Ben Gurion University entrepreneurship

Ben Gurion University (BGU), located in Beer Sheva, Israel, is known for its vibrant startup and Venture Capital (VC) ecosystem. With a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, BGU has given rise to numerous successful startups and has attracted top investors from around the globe.

At BGU, the management emphasizes on tech transfer, forming the basis for the University's many successful spin-off companies. The tech transfer office of the University, BGN Technologies, plays a crucial role in this regard. Over the past decade, it has launched numerous startups in fields ranging from cybersecurity to biomedicine, such as Morphisec and Regenera.

A notable alumni success story is of Lior Div, who studied at BGU and went on to co-found the cybersecurity company Cybereason. Cybereason has since become a global leader in the cybersecurity space, raising over $400 million in funding from VC firms such as Softbank and Lockheed Martin.

Additionally, the university has its entrepreneurship program, Yazamut 360°. This initiative acts as a catalyst for entrepreneurial activities on and off-campus, linking students, faculty, BGU alumni, and the industry. Yazamut 360° also operates the Cactus Capital Student Venture Capital Fund, the first student-managed VC fund in Israel.

The university's geographical location in Beer Sheva, the 'Capital of the Negev', places it at the heart of the Advanced Technologies Park. This hi-tech ecosystem brings together multinational companies, startups, and academia in one place providing a conducive environment for collaborations and advancements in technology and innovation.

The University's collaboration with Deutsche Telekom and its role in the development of the CyberSpark industry initiative also deserve mention. CyberSpark is a unique eco-system that involves cooperation between foreign and Israeli companies, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), the government, academia, and the Municipality of Beer-Sheva.