200 Labs Offers $100,000 Software + Cash Investments for Israeli Startups
The new incubator by Jerusalem Software Studio 200 Apps will invest in $1,000,000 in 10 startups by the end of 2018.
Last night I attended the launch party for 200 Labs - a new incubator program by Jerusalem-based studio 200 Apps. The studio is in its 3rd year, helping other startups and companies develop the technologies needed for their products.
You can check out this awesome interview with MadeinJLM’s Rachel Wagner Rosenzweig and 200apps on their new developments new developments:
If you want to learn more, Max Schindler’s article in this week’s The Jerusalem Post covers the program and the 200 Apps studio in depth.
Jerusalem Vibrancy
I couldn’t help but be impressed by the growth happening in this city. The 200Labs event was abuzz! What started out as 30 people grew quickly to 50–60 people. People were coming and going — you felt like this was the place to be.
I felt like this past week was symptomatic of a greater trend in Jerusalem: it sure was a busy one! Despite being in the time period before the “chagim” (High Holidays and Sukkot), which can be extremely slow — try getting anything done in a public office the response will always be ‘come back after the holidays’ — turn to tech and a very different picture emerges. Just this week, a week before the Rosh Hashana (the Jewish new year), there were two events happening on almost any given day, on top of some of the more private or smaller happenings such as a group of Italian female entrepreneurs visiting the city and the weekly hacknight taking place on Thursday at Siftech, or the MassChallenge award ceremony for startups at the MassChallenge accelerator downtown.
Apart from being impressed by the events I attended, I was excited by the vibrancy. This was not the Jerusalem I remembered growing up, 15 years ago, when everyone spoke of the promised tech land of Tel Aviv. Looking for a meeting or some advice? Off to Tel Aviv it was. But today, Jerusalem is hard to keep up with; so much is happening that you could spend every night at a different event!
As we approach the Jewish new year it is worth thinking about where you want to start your company, where will there be buzz and excitement! Don’t wait until Passover — say it now: ‘This year in Jerusalem!’
Related article by this author: 5 reasons to bring your startup to Jerusalem: The City of Gold
Chaim Finson grew up in Jerusalem and most recently worked as a director of a nonprofit at Cornell University. He is passionate about technology and equally passionate about his home city, Jerusalem.
