With government support, industry sponsorship and mentors on board, Swidan is launching what appears to be the first true high-tech venture accelerator for Israel’s Arab community.
Based in Nazareth, the new Naztech Accelerator is currently screening a couple of dozen companies to fill 10 to 15 spots in the five-month accelerator program starting early this year.
Swidan is hoping the chosen Arab startups will help kick-start a revolution in Israel. Thousands of high-tech engineers graduate from institutions such as the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, but there is little framework for helping new Arab-run companies get off the ground.