Accelerate your Industry 4.0 startup with real customers
The Galilee Accelerator for Smart Industry helps entrepreneurs create and promote startups addressing industrial challenges. Join our Meetups.
Managing Partners






Partners and Sponsors











About the program
The Galilee Accelerator is a program dedicated to Israeli early-stage startups, developing solutions and business models that can transform the manufacturing sector.
The program is managed by Braude Academic Engineering College Karmiel, KLA, i4valley incubator, Philips, Karmiel Municipality, and Misgav Regional Council, partnering with industrial companies – Israeli and multi-national ones.
The accelerator is active since 2013, with dozens of entrepreneurs and mentors.
The accelerator is focusing now on startups that target manufacturers as customers, taking part in the big wave of innovation in factories called Industry 4.0. Some other relevant domain names are IIoT – Industrial Internet of Things, Advanced Manufacturing and Smart Factory.
This includes innovations in manufacturing, maintenance, factories’ management and energy savings, supply chain and logistics, safety, quality and more, using advanced technologies. Some examples of Israeli startups active in this domain can be found at the following links ( link A ,link B, link C).
We’ve established a network of industrial and tech companies, Israeli and multi-national ones, to help our entrepreneurs succeed while benefiting from innovative solutions and top-notch startups engagement. We’ll help you nail down your startup business model, reaching first customers to validate your business, make fast progress with your product, customers, funding and more.
We’re usually having two cohorts per year: Wave1 for entrepreneurs and startups before having customers and Wave2 for entrepreneurs already having some customer engagement.
Entrepreneurs and mentors can join us from all over Israel, the accelerator is open for everyone.
We take no equity nor IP rights (see below). We’re waiting for you to come and use the accelerator to take your startup to the next level.
Come join us!
What we offer
Mentors
Our mentors are available to support you in areas such as business strategy, product and technical aspects and more. For each startup a tailored lead mentor is assigned, with others being brought in to help when needed.
Customers
Our partners and connections are your ticket to having invaluable feedback and business validation. Later on, you may be able to run a pilot in their factory or even establish a long term relationship with them.
Funding
Although we’re not investing in your startup, we help you get funded by governmental grants, introducing you to investors and customers.
In-Kind Services
We help you save money – using our students where applicable, getting advice by experts like academic staff, prototyping experts and in-kind service partners such as CPA and Legal advisers.
Patents
We assist you with professional help for searching patents and patents registration.
Education
Our educational plan includes practical lectures and workshops.
Who should apply
- Strong entrepreneurs – with high motivation, commitment, and relevant industrial domain expertise. Having a complementary team is highly preferred. For WAVE2 cohorts it’s mandatory that at least one of the team members is fully dedicated to the startup.
- A real need – addressing a real unmet need for a significant manufacturers or logistics companies market.
- Uniqueness – differentiation, originality, and innovation.
- Alignment with the program – we’re using the Lean Startup concept, emphasizing customers and business model validation. Yes, we also address funding and pitching, but customers are the first priority. We’re mentorship-driven – you should be feeling comfortable working with mentors.
WAVE1 cohort is for any entrepreneur or a team that is having an initial maturity level startup, with or without an MVP , even with an idea only. WAVE2 cohort will include startups in an early stage, having initial customers (at least PoC), a product (MVP at least), and a team (highly desired).

Timeline - 2023 Wave1 Cohort (changes might apply, stay tuned)
Applications Open
Ongoing
Entrepreneurs apply using the accelerator’s application form. We’ll interview each relevant candidate, and get in touch.
Applications Due
18/2/23
Boot-camp participants will be determined shortly afterward.
Bootcamp
2/3/23
An intensive day of Lean Startup methodology, meeting mentors and presenting in front of a panel. Following the Bootcamp, we’ll finalize the list of startups accepted to the accelerator. The accelerator workshops sessions will be held on Thursdays afternoons.
Mid-Term
20/4/23
Meeting industrial companies’ senior managers and others. Serving also as a checkpoint.
Demo Day
15/6/23
Startups presentations and program conclusion.
Our Board of Directors

Dr. Avital Regev Siman-Tov
Head of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, Braude Academic College
Team and Mentors

Shay Gabay
Technology executive | B2B SaaS Product Management Leader | Digital Marketing | Software Engineering
Gallery and Testimonials



Frequently asked Questions
Where is the accelerator located?
The accelerator is located in Karmiel, within the campus of Braude Academic College which is managing it. Karmiel is located at the center of the Galilee, with easy access by train, bus and car.
Is the accelerator only looking for Galilee based entrepreneurs? Would it require me to move to the Galilee if I'm not a Galilee resident?
No, we’re looking for entrepreneurs living anywhere in Israel, if they’re addressing the industrial market (see below). And we don’t mandate moving to the Galilee.
The accelerator’s sessions in Karmiel are held once a week, and it’s not required to be present at Karmiel in person more than this. Some of the sessions will be done using the internet (Zoom).
Of course, we’d like to further develop the Galilee, and we’re located in Karmiel, so we’d love to see Galilee based entrepreneurs taking part in the accelerator program and non-Galilee entrepreneurs moving to the beautiful Galilee, which is also becoming the Israeli national Industry 4.0 hub, with the accelerator, i4valley incubator and the national Institute for Smart industry, all located in Karmiel.
But we refer to the accelerator as a national level program, Galilee head-quartered, and uniquely focused on Industrial startups.
What startup stage is relevant to be accepted to the accelerator program?
The accelerator program is made of two tracks, one is a WAVE1 and another is WAVE2.
WAVE1 is intended for entrepreneurs before penetrating the market (i.e., no customers using the product, or very few). You can be a single entrepreneur without a team and even with just a startup idea, that’s ok.
WAVE2 is intended for early-stage startups which are a bit more mature, already having a product with initial customers, looking for additional market validation and later on fast growth, after already nailing down some basic business model assumptions. Some WAVE1 startups are going to continue to WAVE2, and some startups start directly with WAVE2.
Can I continue working or studying while taking part in the accelerator? How much time would I physically be spending in the accelerator weekly?
For the WAVE1 – yes, you can study or work while participating. We require in-person attendance once a week, usually on Friday morning or sometimes on Thursday afternoon or evening.
In between these weekly sessions, you’re expected to work on your startup, make real progress and get in touch with the mentors, but this can be done using Skype, or phone or meeting in a place which is convenient for all. Focusing only on your startup would probably make it easier for you to make real progress faster but you should be able to continue working or studying even with participating.
For WAVE2 – we require at least one of the co-founders to be fully dedicated to working on the startup, in Karmiel or not.
Are you only focusing on industrial related startups? What does it mean anyway?
Yes, the Galilee Accelerator for Smart Industry is looking only for startups that address the needs and problems of the industrial sector, i.e., manufacturers. This may include not only the production aspect, but other factory related domains such as supply chain, logistics, maintenance, service, engineering etc.
We are not interested in solving specific problems for a specific factory – we’re looking for startups addressing a market (e.g., electronics systems manufacturers). And we’re not interested in an idea of a new physical product that a manufacturer might be producing – we’re looking just to address the needs and the problems of the industry. Look up some examples here.
Are you taking equity in my startup? IP rights related to my patent? Is it really free of charge?
We don’t take anything from the entrepreneurs. Nada. And yes, it’s totally free of charge. We only want to see your commitment, move fast in serving your startup and your customers.
What's your vision, looking forward?
We’d like to see the Israeli industry 4.0 startups scene flourishing, with a lot of successful startups. And we’d like to see the Galilee Accelerator and Karmiel serving as a major hub for industrial startups.
Why Galilee, why Karmiel?
Karmiel, at the heart of the Galilee is hosting a lot of industrial companies in it (like Keter Plastic, Klil, Trellidor and TDK), and around it in Bar-Lev, Misgav and Tefen industrial parks. The Krayot and the city of Haifa area nearby are also having significant presence of indusial companies. The city of Karmiel and The Braude Academic College Karmiel have a special focus on the manufacturers’ sector and maintain deep and long-term relationships with many industrial companies.
And beside all that, the Galiliee and Karmiel as its capitol offer wonderful weather, nature and communities and we’d like to see the Galilee thrives. Join us and become a part of it!
Interested in joining The Galilee Accelerator as an entrepreneur, as a mentor or maybe as a sponsor?
Contact Us!
Submit your contact info and we’ll be in touch shortly. You can also email us.