The Israeli Track of the Merage
DeserTech Competition
Israeli Startups solving Desert Challenges
Climate change increases the size of deserts globally and by 2025, 1.8 billion people will experience" absolute water scarcity. It is necessary for humanity to adapt to living under extreme climate conditions. The Merage DeserTech competition invites Israeli startups to participate and offer their novel solutions to desert challenges, which will affect more than 9 billion people by 2050.
Explore how your solution can address desert challenges and how you can engage in this emerging sector.
Why Should You Apply?
Win a Grant
The 4 winners will receive a NIS 25,000 grant +
The winning Negev-based company will get a $75,000 equity investment
Interact
With the DeserTech vibrant ecosystem
Expand
Gain global exposure and expand your network
Collaborate
With leading companies from the UK and the Netherlands looking to collaborate with Israeli companies
Who Can Apply?
Israeli startups in the sectors of water, renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure, or other sectors that have an impactful solution to solve desert-related challenges The competition invite both early and advance stage companies!
Evaluation Process
The startups solution will be evaluated by:
Relevance
Companies are requested to show how their solution can address one of the four challenges: extreme climate, water scarcity and availability, land degradation and remote & marginal living
Feasibility
Of the company’s solution to be implemented in arid environments
Impact
Degree of positive environmental, economic, and social impact of the company's solution to the given challenge
Scalability & commercialization
potential of the company's solution in the global market
Judging Committee
Eli Ben Simon
General Partner,
SIBF
Dr. Inbar Maymon Pomeranchik
Founder,
Biodiligence
Yosef Abramowitz
Solar Pioneer; CEO,
Energiya Global Capital
Andrea Carignani-Di-Novoli
Minister Counsellor, Head of Research & Innovation Section,
Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel
Louise Baker
Managing Director,
The Global Mechanism of the UNCCD
Jasper Van Mastrigt
First Secretary Water & Climate,
The Netherlands Embassy in Israel
Prof. Naftali Lazarovitch
Director, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands,
Ben Gurion University
Amalia Paz
Co-Founder and Managing Partner,
Bricks Proptech Innovation
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Avital Eshet
Head of Economic Policy and Tech Innovation,
Ministry of Environmental Protection
Boaz Kantor
Managing Partner,
Gordian Climate Ventures
Denis Tkachuk
Head of BIRAX and Higher Education,
British Council Israel
Revital Levi
Head, R&D dpt.
Netive Israel
Yigal Erlich
Founder and chairman of Yozma management & investment and Yozma Asia,
Board Member-MATA
Dr Eli Abramov
Executive advisor, Chairman of the Innovation committee of the Israeli Manufacturing Association,
Board member - MATA
Liat Sverdlov
Investment Partner,
OurCrowd
Arnon Columbus
CEO,
InNegev
Or Haviv
Partner & Head of ventures,
Arieli Capital
