BIRD Foundation

The BIRD Foundation promotes and supports industrial research and development (R&D) partnerships between U.S. and Israeli companies.

Grant Provider Active Hod Hasharon, Israel Est. 1977
Visit website ↗ LinkedIn
Last updated 2026-07-20
Portfolio
19
in our dataset
Rounds participated
23
Rounds led
19
Rounds' value
$66.7M
total disclosed, rounds participated
Stages
—

About

The BIRD Foundation, established in 1977 by the governments of the United States and Israel, provides capital for joint industrial research and development (R&D) between American and Israeli companies. It offers conditional grants, typically up to 50% of each company's R&D expenses (up to $1 million, and in some cases up to $1.5 million per project), with repayments due only if commercial revenues are generated. BIRD also provides matchmaking support to help U.S. and Israeli companies find suitable partners. The foundation's scope extends to various technology sectors including Agriculture, Communications, Construction Technologies, Electronics, Electro-optics, Life Sciences, Software, Homeland Security, Renewable and Alternative Energy. Since its inception, BIRD has approved over 1,200 projects, invested approximately $465 million, and these projects have generated over $10 billion in sales.

Portfolio · 19

Brevel
Brevel develops a neutral-flavored and sustainable alternative protein from microalgae, suitable for animal-free products such as dairy, egg, meat, and seafood alternatives.
Led ★ 2 rounds $2.1M committed Latest: 2026-06
NeuroKaire
NeuroKaire transforms depression medication selection by understanding how each patient's unique brain and body responds to medication, moving beyond trial-and-error.
Led ★ 1 round $1.0M committed Latest: 2026-06
Neurogenesis
Developer of platform and cell-based therapies to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
Led ★ 1 round $7.5M committed Latest: 2026-05
IdentifAI Genetics
IdentifAI Genetics is an Israeli health-tech company developing AI-powered non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for early detection of genetic disorders.
Led ★ 1 round $11.0M committed Latest: 2026-05
HT Vet
HT Vet develops AI-driven, non-invasive solutions for early canine cancer detection.
Led ★ 1 round $1.5M committed Latest: 2026-05
Plastic Back
Plastic Back is an Israeli startup that has developed a unique low-temperature chemical recycling process for treating plastic waste streams, converting them into valuable byproducts like crude oil and other chemicals.
Led ★ 1 round $3.0M committed Latest: 2025-03
Quantum Art
Developer of scalable commercial quantum computing solutions based on trapped-ion qubits and a proprietary scale-up architecture.
Led ★ 1 round Latest: 2024-08
Agado Live
AI-powered telerehabilitation for physical therapy clinics.
Led ★ 1 round $1.5M committed Latest: 2023-06
EcoPlant
Intelligent air compressor control and monitoring platform improves system reliability, prevents downtime, and saves up to 50% on energy costs.
Led ★ 1 round $3.0M committed Latest: 2023-06
Xfloat
Xfloat develops innovative floating solar technology with a water management system for efficient and cost-effective floating photovoltaic projects.
Led ★ 2 rounds $3.9M committed Latest: 2023-05
FlyWorks
Developer of hybrid drones designed to provide safe machines at cost effective prices.
Led ★ 1 round Latest: 2022-07
Forrest Innovations
Forrest Innovations is an Israeli biotechnology company developing solutions to combat mosquito-borne diseases.
Led ★ 2 rounds $18.0M committed Latest: 2021-07
Shamaym
Shamaym provides an AI-powered platform for continuous organizational improvement and real-time learning.
Led ★ 1 round $2.2M committed Latest: 2021-05
Israel Aerospace Industries
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is Israel's largest aerospace and defense company, developing and manufacturing advanced systems for military and civilian use.
Led ★ 1 round $8.2M committed Latest: 2019-07
FSIGHT
FSIGHT offers artificial intelligence software solutions for the energy market, focusing on optimizing distributed energy resources and managing flexibility.
Led ★ 2 rounds $1.0M committed Latest: 2019-02
HiRiseTech Ltd.
Develops radio communication systems for first responders in high-rise buildings.
Led ★ 1 round $1.0M committed Latest: 2018-07
FFRobotics
FFRobotics develops and manufactures autonomous robotic fruit pickers for orchards.
Led ★ 1 round Latest: 2018-03
File X
Leading in industrial automation and quality inspection based on advanced machine vision applications.
Led ★ 1 round $800K committed Latest: 2016-10
MagBioSense Inc.
A biotechnology platform developed to commercialize a novel cardiac biomarker diagnostic technology that brings lab-quality, high-sensitivity detection to the point-of-care.
Led ★ 1 round $900K committed Latest: 2014-02

Investment activity

Portfolio by sector

Health Tech & Life Sciences1
Energy Tech1
Automotive & Mobility Technologies1

Q&A

What is the primary mission of the BIRD Foundation?
The BIRD Foundation is a binational non-profit organization that promotes and funds industrial research and development partnerships between companies from Israel and the United States. Its mission is to stimulate economic growth through innovative products and technologies while strengthening strategic partnerships.
What kind of funding does the BIRD Foundation provide?
The BIRD Foundation provides grants of up to $1 million to support joint projects between Israeli and American companies.
In which technology sectors does the BIRD Foundation typically invest?
The BIRD Foundation supports projects in various technology sectors, including life sciences, agrotechnology, and clean energy. According to startupim data, their portfolio includes companies in Health Tech & Life Sciences.
Can you name some notable companies in BIRD Foundation's portfolio?
Notable companies in the BIRD Foundation's portfolio include Brightmerge, which develops a SaaS Platform for Optimizing Electric Vehicle Charging Hubs, and Medasense Biometrics, known for its noninvasive pain-monitoring solutions.
What is the total investment amount provided by the BIRD Foundation since its inception?
Since its inception in 1977, the BIRD Foundation has funded over 1,000 projects with a total investment of more than $350 million.
When was the BIRD Foundation established?
The BIRD Foundation was founded in 1977.
What is the BIRD Foundation's investment range?
The BIRD Foundation's investment range is $200K+.
Who is the Executive Director of the BIRD Foundation?
Jaron Lotan serves as the Executive Director of the BIRD Foundation.
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