SkyBeam Launches $250M Fund as New Gateway to Israel's Deep Tech

NEW YORK, NY – May 15, 2026 – SkyBeam Venture Partners has officially launched its inaugural $250 million fund, creating a new institutional-grade conduit for global investors to access Israel's burgeoning early-stage technology ecosystem. The firm, co-founded by Daniel Benel and Gabby Czertok, aims to bridge the gap between large-scale international capital and the often hard-to-access, high-growth opportunities within Israel's pre-seed and seed-stage startups.

SkyBeam's strategy is twofold: it will invest in a new generation of Israeli venture funds while also making direct, later-stage investments in the most promising breakout companies that emerge from them. This hybrid model is designed to provide institutional investors with diversified, scalable access to foundational technology sectors, including AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, and quantum computing.

“The greatest alpha in Israel’s venture market is created at the earliest stages of company formation, an opportunity that has historically been difficult for global investors to access at scale,” said Daniel Benel, Co-Founder of SkyBeam Venture Partners. “We launched SkyBeam to build an institutional-grade platform that gives global investors access to Israel’s most innovative founders at inception.”

Gabby Czertok, Co-Founder of SkyBeam Venture Partners, noted a structural shift in the local market that the firm is built to support. “A new generation of Israeli managers is building venture firms differently, often outside traditional institutional frameworks,” Czertok said. “SkyBeam was built to support that shift, helping GPs focus on execution while providing a disciplined, transparent way to engage with Israel’s innovation economy.”

Tapping into a Resilient and Evolving Ecosystem

SkyBeam's launch comes at a pivotal moment for Israel's technology sector. Despite global economic headwinds and regional complexities, the market has demonstrated remarkable resilience and a strong capacity for growth. Early-stage funding in Israel surged by 84% in 2024, and in the first half of 2025, Israeli startups raised a staggering $9.5 billion, a 58% increase over the prior six months.

This influx of capital is fueling a highly competitive and increasingly sophisticated environment. Investors have become more discerning, particularly with the proliferation of AI-driven startups. Today, investors expect founders seeking seed funding to present a working product, clear market demand, and strong unit economics. This heightened selectivity has not dampened valuations; in fact, the most competitive pre-seed startups in AI and cybersecurity saw valuations rise 17% year-over-year in 2025, averaging $13.5 million.

The venture landscape itself is rebounding, with 47 new VC funds starting operations in 2025, more than doubling the previous year's figure. This activity has created an estimated $8.7 billion in "dry powder"—capital ready to be deployed. SkyBeam's model is positioned to capitalize on this dynamic by identifying and backing the most promising emerging fund managers who are navigating this new reality.

A Strategic Focus on Deep Tech's Core

SkyBeam is targeting sectors that are not only pillars of Israel's innovation economy but are also critical to global security and technological advancement. The firm’s focus on AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, and quantum computing aligns directly with Israel’s established strengths and future growth trajectory.

Israel currently stands as the fifth-largest hub for deep tech investment globally and ranks number one outside of the United States. Since 2019, deep tech and life sciences have consistently attracted over a third of all VC funding in the country, totaling more than $28 billion. After a period of decline, deep tech VC funding rebounded sharply in 2025, reaching $2.5 billion in the first eight months alone—matching the total for all of 2024.

This ecosystem, home to 1,400 VC-backed deep tech startups, is further bolstered by government initiatives like the Israel Innovation Authority, which provides non-dilutive grants and R&D support that de-risk early-stage ventures for private investors.

• AI Infrastructure: With AI dominating investment decisions—accounting for over 42% of global seed funding in 2025—SkyBeam is focusing on the foundational companies building the core systems for securing models and managing large-scale deployment.
• Cybersecurity: Israel remains a global cybersecurity powerhouse, attracting over 20% of the world's funding in the sector. SkyBeam's focus here taps into a mature and continuously innovating market.
• Quantum Computing: While still nascent, quantum technology is a rapidly growing area of interest, ranking third in investor focus in Israel in 2025. The emergence of dedicated funds like Qbeat Ventures and proposed government-backed initiatives signals a fertile ground for future breakthroughs.

A New Model for Institutional Access

Historically, the fragmented and relationship-driven nature of Israel's early-stage market has been a barrier for large institutional investors. SkyBeam aims to dismantle this barrier with a platform built on transparency, world-class governance, and a unique hybrid investment structure.

By operating as a fund-of-funds, SkyBeam offers a diversified entry point, spreading capital across a portfolio of specialized, next-generation venture managers. This approach allows investors to gain broad exposure to the ecosystem while leveraging the ground-level expertise of local VCs. Simultaneously, the firm’s ability to make direct, later-stage co-investments in the most successful companies from these funds provides a mechanism for concentrating capital on proven winners, potentially generating significant upside.

This model is particularly designed to empower a new wave of Israeli venture managers who may operate outside of traditional institutional structures but possess deep domain expertise and strong networks. By providing them with institutional backing and operational support, SkyBeam aims to foster innovation not just in technology, but in the practice of venture capital itself.

The Power of a Strategic Network

Underpinning SkyBeam's ambitious strategy is a formidable group of advisors and backers, lending the firm significant institutional credibility and strategic leverage. The fund is backed by scaled endowment capital and guided by a senior advisory board led by Aaron Stone, formerly a Senior Partner at Apollo Global Management. Stone’s deep experience in global private equity and corporate governance provides a foundation of institutional rigor.

The advisory board also includes Sam Lessin, a founding partner at the influential seed-stage firm Slow Ventures and a former VP of Product at Facebook. Lessin brings a wealth of experience in identifying and nurturing nascent technology companies. He is joined by Wesley Friedman, a Partner at Pumada Investments and former Principal at 8VC, whose expertise lies in enterprise and supply chain technology—key components of the deep tech landscape.

Further amplifying SkyBeam’s reach is its partnership with LionTree, which serves as both an advisor and an investor. As a global investment and merchant bank with deep roots in the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors and an office in Tel Aviv, LionTree provides unparalleled strategic connectivity. This powerful network is designed to enhance deal flow, support portfolio companies, and solidify SkyBeam's position as a premier, trusted platform for accessing one of the world's most dynamic innovation hubs.

The combination of a timely market entry, a sharp focus on critical technologies, and an innovative investment model backed by a deeply connected network positions SkyBeam Venture Partners to become a significant force in shaping the next generation of Israeli technology leaders.