Nearly 20% of Israel’s reservists work in the tech industry, creating a strong pipeline between combat experience and startup agility.
By Shula Rosen
As Israel continues its war with Hamas and faces threats from Iran, military readiness is inspiring innovation.
One example is SkyHoop, a drone detection startup founded by Israeli army reservist and tech professional Zach Bergerson.
Observing that fellow soldiers in Gaza had to rely only on their senses to spot hostile drones, Bergerson, 36, built a wearable system to alert troops to aerial threats using smartphone-based technology.
His solution quickly grew into SkyHoop, which has already been piloted in Ukraine and is under consideration for a trial with the US Department of Defense.
SkyHoop’s system utilizes artificial intelligence, computer vision, and deep learning to detect drones in real-time.
It runs on everything from smartphones to high-grade optics, requiring minimal hardware and setup.
“We needed a way to give soldiers immediate, reliable alerts without adding weight or complexity,” Bergerson told Reuters.
Since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, over one-third of defense startups tracked by Startup Nation Central have launched.
As battlefield conditions evolve, Western militaries are increasingly seeking tested technologies developed during real conflict.
Nearly 20% of Israel’s reservists work in the tech industry, creating a strong pipeline between combat experience and startup agility.
The global defense market has taken notice. US venture capital firms, which have long been hesitant about investing in the defense sector, are now making significant investments.
Israeli investors are also stepping in.
Even after the war, Israel’s battle-inspired technologies will continue to drive innovation, improving lives both on and off the battlefield.
