JAL Ventures

High-Level Overview

JAL Ventures is an Israeli venture capital firm focused on providing expansion capital to fast-growing, revenue-generating B2B technology companies. Its mission centers on de-risking growth-stage investments by backing proven teams with early commercial traction, then actively supporting them through strategic guidance, operational expertise, and access to a deep network of industry and financial partners. The firm emphasizes minimizing the risk of failure while maximizing the odds of success, which it reflects in a disciplined, hands-on investment approach.

JAL primarily invests in early-revenue Israeli tech startups across enterprise software, deep tech, and industrial technology sectors, with a strong emphasis on B2B innovation. By concentrating on companies that have moved beyond pure concept and are scaling, JAL plays a critical role in bridging the gap between early-stage venture and later-stage growth capital. Its presence strengthens Israel’s startup ecosystem by enabling promising companies to expand operations, enter new markets, and build durable, global businesses.

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Origin Story

JAL Ventures was founded in 2016 by Joshua and Amiram Levinberg, the co-founders of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: GILT), one of Israel’s pioneering technology success stories in satellite communications. Drawing on decades of experience as entrepreneurs, executives, and investors, the Levinbergs initially operated as a family investment vehicle before formalizing their activities into a structured fund management firm.

In 2016, Tal Shaked, Yair Elbaz, and David Sikorsky joined the team, marking JAL’s evolution into JAL Ventures as a professional venture capital firm. This transition allowed the firm to institutionalize its investment strategy, raise dedicated funds, and scale its portfolio activity. Over time, JAL built a multi-generational team combining founder, operator, consultant, and investor perspectives, enabling it to offer both capital and deep operational support to its portfolio companies.

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Core Differentiators

1. Founder-Led, Operator-First Mindset
As serial entrepreneurs who built and scaled Gilat into a public company, the Levinbergs bring real-world founder and executive experience to their investing. This translates into empathetic, pragmatic support for portfolio founders navigating scaling challenges.

2. Active, Hands-On Partnership
JAL describes itself as “active investors” who hate failure and therefore devote significant resources to risk mitigation. The team engages closely with portfolio companies on strategy, hiring, business development, and fundraising, functioning more like an extended executive team than passive capital providers.

3. Multi-Generational, Diverse Team
The firm combines generational perspectives—founders, entrepreneurs, managers, consultants, and investors—around the table. This diversity of experience allows JAL to offer well-rounded advice tailored to different stages and challenges of company growth.

4. Strong Track Record and High Hit Rate
With two closed funds and a growing portfolio of 27+ investments and multiple exits, JAL has demonstrated consistent performance. Its focus on revenue-stage companies with proven product-market fit contributes to a relatively high success rate compared to earlier-stage VCs.

5. Deep Israeli and Global Network
Leveraging decades of relationships in Israeli tech, global corporates, and international investors, JAL provides portfolio companies with access to strategic partners, follow-on investors, and cross-border growth opportunities.

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Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

JAL Ventures operates at a pivotal point in the Israeli tech ecosystem: the expansion phase where startups transition from promising early products to scalable, global businesses. At a time when Israeli tech faces macroeconomic headwinds and tighter capital markets, JAL’s focus on revenue-stage companies with traction makes it a stabilizing force—providing growth capital to companies that are less speculative and more likely to weather downturns.

The firm is well-positioned to benefit from several macro trends: the global demand for B2B software and industrial tech innovation, the rise of smart logistics and supply chain digitization (as seen in its investment in Sensos), and the increasing importance of operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making across industries. By backing Israeli founders solving hard technical problems in enterprise and deep tech, JAL helps amplify Israel’s reputation as a hub for B2B innovation beyond consumer apps and cybersecurity.

Moreover, JAL’s model of combining capital with deep operational involvement reflects a broader shift in venture capital toward value-add, founder-centric partnerships—especially in markets like Israel where access to experienced scaling guidance can be a decisive advantage.

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Quick Take & Future Outlook

JAL Ventures is likely to continue refining its niche as a go-to expansion-stage partner for Israeli B2B tech companies with early revenue and clear paths to scale. With a proven track record and a disciplined, founder-friendly approach, the firm is well-positioned to raise larger funds and deepen its sector focus, potentially expanding into adjacent verticals like climate tech, industrial AI, and advanced logistics.

Looking ahead, JAL’s influence will grow not just through portfolio returns, but by shaping how Israeli startups scale internationally. As global investors seek resilient, revenue-backed opportunities in a tighter funding environment, JAL’s model of de-risked growth investing could become even more attractive. The firm’s next chapter will likely be defined by how effectively it leverages its network, experience, and active partnership ethos to turn strong Israeli startups into enduring global leaders—staying true to its founding belief: that success is great, but failure is something worth fighting hard to avoid.