual styling that combines image processing of the user wardrobe to assemble fashionable looks.
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NESUS. Technology to improve the safety of medical procedures involving ultrasound guided needle insertion.
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ICPupil. A non invasive solution for measuring intracranial pressure via the pupillary light reflex.
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SafePath (formerly aBac). An innovative sensor for detecting airborne pathogens in real time.
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BrainStorm. An advanced system helping epilepsy patients identify an approaching seizure as early as possible.
A Supportive Community and Partners
The event was held under the sponsorship of Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer Baratz and Poalim Hi Tech, in the presence of entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and industry leaders. BizTec, founded at the Technion in 2004, continues to serve as a unique incubator for early stage entrepreneurs – a place where bold ideas turn into business plans, initial demos, and technological ventures with a real impact on the world.
Cycle 14- 2018
CloudPool Won First Place at BizTec 2018. A Peak Event for the 14th Cohort
The BizTec 2018 Grand Finale, the Technion entrepreneurship program, took place in October and presented the best ideas from young entrepreneurs at the beginning of their journey. Out of 117 groups that applied, 26 were selected to participate in the program, and eight reached the final Demo Day event where they presented their ventures to judges, experts, and investors.
First place was awarded to the CloudPool group, which developed an AI based automatic management platform for organizations using several cloud providers simultaneously. The platform allows for the smart management of complex processes that are usually done manually: it saves costs, prevents vendor lock in, and responds in real time to events such as changes in user patterns or cloud service failures.
The developers behind this are Michael Zeisler, an 8200 veteran and computer science graduate student, and Yanai Tevet, who holds advanced degrees in mathematics and physics and has technological experience from EMC.
The award for the Best Medical Venture went to SpeechBeat, which developed a personalized device that allows people who stutter to speak fluently and at a natural pace. The idea was born at the T2MED Hackathon at the Technion, and the group received a special grant from the Bronicki family and support from the stuttering community.
The Agora platform received a special mention from the judging panel. The company, founded by Lior Dolinski and Bar Mor, is developing a new arena for trading and investing in income producing real estate, allowing anyone to invest tailored amounts. At this stage, they have already succeeded in raising 300,000 dollars.
The BizTec 2018 Finalist Teams
Alongside CloudPool, SpeechBeat, and Agora, five other teams presented in the finals:
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Lucky. The first home device for complete hand care, including nail grooming.
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SafeDrive. A smart system for fleet managers providing continuous real time information on vehicle status.
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NovelHand. A robotic hand for amputees that operates based on signals from the arm muscles.
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VitaPod. A home device for the daily monitoring of foot ulcers in diabetic patients, preventing complications and hospitalizations.
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AntiShock. An innovative system for the early detection of septic shock through monitoring blood flow in microvessels.
Partners and Broad Support
The closing event was held in the presence of the 2018 Israel Prize laureate for industry Yehuda Bronicki, Technion President Professor Peretz Lavie, Vice President for External Relations and Resource Development Professor Boaz Golany, entrepreneur Dov Moran (inventor of the Disk on Key), and successful BizTec alumni.
The groups were accompanied by mentors from academia and industry, including people from NowTecc (BizTec 2017 winners), Doron Myersdorf (StoreDot), Eran Eden (MeMed), Or Offer (SimilarWeb), Reuven Shervin (Wix), Arik Kleinstein (Glilot Capital), Lotan Levkowitz (Grove Ventures), and Irit Israeli (AfterDox).
Cycle 13- 2017
NowTecc won first place at BizTec 2017 cohort 13.
The BizTec 2017 grand finale held at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange building concluded another cohort of the Technion entrepreneurship accelerator program. Out of approximately 120 teams that applied 12 reached the final stage and presented their innovative solutions to investors and the local high tech industry.
First place was awarded to the NowTecc group founded by three Technion graduates Anastasia Logvinenko Tal Yahav and Tali Bondar. The group developed innovative technology providing real time insights into online user behavior while fully maintaining their privacy. The algorithm they developed analyzes digital body language and visual choices of users and predicts their next steps without collecting personal data. The team won a cash prize of 10000 dollars donated by David Conn which was presented to them by Professor Boaz Golany.
In second place three groups were recognized. Neshima developed a solution for treating respiratory distress by turning liquid drugs into foam. Foresee Genomics created a test for identifying cancer mutations that reduces costs. Suricatta built a smart system for identifying fires using a sensor network.
The event was held in the presence of senior figures including Yehuda and Dita Bronicki Professor Boaz Golany Professor Orit Hazzan and Benjamin Soffer. Among the speakers was Ran Korber a BizTec alumnus and co founder of BreezoMeter who spoke about the journey from the competition to the sale of the company to Google. He emphasized that entrepreneurs must listen to the market and not just fall in love with their idea.
Rafi Nave one of the program leaders summarized that the most important lesson for the teams was validation. He explained that it is critical to understand the problem space and not just the solution space.
Cycle 12- 2016
The BizTec 2016 competition the Technion entrepreneurship program took place at the Microsoft offices in Herzliya and brought to the stage the 12 leading teams out of 115 that applied. After months of guidance lectures and workshops with mentors from academia industry and venture capital funds the ventures reached the peak stage a festive Demo Day in front of a panel of judges investors and ecosystem members.
First place was awarded to the Vandelay group which developed a digital interior design application based on virtual reality technologies. The solution allows any user to design their home intuitively and friendly based on three dimensional models built from a smartphone scan. The people behind the app are Nir Sedger a computer science graduate Keren Reznik an architecture and town planning graduate along with Ronen Cohen and Amit Shafran.
The name Vandelay is a tribute to the iconic character George Costanza from Seinfeld who invented an alternative identity for himself named Art Vandelay. The group won the first prize of 10000 dollars presented by Professor Boaz Golany Technion Vice President.
Second place was taken by the FeelIT group which developed a wearable system for monitoring heart rate based on identifying tiny changes in blood flow in the arteries. The venture was led by doctoral students Meital Segev and Gadi Konvalina from the laboratory of Professor Hossam Haick.
Third place was won by SerVx which developed a platform for continuous monitoring of cervical dilation and early detection of preterm labor a breakthrough innovation in digital health for women.
Other finalist teams presented promising ventures as well. IOIV developed a preservation solution that extends the shelf life of blood units. Face It created face fitted respiratory masks that prevent oxygen leakage. AQBit built a big data platform for the car insurance and driver market. AvantGuard developed a smart sock for real time sports injury prevention. SLITLED created a mobile digital system for real time remote eye exams.
The final event was held in the presence of senior industry and entrepreneurship figures in Israel including Ruth Alon Dov Moran Haim Sedger Ronit Harel and representatives from Microsoft MindUp Yigal Arnon Bank Hapoalim and Ormat.
Rafi Nave the entrepreneurship lead at the Technion summarized that the Bronica Center and the BizTec competition work to promote students into the world of entrepreneurship and connect them to the ecosystem. The program manager at the time Danielle Bar Shlev added that it was an amazing experience to accompany the teams from idea and dream to the big stage of Demo Day.
Cycle 11- 2015
Peekaboo won first place at BizTec 2015 cohort 11.
The BizTec 2015 entrepreneurship competition held at the Microsoft development center in Herzliya concluded with a victory for the Peekaboo group from the Technion. The group developed an innovative technology for the sterile and non invasive collection of urine from baby girls. This is a well known medical challenge that until then was primarily solved through invasive and unpleasant means.
The people behind Peekaboo are Zhanna Tenenbaum Katan a doctoral student at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering along with Lior Har Shai and Yoel Angel graduates of the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine. The three who met during the Technion 3DS Medical competition succeeded in developing a simple safe and effective solution designed to reduce suffering for infants and their families while enabling more accurate and faster diagnosis. The group won the first prize of 10000 dollars on behalf of the Technion.
Second place was awarded to the DeepSense group which developed an algorithm based system for predicting and preventing failures in industrial machinery.
Third place was taken by SelfLift which developed a sustainable and affordable irrigation solution for small scale farmers with potential for significant environmental and economic impact.
In addition to the three winners nine other ventures presented in the finals including:
An app for locating products in stores.
Smartphone controlled robots.
A system for home monitoring of lung diseases.
A non invasive test for monitoring heart activity.
An indoor navigation system.
A platform for laboratory management.
A smart needle for biopsies.
A wearable system to shorten recovery time for athletes.
The competition which was founded at the Technion in 2004 and has since become a national event serves as an incubator for students from all over Israel. By 2015 BizTec had given birth to over 120 startup companies that collectively raised over 100 million dollars. These include successful companies like LifeBond and ventures by Tomer London a 2009 winner who raised 60 million dollars for his Silicon Valley startup.
Speakers at the event included Professor Wayne Kaplan Vice President for Research Rafi Nave head of the Bronica Entrepreneurship Center Sasson Jonah the BizTec chief mentor and Tomer Aharonovich the competition manager. All speakers emphasized the BizTec vision of turning raw student ideas into ventures with the real potential to change lives.
Cycle 10- 2014
Augmedics won first place at BizTec 2014 cohort 10.
The BizTec 2014 Grand Finale the Technion entrepreneurship competition took place at the Sarona complex in Tel Aviv in the presence of approximately 150 representatives from venture capital funds private investors and senior executives from the Israeli high tech and healthcare industries. Out of dozens of teams that started the journey eight ventures reached the finals and presented their innovative solutions to the audience and judges.
First place was awarded to Augmedics founded by Nissan Elimelech Doctor Nessi Benishti and Doctor Raphael Lotan. The company developed ARGUS an augmented reality based system that assists surgeons during spinal surgeries. The system uses unique AR glasses that project critical real time 3D information directly onto the patient body thereby improving surgical safety and success. Augmedics has already stood out on the international stage as it reached the finals of the Intel Business Challenge Europe competition out of approximately 4000 ventures.
Second place was awarded to Synairgy founded by Air Force veterans which is developing an automation system for managing UAV unmanned aerial vehicle flight spaces. The system enables autonomous control and management of multiple drones simultaneously with both business and security applications.
Third place was taken by T.I.G.R. founded by four medical students at the Technion. The company developed an innovative pneumatic tourniquet designed to be operated even by untrained individuals enabling life saving in field conditions with high availability.
The groups in the 2014 finals benefited from an acceleration process that included close guidance from mentors businesspeople and industry executives. As Tomer Aharonovich manager of the accelerator noted startups rise and fall on the quality of the team and our role is to help students realize their ideas on the way to establishing a successful company.
Sasson Jonah the chief mentor emphasized the uniqueness of BizTec noting that we already have a track record of entrepreneurs who grew out of BizTec and established companies that are succeeding on a global scale. Serious professional support is what makes the program stand out.
Rafi Nave manager of the entrepreneurship center at the Technion at the time added that what stood out this year was that all the groups dealt with real problems medical industrial or technological and therefore they have real business potential.
BizTec founded at the Technion in 2004 marked a decade of activity in 2014 and had already become one of the most influential entrepreneurship programs in Israel. Every year about 40 groups start the track about half of them reach the practical stage and only eight get exposure in the final stage. Over the years leading startups have been born from the program continuing to raise significant investments and influence the Israeli and global industries.
Cycle 9- 2013
On June 19 2013 the Israel Entrepreneurship Conference was held at the Technion bringing together top high tech entrepreneurs and investors with the next generation of startups. As part of the conference the semi final stage of BizTec 2013 was held. This national student entrepreneurship competition revealed competing ventures for the first time to a broad audience of about 150 investors venture capital fund managers and industry executives.
Key speakers at the conference included pivotal figures such as Uri Levine founder of Waze Orna Berry Vice President of EMC Yariv Bash of SpaceIL Izhar Shay of Canaan Partners Jon Medved of OurCrowd and others who all shared their personal experiences in entrepreneurship and investment.
The ventures that reached the semi finals included:
Sense or Sensor. An innovative system for detecting the presence of children in a vehicle aiming to prevent tragedies of children being forgotten in cars on hot days.
iBidLow. A platform for booking hotel rooms at significant discounts of up to 60 percent on last minute websites.
Svivon. An environmental social network that makes information about environmental pollution accessible to the public and helps citizens make informed decisions about their lifestyle.
HugHeart. An imaging device that assists heart surgeons in locating blood vessels during bypass surgeries thereby improving clinical outcomes and reducing costs.
Vaccinon. The development of a unique protein for the treatment of psoriasis and other autoimmune diseases.
Utopia. A game engine that allows game developers to create content that runs on all types of mobile devices without platform limitations.
Cycle 8- 2012
Bionic Bowels won first place at BizTec 2012 cohort 8.
The BizTec 2012 competition the eighth cohort of the national student entrepreneurship program concluded with a victory for the Bionic Bowels group led by Avinoam Gemer from Ono Academic College. The group is developing an innovative medical device for bariatric surgery obesity treatment designed to serve as a safe and effective alternative to traditional weight loss surgeries which are defined as dangerous with associated risks. The venture is accompanied by Professor Eitan Scapa former head of the Gastroenterology Institute at Assaf Harofeh Hospital and is already in the process of raising capital for clinical trials.
Avinoam Gemer is no stranger to the world of medical entrepreneurship as he previously founded ToeFIX a company developing medical equipment for treating ingrown toenails without the need for surgery or pain. For winning first place the group received a cash prize of 50000 dollars donated by CommTouch in memory of Doctor Nahum and Nava Sharfman who perished in a tragic accident over Greece.
Category awards and honorable mentions were also distributed to outstanding ventures:
Urban Turbine in the Cleantech category. A group from Ruppin Academic Center that developed an innovative wind turbine for electricity production in built up areas based on an idea by architect Danny Raz and his son Roi Raz.
YEVVO in the Mobile category. A group from the Technion that developed a social app for live HD video broadcasts on smartphones featuring burst broadcasts directly to the user friends.
CompactTech in the Security category. A venture led by Sharon Farber a mechanical engineering student who developed an innovative folding helmet for military and civilian use.
SMP received an honorable mention for the development of an adjustable bullet controlled during its flight.
SellinApp a venture by Ron Gabrieli a graduate of the Interdisciplinary Center and the 8200 unit which is a platform for the direct sale of applications also received an honorable mention.
BizTec 2012 continued to demonstrate the impact of the competition on the Israeli startup industry. Since its founding in 2004 the competition has given birth to companies that became major successes including PolyTouch LifeBond Pixtr Labonnet and others. In total BizTec has founded over 20 successful technology companies in various fields such as medicine Cleantech and mobile.
The competition is managed entirely by students and accompanied by top academic institutions venture capital funds and global companies like Intel Philips and Canaan Partners which provide the young entrepreneurs with guidance mentoring and a direct connection to the market.
Cycle 7- 2011
Smart Wheels 2Go won first place at BizTec 2011 cohort 7.
The BizTec 2011 competition held in collaboration with TheMarker at the Technion campus in Haifa presented a wide variety of breakthrough ventures in the fields of medicine transportation security and green technologies. The event attracted dozens of investors venture capital representatives industry figures and young entrepreneurs all arriving to witness the next founding generation of Israeli high tech.
First place was awarded to the Smart Wheels 2Go group which presented an innovative mechanical mechanism for regulating wheel speed. The venture was led by Lior Fredman an accounting student at Ono Academic College who impressed the judging panel by presenting a working prototype during the finals. The panel complimented his entrepreneurial and technological capabilities and Amir Lev president of CommTouch who presented the prize of 50,000 NIS in memory of Doctor Nahum and Nava Sharfman emphasized the exceptional level of innovation and professionalism shown by the group.
Other awards included:
RotorAid. A security venture for developing rescue technology for helicopters which sparked significant interest among Israeli defense industries.
FlowMed. A medical venture from the Technion developing an innovative device for measuring blood flow in operating rooms.
MOL. A group of three sisters graduates of the University of Haifa who developed a software tool for efficient project management.
LgMore. A green development by students from Ruppin Academic Center for growing algae to feed fish significantly reducing food production costs in a multi billion dollar global industry.
Additionally honorable mentions were awarded to two promising ventures: Mobile News featuring an innovative idea to change the way we consume news and IsraZion a venture by immigrant students from India focused on developing nanometric structures to improve lithium battery performance.
BizTec 2011 strengthened the status of the competition as the leading national entrepreneurship program in Israel. Ophir Marco the physics student who led the competition that year noted that the uniqueness of BizTec lies in providing a real stage for students from across the country along with close guidance from mentors industry and academic support allowing raw ideas to transform into startup companies with real potential.
Cycle 6- 2010
EyalGPS – First Place Winner at BizTec 2010
The Grand Finale of BizTec 2010, the sixth cohort of the national student entrepreneurship competition led by the Technion and TheMarker, presented a series of innovative technological ventures and concluded with the EyalGPS group winning first place.
The group developed advanced mobile solutions for the visually impaired, specializing in Text to Speech applications that enable the vocal reading of texts appearing on smartphone screens. The entrepreneurs, Shai Eyal, a Middle Eastern Studies student at the Hebrew University, and Yonatan Greener, an Information Systems Engineering student at Ben Gurion University, stood out not only for their technology but also for their significant investment, entrepreneurial spirit, and determination to "change something in the world," as noted by the judges.
In addition to the monetary prize, the group was awarded the prestigious prize in memory of Nava and Nahum Sharfman. Furthermore, EyalGPS was selected to represent Israel in the Intel Challenge Europe entrepreneurship competition, where it competed against ventures from across Europe. Top teams in this competition earn a spot in the global finals at UC Berkeley, California, and participate in the Intel Capital CEO Summit, a prestigious event attended by hundreds of entrepreneurs, investors, and senior global high tech executives.
Beside the first place winner, several other ventures reached the finish line and received recognition:
Windward. Developed by students from Tel Aviv University, featuring innovative technology for maritime security.
Easycheck. From Ruppin Academic Center, which developed a breakthrough device for the early detection of breast cancer.
TAKO. Led by Yosef Ben Raz from the Open University, specializing in internet and software ventures.
CellTV. From Ariel University Center, a venture that enabled the transmission of multiple HD channels over WiFi.
BizTec 2010 was held with the support of many organizations: CommTouch, the patent attorney firm Luzzatto and Luzzatto, venture capital funds Canaan Partners and Intel Capital, the law firms ZAG and GKH, high tech companies Teva, Rafael, and Planium, as well as the Misgav Incubator. Their contributions allowed for the competition to take place and provided students with the support and guidance needed to turn young technological ideas into real companies.
Cycle 5- 2009
Touch Point – From Ordinary Screen to Touchscreen: The Big Winner of BizTEC 2009
In June 2009, the grand finale of BizTEC09 took place, marking the fifth cohort of the national student entrepreneurship competition led by the Technion and TheMarker. In a finale held before senior judges from academia and industry, a series of breakthrough ideas were presented—but the group that captured first place was Touch Point from the Ariel University Center.
The venture developed by Touch Point allows any flat screen—whether a computer monitor, plasma, or LCD—to be converted into a full touchscreen using a simple and particularly inexpensive manufacturing technology. The key innovation: the cost amounts to only a few dollars, yet it maintains high quality.
The win granted the entrepreneurs 50,000 NIS in cash alongside business guidance and professional consulting, and secured them a spot representing Israel in the global entrepreneurship competition held by Intel Capital and UC Berkeley.
The Other Finalists
Second Place: Vizmo (Technion)
Developed a mobile based solution that allows customers calling service centers to serve themselves directly through interactive voice menus on the phone. This team included Tomer London.
Third Place: PAN VR (Tel Aviv University)
Developed technology for displaying 3D holograms on regular screens—an idea ahead of its time in the field of VR and virtual reality.
A Continuing Entrepreneurial Tradition
BizTEC, founded at the Technion in 2004 based on the MIT 100K competition model, initially opened its doors to Technion students only. However, since 2006, it has expanded into a national event, shared by all leading universities and colleges in Israel.
Within the framework of the competition, students undergo a complete process: from the stage of conceptualizing the idea, through workshops led by academic and industry professionals, to developing a business model, preparing a prototype, and presenting it to judges and investors. Winning groups receive professional guidance until the initial fundraising stage, including connections to the world of venture capital and patents.
By 2009, seven active startup companies had already been born from the competition in the fields of biomedicine, electronics, communications, and the internet—some of which went on to become significant success stories.
Cycle 4- 2008
Data Strata, Graffiti, and Voxipill: The Big Winners of BizTEC 2008
June 2008 marked the conclusion of the fourth year of BizTEC, the Technion entrepreneurship competition held in collaboration with TheMarker. At the final event held at the Technion in Haifa, the best ideas from 26 student groups from across the country were presented, all competing for the right to represent Israel at the global entrepreneurship competition held by Intel Capital and UC Berkeley.
First place was awarded to the Data Strata group, which presented a solution to a costly and complex problem in the world of e-commerce: building online product catalogs. While companies are forced to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in developing databases and manual catalogs, Data Strata offered a unique algorithm that scans the web, collects information from various sources in multiple languages, and automatically builds a complete digital catalog. As group founder Alex Gurevich explained, this is the first catalog to be built automatically rather than manually, significantly lowering costs and making it accessible and attractive to many companies.
Second place was won by the company Graffiti, which developed a unique patent for back typing—an innovative technology that allows for fast and comfortable eight-finger typing on a full keyboard for handheld devices.
Third place was taken by Voxipill, which developed a breakthrough idea for a flu vaccine derived from algae—needle-free and simple to take and manufacture.
The Fourth Year: A Truly National Competition
BizTEC, established in 2004 inspired by the MIT 100K competition, expanded rapidly from an internal Technion contest to a national framework involving leading Israeli universities and colleges. Contestants benefit from a complete professional envelope, including guidance from industry and academic mentors, intellectual property consulting from Luzzatto and Luzzatto, and access to market research worth more than 165,000 dollars provided by IDC.
This year, the judges faced a record number of candidates: 26 groups reached the semi-finals, from which the finalists were chosen. The judging process was conducted in two stages, including presentations at the Open University and the Technion before various panels of judges from diverse technological fields.
The winners received 50,000 NIS in cash, academic scholarships, and consulting services worth tens of thousands of shekels, as well as the ticket to represent Israel on the international stage.
Cycle 3- 2007
BizTEC 2007: From Semi-Finals to the Grand Finale – 12 Finalists, Three Winners, and an Israeli Entrepreneurial Journey
The BizTEC 2007 competition opened with 120 ventures and more than 650 young entrepreneurs from across the country, all competing for a spot in the prestigious Technion final. Out of the numerous proposals, 12 projects were selected to advance to the semi-final stage, held in March 2007 at the Technion.
The 12 Finalists of the Semi-Finals
Immunover. Developing a cancer drug that utilizes the immune system. NRG Fuels. Producing green diesel from algae. 3D Life. A 3D user interface for the desktop. PixelScan. Technology for improving resolution in 3D photography. Stratex. A computerized system for checking the alignment of business strategy with the organizational environment. PeerMobility. Wi-Fi networks between mobile phones in local groups. BioPen. A pen-sized portable device for conducting lab samples in the field. PolyTouch. Shape-memory materials for connecting body tissues. BabyWatch. Improving the sensitivity of infant respiratory monitoring devices.
As the competition managers noted at the time, ventures in the fields of life sciences and internet applications were particularly prominent, demonstrating the spirit of the era and the integration of innovation with growing market needs.
Stories of the Finalist Ventures
Among the 12 finalists, several ventures gained significant momentum heading into the Grand Finale in June 2007:
Auximed. A sterile, comfortable, and affordable disposable stretcher, born from the experiences of an American paramedic and his entrepreneurial partners. The idea was designed to replace traditional stretchers and reduce the risk of infections and pressure sores. Fair Deal. A technological solution to ensure fair play in online gambling, developed by two Technion physics doctoral students. The venture offered an innovative algorithm based on the work of computer scientist Manuel Blum and received special exposure as the company 888 mentored the developers. Blink. Software for personalizing computer screens to a user vision profile, designed to treat Computer Vision Syndrome.
Prizes and Opportunities
The top three winners received cash prizes of 50,000 NIS for first place, 30,000 NIS for second, and 20,000 NIS for third, alongside professional services in legal counsel, patent registration, accounting, and public relations. Winners were also offered MBA scholarships from the Technion or other academic institutions and the opportunity to represent Israel in an international competition at UC Berkeley.
BizTEC 2007 marked a further stage in the competition maturity: evolving from a local student contest into a national and international platform through which young Israeli entrepreneurs could reach exits, technological incubators, and top-tier investors.
Cycle 2- 2006
BizTEC 2006: When Life Sciences Innovation Surpassed High Tech
The second BizTEC competition concluded in June 2006, already earning its reputation as the prestigious competition for young entrepreneurs. About 103 entrepreneurs participated in a six month process that included intensive workshops. These sessions covered everything from writing executive summaries and business plans to the art of fundraising and pitching to investors. The training was provided voluntarily by senior Israeli business figures, aiming to prepare students for the real world of entrepreneurship.
The Big Winners
Lifebond. First Place. Developed a biological glue that seals cuts in living tissue, designed to replace sutures and reduce surgical complications. The venture was based on a Technion patent and later became one of the most successful biomed companies to emerge from the competition.
SenSOS. Second Place. An innovative detector for identifying biological terror attacks, also based on technology developed by Technion researchers.
The third place winner was not mentioned in the report, but among the ten finalists, other ventures in the fields of medicine, communications, and security stood out.
Life Sciences at Center Stage
In contrast to the first cohort in 2005, which was mainly characterized by software and high tech ventures, 2006 saw a shift in trends. Most of the ideas that reached the final stage came from the worlds of biotechnology and medical devices. This trend reflected the research capabilities of the Technion in these fields and the potential to transform academic patents into breakthrough ventures.
More Than a Competition: A Gateway to the Ecosystem
Beyond the cash prizes and media exposure, the emphasis was on personal connections with investors and technological incubators. Yaron Barak, one of the competition organizers, revealed at the event that even at that point in time, four out of the ten finalists from 2005 had already succeeded in raising capital, with some even starting operations at the Technion incubator.
As he summarized at the time, beyond the intensive learning, participants gain a significant shortcut in business processes thanks to the direct meeting with venture capital funds and incubator managers.
First Cycle- 2005
BizTEC 2005: The First Cohort - History is Written at the Technion
In 2005, the first BizTEC competition was launched at the Technion. It was a business plan writing competition for students, inspired by prestigious competitions in the USA such as MIT 100K, Berkeley, and Harvard.
The vision was ambitious: to allow Israeli students to experience real entrepreneurship while being guided by venture capital funds, patent attorneys, and industry executives. The first prize of 50,000 NIS signaled even then that the Technion was serious about this initiative.
The Road to the Finals
About 100 student groups submitted ideas, from which 31 were chosen to continue, and after the semi finals, the number was narrowed down to 10. Each group was accompanied by senior mentors including entrepreneurs, investors, and individuals with business experience and learned how to turn a technological idea into a company.
During the events, workshops were delivered by industry leaders including Doctor Nahum Sharfman (founder of Shopping.com), Yossi Vardi, Uzia Galil, and Doctor Ed Mlavsky. They emphasized to the students the importance of market research, timing, and luck as key components of a startup success.
The Winners
First Place. Apotect. Developed a breakthrough software system to protect software from pirated copying. The solution split the activation code into two parts: one remained with the user and the second on a secure server of the software provider. This allowed for the protection of games and popular software from the piracy market, which was then estimated at about half a billion dollars. The entrepreneurs were Yaron Ben Shushan and Yair Koren, students at the Technion.
Second Place. Axiopea. A Wi-Fi based cordless phone that allows roaming between hot spots and calls from anywhere in the world at the cost of a local call. The venture was founded by Doctor Elad Barkan who became famous for cracking the GSM code together with his father Moti Barkan.
Third Place. DeeStrat. A directional transmission and reception system that isolates environmental noise. Among other things, it allowed for watching television or listening to music without disturbing those nearby.
