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Key people at Harel Hertz Investment House.
Harel Hertz Investment House (HIH) operates as a specialized consulting and investment banking boutique, offering strategic and business development services. The firm primarily focuses on facilitating and promoting business opportunities between companies in Israel and Japan, bridging cultural and commercial gaps for its clientele. Its expertise lies in navigating the complexities of cross-border ventures, providing guidance on market entry, partnerships, and investment strategies.
The company was established in 1994 by Elchanan Harel, who serves as its President. Mr. Harel brought a wealth of experience from over three decades of engagement with Japan, including a background in banking, which provided the foundational insight for creating a firm dedicated to fostering economic ties between the two nations. This deep understanding of both markets informed the specialized approach of HIH from its inception.
Clients of Harel Hertz Investment House are typically enterprises seeking to expand their operations or investments within either the Israeli or Japanese markets. The firm’s vision centers on strengthening bilateral economic relations and creating successful long-term business relationships. By continuously connecting business cultures, HIH aims to be a critical conduit for sustained growth and collaboration between Israel and Japan.
Key people at Harel Hertz Investment House.
Harel-Hertz Investment House Ltd. (HIH) is a boutique strategy, business development consulting, and investment banking firm founded in 1994, specializing in promoting cross-border business between Japan, Israel, and global markets.[1][2][3] Its mission centers on bridging business cultures through tailor-made services like market research, M&A advisory, private capital advisory, and technology scouting in Israel's startup ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on connecting Japanese corporations to Israeli high-tech ventures.[2][3] The investment philosophy prioritizes personalized, high-professionalism support for market entry, deal structuring, and long-term partnerships, leveraging deep networks in Israeli tech, VCs, entrepreneurs, and academia.[2][3] Key sectors include technology (especially TMT—telecom, media, tech), high-tech industries, and startups, with a focus on Japan's inbound/outbound opportunities and Israel's booming ecosystem.[1][3] HIH impacts the startup ecosystem by scouting opportunities, facilitating capital raising, secondary transactions, and strategic alliances, enabling Israeli ventures to expand into Japan.[3]
HIH was founded in May 1994 by Elchanan S. Harel in Herzliya Pituach, Israel, with offices in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, and Tokyo.[1][2][5] Harel, the president, brings over three decades of Japan expertise as a banker, businessman, and public official, including roles in M&A, financing, venture investment, and as CFO of Internet Research Institute Ltd., which nearly went public on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange as Asia's first.[2] The firm emerged from Harel's vision to foster collaborations between Japanese firms and Israeli startups, evolving from general Japan-Israel business promotion to a specialized boutique in tech scouting, investment banking, and cross-border deals over 30+ years.[2][3] Key partners include Mirei, a senior executive with 41 years at Marubeni Group, including as President/CEO of Marubeni IT Solutions Inc., offering global leadership, networks, and negotiation skills; he holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BA from Waseda University.[2] This evolution reflects growing Israel-Japan ties amid Israel's tech boom.[1][2]
HIH rides the trend of deepening Japan-Israel tech collaborations, fueled by Israel's "Startup Nation" status in high-tech (e.g., cybersecurity, AI, TMT) and Japan's demand for innovation amid demographic challenges and digital transformation.[1][2][3] Timing is ideal as post-2020s global supply chain shifts and U.S.-China tensions push Japan toward Israeli partnerships for resilient tech sourcing.[3] Market forces like Israel's VC surge and Japan's inbound investment incentives favor HIH's niche, enabling Japanese firms to tap Israel's 10,000+ startups while helping Israeli ventures access Japan's $5T+ economy.[2][3] The firm influences the ecosystem by scouting ventures, structuring M&As, and publishing insights, accelerating cross-border deals and knowledge transfer in a fragmented global tech landscape.[1][3]
HIH is poised to expand as Japan-Israel tech ties strengthen, potentially scaling Tokyo operations and deepening AI/cybersecurity scouting amid rising Asian demand for Israeli IP.[2][3] Trends like Japan's "Society 5.0" digital push and Israel's post-conflict innovation rebound will shape its growth, with opportunities in green tech and semiconductors.[1] Its influence may evolve toward larger funds or alliances with global VCs, solidifying its role as the go-to bridge for high-value, culture-spanning deals—reinforcing its foundational mission of turning Japan-Israel synergies into enduring business success.[2][3]
