This post is also available in:
עברית (Hebrew)
This week, another workshop was held as part of the INNOFENSE program, the innovation center operated by iHLS in collaboration with Israel’s Ministry of Defense, the Directorate of Defense Research & Development (MAFAT), and IDF branches. The program is designed to bridge civilian technological innovation with the operational needs of the defense establishment, helping startups with dual-use potential advance their technologies toward real-world deployment, strategic partnerships, and market entry.
This workshop focused on business growth, fundraising, non-dilutive funding opportunities, financial readiness, and international market expansion. Igal Unna, former Director General of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, discussed investment trends in the DefenseTech sector, the growing importance of dual-use technologies, and how startups can effectively communicate complex technologies to investors. The Deloitte team—Nadav Gil, Partner and Head of Incentives, Moran Masad Hadar, Audit Partner, and Leeann Gendelsman, Go-to-Market (GTM) Manager at Deloitte Catalyst—provided participating companies with practical guidance on working with large corporations, developing go-to-market strategies, preparing for investment rounds, and navigating funding opportunities and grant programs in Israel and abroad. Among the programs presented were initiatives from MAFAT, the Israel Innovation Authority, European funding frameworks, and U.S. funding mechanisms for defense and dual-use companies.
At the heart of the workshop were the participating startups and the technologies they are developing:
HexAI is developing specialized AI agents for binary code security, capable of vulnerability research, attack surface mapping, and malware triaging. These capabilities enable advanced software assurance and reliability assessment for products and components used in defense manufacturing.
Timlul develops NLP- and speech-recognition-based solutions that analyze spoken and written language to generate consistent decision-support insights from textual and voice data.
Kamai develops AI models to automatically interpret construction plans and convert them into structured data and bills of quantities, helping accelerate the planning and deployment of infrastructure and facilities for both civilian and defense applications.
Visionary AI develops real-time low-light video enhancement technology, enabling the detection of objects and targets even when captured under extremely challenging visual conditions.
Neuromorphic Labs is developing a neuromorphic computing-based navigation and mapping system that mimics the way the human brain processes information, enabling fast, energy-efficient operation for drones and robotic platforms in GPS-denied environments.
In the field of construction materials, eco BRICK Innovio is redefining construction and infrastructure resilience. The company has developed a breakthrough Waste-to-Resource technology that transforms more than 40 types of waste into high-performance Mineral-Polymer Composites (MPC). Certified under the stringent ASTM C331 standard, eco BRICK Innovio produces engineered aggregates composed of approximately 99% recycled waste. Addressing the program’s challenges, the company has developed advanced building blocks, concrete mixtures, and cold asphalt solutions containing at least 95% recycled materials.
Rebton develops solutions based on recycled construction waste for infrastructure restoration, protective structures, and barrier construction, utilizing the material’s unique energy-absorbing properties.
Apco Aviation Defense brings decades of expertise in light aviation and advanced parachute systems to the program. The company develops solutions for airdrop, recovery, and retrieval of manned and unmanned platforms, alongside technologies that significantly reduce preparation and turnaround times for aerial systems.
The workshop highlighted one of INNOFENSE’s core objectives: not only to expose startups to industry knowledge, but also to equip them with the tools, connections, and strategic pathways needed to transform promising technologies into deployable solutions for both the defense and civilian markets.
