Harel Hertz Investment House
Harel Hertz Investment House is a company.
Financial History
Leadership Team
Key people at Harel Hertz Investment House.
Harel Hertz Investment House is a company.
Key people at Harel Hertz Investment House.
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]