Hamitbah

Our Impact & Operation

Hamitbah acts as a unifying platform that connects all stakeholders—startups, local authorities, industry leaders, government entities, and academia. To deliver targeted impact, the community operates through dedicated clusters focused on the most critical sectors for the region: BuildTech, Connectivity Tech, Defense, Health & Mental Resilience, and AgroTech.

The Ecosystem Model

We have built a 360° support model that guides startups from early-stage development to market readiness. Members gain direct access to funding opportunities, strategic guidance, talent recruitment, regional incubator networks, pilot programs, Innovation Authority grant management, and mentorship. The ultimate value we deliver is providing real-world testing environments, allowing entrepreneurs to validate and refine their technologies under live field conditions.

On-the-Ground Impact

By building a powerful network of social and professional capital, Hamitbah lowers barriers and bridges the gap between advanced tech and regional development. We are transforming the Western Negev into a thriving global innovation hub, ensuring the best ideas become practical, deployable solutions that strengthen the economic and technological resilience of the entire region.

The Engine Behind the Community: Ortal

Ortal Leder | Startup Community & DealTech Manager

Ortal leads the development and management of our entrepreneurial community. She oversees the DealFlow pipeline, sources and screens startups, and manages our official 360° wrap-around program, The DealTech. Ortal closely guides founders from the initial ideation stage through fundraising, investor deck formulation, talent acquisition, and Israel Innovation Authority grant preparation (including post-grant budget management).

Prior to this role, she spent 13 years as a Product Manager in the cybersecurity industry.

About Us

Hamitbah is the Western Negev Innovation Authority, driving the development of a thriving innovation ecosystem in one of Israel’s most dynamic and evolving regions. We connect startups, industry leaders, government entities, and academia to accelerate innovation and create real-world impact.

Our mission is to serve as a unifying platform that enables collaboration, reduces barriers, and provides startups with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to grow and scale. By bridging the gap between technology and real-life challenges, we help transform ideas into practical, deployable solutions.

At the core of our work is a 360° support model designed to fast-track startups from early-stage development to market readiness. This includes access to funding opportunities, strategic guidance, mentorship, and connections to key stakeholders across sectors. We also facilitate real-world testing environments, allowing startups to validate and refine their technologies under real conditions.

Hamitbah operates through dedicated clusters, including BuildTech, Connectivity Tech, Defense, Health & Resilience, and AgroTech. Each cluster focuses on addressing critical challenges in its domain, enabling targeted innovation while maintaining strong cross-sector collaboration.