Israeli Startups Flourishing in Boston: Recent Success Stories and Expansion

Boston as a Gateway for Israeli Tech 

Boston has solidified itself as a key gateway for Israeli startups expanding into the U.S. market. The New England–Israel Business Council estimates nearly 300 Israel-related companies are operating in Massachusetts today. Many Israeli tech firms choose Boston for its strategic advantages: a compatible time zone with Israel, a rich talent pool (fed by local universities and industries), and convenient flight connectivity (including non-stop routes to Tel Aviv). Massachusetts now hosts the U.S. headquarters of 10 Israeli-founded “unicorn” startups (private companies valued over $1B), the third-highest count after California and New York. State leaders actively court Israeli companies, recognizing that attracting Israeli innovation bolsters the local tech ecosystem and economy. This strong Massachusetts–Israel link has been dubbed an economic “power partnership,” generating thousands of jobs and billions in revenue in the Bay State. Key factors like Boston’s world-class universities, venture capital base, and robust industry clusters make it a natural landing pad for Israel’s “Startup Nation” to thrive abroad. 

Life Sciences & Biotech: Partnerships and Breakthroughs 

Healthcare and biotech are areas of especially deep collaboration between Israel and Greater Boston. A headline example is Israel’s Sheba Medical Center – the largest hospital in Israel – choosing Massachusetts for its first U.S. startup accelerator. In 2025, Sheba announced it would launch its ARC Health-Tech Accelerator in Boston by 2026. Massachusetts “stood out because we are already a global hub for healthcare innovation with unmatched talent,” Governor Maura Healey noted. The ARC accelerator will serve as a “soft landing” platform for Israeli and international digital health startups, integrating them into Boston’s clinical environments to validate and scale AI-driven solutions. Leaders on both sides highlight that Israel and Massachusetts each excel in biotech and life sciences, and together their innovation ecosystems “can drive breakthroughs in science and medicine for the benefit of all”. This partnership underscores how Israeli medtech entrepreneurs view Boston’s hospitals, research institutes, and biotech industry as ideal partners to advance cutting-edge health innovations. 

Israeli biotech startups have also scored major successes via Boston connections. For instance, Massachusetts-based medical device giant Boston Scientific recently agreed to acquire Israel’s startup SoniVie – developers of an ultrasound-based hypertension treatment – in a deal worth up to $540 million. Boston Scientific already had a stake in SoniVie and seized the chance to bring its novel therapy into the company’s portfolio, reflecting a significant bet on Israeli healthtech innovation. This acquisition (expected to close in 2025) is one of the larger medtech exits for an Israeli startup and signals strong investor confidence in Israeli biotech achievements. It’s one of several examples of Boston-area corporations investing in or acquiring Israeli biotech startups to gain access to their breakthrough technologies. Academic ties are strengthening as well; for example, Harvard Medical School launched new fellowship programs to bring Israeli scientists to Boston labs, and other Massachusetts institutions are expanding partnerships with Israeli universities in biotechnology and medicine. Overall, the life sciences pipeline between Israel and Boston continues to grow, yielding joint R&D ventures, accelerators, and high-value deals that turn Israeli biomedical ideas into global therapies. 

Cybersecurity & Tech: Unicorns, Talent, and AI 

Greater Boston’s tech scene, especially in cybersecurity and AI, has become a magnet for Israeli startups, from early-stage ventures to billion-dollar “unicorns.” Israel is a world leader in cyber technology, and many of its hottest companies are planting roots in Boston to tap the region’s talent and customers. A prime example is Snyk, a cybersecurity company founded by Israeli entrepreneurs (alumni of 8200) that has grown into a global unicorn. Snyk moved its headquarters to Boston and today employs about 250 people in its downtown office, a number the company plans to double by 2026 as it hires hundreds more here. At a time when many tech firms outsource engineering overseas, Snyk is instead investing in Boston, citing the area’s unique strengths in software, networking, and AI.

“The Boston area has these clusters where it punches way above its weight,” notes Snyk’s engineering VP, pointing to the region’s deep bench of talent in networking infrastructure (from firms like Akamai and Amazon), software security (from companies like Aqua Security and Veracode), and applied artificial intelligence.

Those local skillsets align perfectly with Snyk’s needs – securing code and leveraging AI to automate vulnerability scanning so the company chose to expand here to access “the best [engineers] I can find,” says CEO Peter McKay. Snyk’s meteoric rise (it reached a valuation of over $8 billion during the tech boom) and its continued growth in Boston exemplify how Israeli-founded tech firms can scale successfully by plugging into Boston’s tech ecosystem. 

Snyk is far from alone. At least 10 Israeli-founded unicorns are headquartered in Massachusetts as of 2023, spanning sectors from cybersecurity to fintech. Aqua Security, for example, is an Israeli cloud-security startup co-headquartered in Tel Aviv and Burlington, MA; it’s recognized among Fortune’s top “Cyber 60” startups for stopping attacks on cloud-native apps. Another high-flyer is Wiz, a cloud security startup founded in 2020 that achieved a $10 billion+ valuation within just 3 years. Wiz, which has U.S. offices (though in NYC), drew worldwide attention in 2025 when Google’s parent Alphabet reportedly agreed to acquire it for $32 billion, a record-setting price for an Israeli tech company. While that deal was not Boston-based, it underscores the global scale Israeli cyber startups can reach, and many of those same startups maintain significant operations or customer bases in the Boston area. Boston’s concentration of financial services, healthcare, and enterprise IT firms means a strong market for cybersecurity solutions, which helps attract Israeli cyber companies looking to expand in the U.S. Even at the earlier stages, Israeli founders are choosing Boston: for example, Entro, an Israeli-founded cyber startup, set up its headquarters in Boston and raised a $6 million seed round in 2023 to build its security platform for cloud data. From scrappy newcomers like Entro to giants like Snyk, Israeli tech entrepreneurs see Boston as a fertile ground for growth – especially in cybersecurity, AI, and enterprise software, where Israel’s innovation prowess meets New England’s industry demand. 

Notable Investments, Expansions, and Success Stories 

• Across multiple industries, from fintech to clean-tech, the past two years have seen a string of Israeli startup success stories tied to Boston. Some highlights include: 

• Fintech/Insurtech Expansion: Israeli insurance-tech provider Novidea picked Boston as its U.S. beachhead after raising a $50 million Series C in 2023. The startup, which offers a cloud platform for insurance brokers, joined the growing cohort of Israeli tech firms using the Bay State as a “door to the U.S. market”. Boston’s time zone and skilled workforce were key draws, and Novidea’s CEO said the funding will fuel further product R&D and local hiring. Novidea immediately planned to add about 20 employees in Boston to support its expanding U.S. customer base. Industry observers note that Boston’s strong fintech scene (and proximity to large insurers and VCs like Battery Ventures, which led Novidea’s round) made it a logical springboard for Novidea’s American growth. 

• Government Tech & Civic Innovation: A new Boston-Israeli startup called With snagged $10 million in seed funding in late 2024 to scale its community engagement platform. With operates dual offices in Boston and Israel, and it builds software to help local governments boost resident participation in events and civic programs. The injection of venture capital (from investors including Israeli angels and U.S. funds) allows With to expand its platform across North America. The company’s CEO (an Israeli entrepreneur) said they aim to integrate AI features to better personalize city events for residents. With’s early traction, already partnering with 10 municipalities in the U.S., shows how Israeli startups in niche tech domains are leveraging Boston as an initial market and base for broader U.S. expansion. 

• Cleantech & Sustainability: UBQ Materials, an Israeli environmental tech start-up, is eyeing Massachusetts for a major expansion, a recycling plant that turns trash into plastic. UBQ has developed a novel process to convert unsorted household waste into a usable thermoplastic, and in 2024, the company scouted sites in the U.S. for its first plant outside Israel. Thanks to its combination of ample trash output and supportive climate policies, “Massachusetts is at the top of the list,” says UBQ co-CEO Jack Bigio. The state’s high waste disposal costs and goals to cut landfill use make it an attractive proving ground for UBQ’s technology. UBQ’s leadership met with Massachusetts officials and attended recycling industry events in Boston to explore permits and partnerships. If UBQ moves forward, it would mean a cutting-edge recycling facility in the Commonwealth within the next few years – and another Israeli-founded company anchoring a presence in greater Boston. This initiative highlights how Israeli startups are also making strides in clean-tech and climate sectors locally, not just in software and biotech. 

• Venture Capital & Accelerator Bridges: Boston’s robust startup support system has actively welcomed Israeli founders. Programs like MassChallenge (which runs an Israel accelerator track) and the New England–Israel Business Council help Israeli startups soft-land in Massachusetts via mentorship, office space, and investor introductions. Massachusetts-based venture firms are likewise investing in Israeli innovation. For example, Two Lanterns Venture Capital, a seed fund in Newton, MA, started by a MassChallenge alum, dedicates about half of its capital to Israeli startups, reflecting strong confidence in the deal flow from Israel. Thanks to such networks, even during global downturns, Israeli tech companies have continued to raise capital and ink deals. In 2024, Israeli startups globally actually saw a resurgence in funding (up ~40% from 2023) despite war and market turbulence. Boston-area investors and corporates played a role in this resilience from participating in big funding rounds (e.g., local VC firms joining Israeli mega-rounds in cybersecurity) to pursuing M&A opportunities (like the SoniVie acquisition). The ongoing flow of capital, coupled with Boston’s accelerator programs, ensures a pipeline of Israeli startups at all stages growing in the region. 

Where EntryPoint Fits In 

EntryPoint builds on these success patterns of Israeli tech companies flourishing in Boston, complementing and strengthening the existing platforms. Our twelve-month program provides Israeli B2B founders with: 

• A tested U.S. go-to-market framework 

• Access to Boston’s investor and enterprise ecosystems 

• Customer and partnership connections in sectors like cybersecurity, fintech, and health tech 

By enabling Israeli startups to plug into Boston’s ecosystem faster and more effectively, EntryPoint helps founders follow in the footsteps of startups like Snyk, Novidea, and others, and turn global ambition into American traction. 

Key Themes and Outlook 

In summary, Israeli startups have achieved remarkable success in the Boston area in recent years, cutting across industries such as life sciences, cybersecurity, fintech, civic tech, and beyond. Many are leveraging Boston’s unique assets, its world-class hospitals, universities, investors, and tech talent to accelerate their growth. We’ve seen Israeli health-tech firms like Sheba’s ARC and Healthy.io plug into the healthcare cluster in Massachusetts, while cybersecurity pioneers like Snyk and Aqua Security tap Boston’s software engineering prowess. Israeli founders consistently cite Boston’s innovative environment and business infrastructure as key reasons for expanding here. The Massachusetts-Israel partnership is yielding tangible wins: new accelerators and R&D centers, significant venture funding rounds, and even large acquisitions that integrate Israeli inventions into Boston companies. 

Several common threads emerge from recent stories:  

• Expansion – Israeli startups increasingly set up U.S. headquarters or offices in Boston to drive their North America strategy;  

• Investment – Boston venture firms and corporates are actively backing Israeli companies (often leading major funding rounds or acquisitions);  

• Partnership – collaborations between Israeli innovators and Massachusetts institutions (from hospitals to universities) are fostering breakthrough technologies; and  

• Talent & Innovation – the synergy of Israel’s startup creativity with Boston’s talent base is a formula for success in cutting-edge fields like AI, digital health, and cybersecurity. 

As the “Startup Nation” continues to globalize, Boston stands out as a preferred destination where Israeli startups can scale up and integrate into a vibrant ecosystem. Local business leaders and policymakers welcome this influx, as evidenced by the governor’s support for Sheba’s hub and the competition among states to attract Israeli tech HQs. Looking ahead, the trend shows no sign of slowing: new Israeli-founded ventures across biotech, AI, fintech, and clean energy are poised to make Boston their second home. With strong foundations already in place, the Israel-Boston tech connection is likely to produce even more notable investments, exits, and innovations in the coming years, benefiting both economies and cementing Boston’s role in the ongoing success of Israeli startups on the world stage. 

Sources: 

• NEIBC and Boston Business Journal – on the growing number of Israeli companies in MAbizjournals.com; Boston as a top choice for Israeli firms’ U.S. basebizjournals.com. 

• United States–Israel Business Alliance report (2023) – ranking Massachusetts #3 with 10 Israeli-founded unicorn HQsprnewswire.com. 

• Combined Jewish Philanthropies/NEIBC study – economic impact of Israeli-founded businesses in Massachusetts cjp.orgcjp.org. 

• JNS (Jewish News Syndicate) – coverage of Sheba Medical Center’s ARC accelerator expansion to Boston, with quotes from Gov. Healey and Israeli officials jns.orgjns.org. 

• Mass.gov press release – Governor Healey on Sheba selecting Massachusetts for its first U.S. health-tech accelerator jns.org. 

• CTech (Calcalist) – report on Boston Scientific’s $540M acquisition of Israel’s SoniVie, a hypertensive device startupcalcalistech.com. 

• The Boston Globe – “Why a Boston cybersecurity unicorn is hiring in Boston” (Jan 2025), profile of Snyk’s growth and its Israeli roots bostonglobe.combostonglobe.com. 

• Israel21c – Fortune Cyber 60 list highlights (Dec 2023), noting Aqua Security (Israel & MA) and other Israeli-founded cyber startups in the U.S.israel21c.org. 

• Israel21c – report on record Israeli tech exits, e.g., Google’s planned $32B purchase of Wiz (2025) as the largest-ever Israeli startup acquisition israel21c.org. 

• Boston Globe – “Israeli company transforming trash into plastic eyes in Massachusetts” (Mar 2024), on UBQ Materials considering a recycling plant in MAbostonglobe.com. 

• Boston Business Journal/BostInno – various funding news: Novidea’s $50M Boston expansion (May 2023) bizjournals.com; With startup’s $10M seed (Sep 2024) bizjournals.com; Entro cybersecurity seed round (Jun 2023) bizjournals.com.