From soldiering to start-ups: Israel's Druze community is building its own start-up ecosystem

Israel's Druze community is actively building its own start-up ecosystem, moving beyond traditional military careers to foster technological innovation. This initiative, spearheaded by entrepreneur Koftan Halabi, began in 2009 with programs for Druze veterans to study at Technion. In 2025, the state-of-the-art Druze Technological and Empowerment Center (D-TEC) opened in Isfiya.

• In June, D-TEC launched BEYOND-D, an innovations program, and inaugurated a new investment fund.
• Lawyer Anan Kheir explained that the fund, seeking up to $40 million, is an investment vehicle for early-stage technology ventures led by Israeli combat-discharged veterans (Druze, Circassian, and Jewish) with innovative ideas.
• The fund aims to support ventures in areas like software, AI, cyber, and digital health, with the goal of creating new hi-tech companies near Druze communities in the North.
• The recent D-TEC Druze-Tech Festival, attended by prominent figures in hi-tech and investment, emphasized the importance of developing hi-tech centers beyond Tel Aviv to strengthen Israel's economic resilience.