San Francisco–based venture fund, Striker Venture Partners, has announced its entry into the Israeli market, signalling a major bet on the country’s next generation of AI and cybersecurity startups. The firm, which recently raised $165 million, plans to invest in 10 early-stage companies, with half of the capital earmarked for Israeli ventures.
The fund will write checks ranging from $5 million to $30 million per company, focusing on founders at the pre-revenue stage. Its approach is designed to combine large initial investments with hands-on support, helping startups move from inception to their first $1 million in revenue while laying the foundation for subsequent funding rounds.
Striker was founded in late 2025 by Max Gazor, a former senior partner at US venture capital firm CRV, and Matan Lamdan, who will oversee the fund’s investments in Israel.
“The fund’s advantage is our ability to make large investments at the pre-revenue stage while only committing to a small number of companies,” said Lamdan. “We deeply believe in the Israeli ecosystem and will invest up to half of our fund in Israel as a testament to this.”
Israel’s AI and Cybersecurity Boom
The fund recently led an investment in an early-stage Israeli cybersecurity startup, developing technology designed to help organisations safely adopt AI tools, a sector that has seen intense investor interest in recent years.
Striker’s entry comes as foreign funds return to the Israeli tech scene following two years of war that had dampened investment activity. In 2025, AI and cybersecurity startups accounted for 70% of total capital raised in Israel, highlighting a concentration of investor attention in these sectors.
Foreign investors remain dominant in Israel’s tech ecosystem, comprising 60% of all backers, led by US funds such as Insight Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), and Blackstone, according to Startup Nation Central.
“Some might say that making only 10 investments increases the fund’s risk level, but we believe the actual situation is the opposite – the focus allows us to be ‘All In’ and contribute decades of cumulative experience in establishing companies from the zero-revenue stage to a combined value of tens of billions of dollars,” said Gazor.
A Hands-on Approach to Early-Stage Growth
Unlike many US funds that spread capital across dozens of startups, Striker aims to deeply engage with a small number of companies, providing not only funding but guidance in team building, product development, and initial market strategy.
The fund describes its model as creating starting conditions that maximise the likelihood of success, helping founders transition from idea to revenue and preparing companies to attract follow-on investment from other global funds.
“Our American advantage as a fund is also reflected in the network of connections with CISOs [chief investment security officers] and with other American funds that will enter for investments at later stages,” Gazor added.
Striker’s strategy positions it as one of the more founder-focused venture funds targeting early-stage Israeli startups, particularly in sectors where national expertise, such as cybersecurity, intersects with global AI demand.
As AI and cybersecurity continue to dominate the investor landscape, analysts say Striker’s approach of large early-stage bets combined with operational support may set a template for other US funds seeking entry into the Israeli ecosystem.
Talking Points
It is notable that Striker Venture Partners is entering the Israeli market with a focused strategy on AI and cybersecurity startups, signalling confidence in the country’s ability to produce globally competitive early-stage technology companies.
By committing to large initial investments at the pre-revenue stage, the fund provides founders with both capital and operational support, addressing a common challenge in early-stage growth: moving from idea to revenue efficiently.
At Techparley, we see this approach as emblematic of a shift in venture capital thinking, where depth and hands-on involvement can be more valuable than spreading capital across a broad portfolio of startups.
The fund’s Israeli focus, led by a veteran with experience in Unit 8200, highlights the importance of local expertise and ecosystem knowledge in identifying high-potential startups in niche, technically complex sectors like AI and cybersecurity.
If Striker executes its model effectively, it could set a new benchmark for how US funds engage with early-stage startups in Israel, combining financial firepower, mentorship, and global networks to scale young companies in highly specialised sectors.
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