A delegation of Haredi startups founders in the fields of cyber, health, agriculture,…is in London. They are due to meet potential investors, clients and partners.

LONDON—‘’For the sake of the Israeli economy, it is important that our technological revolution includes all populations, not only the residents of Tel Aviv and Herzliya, but also the Haredi communities in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak and elsewhere,’’ said Israel’s ambassador to the U.K., Mark Regev, at a reception given this week for a delegation of Haredi startups founders who are in London for a ‘’road show.’’

The delegation, the first of its kind,  includes founders of startups in the fields of cyber, health, agriculture,… They are due to meet in the British capital  potential investors, clients and partners.

At the reception, the Israeli ambassador spoke about the high reputation enjoyed by the Israeli high-tech industry and the surprise of senior people in the local industry when they heard about the delegation.

“My message to you is that you are doing a crucial thing. There is no reason for Haredi minds not to be involved in this revolution and even lead it,” he said.

The ambassador promised that the embassy would support the delegation in all possible ways and help open doors for its members and connect them with UK companies and investors.

David Bloom, a partner at the Goldacre investment house in the UK, said “in one sense I’m not surprised at all” at the prospect of Haredi high-tech entrepreneurs, “because innovation comes from looking at things differently, that’s where real change happens”.

The members of the delegation are all participants of the BizLabs incubator which operates from the Haredi entrepreneurship center Bizmax in Jerusalem.

Bizmax was founded by the collaboration for three organizations: The Kemach Foundation, which helps Haredim integrate into the workforce and business world, Achim Global which organized the London visit, and the Authority for the Development of Jerusalem.

BizLabs is run with the help among others of Google, Amazon, KPMG, the Hebrew University. Its purpose is to help Haredi startups overcome knowledge gaps and to provide support that includes workshops aimed at acquiring relevant tools and information, collaboration with international companies, mentorship by veteran professionals and exposure to an active and large investors network.