Entrepreneurship
Starting your own business — funding, business mentorship, and access to a network of community entrepreneurs.
Priority #5
Why this matters for the community
Small businesses owned by Ethiopian-Israelis are a meaningful mobility path — but access to seed capital and business mentorship still lags. UJIA-KIEDF provides community-targeted business loans; ScaleUp Velocity offers a graduate-level entrepreneurship bootcamp.
Main entry routes
- UJIA-KIEDF loan — up to ₪150K, subsidized interest, 12-month mentorship
- ScaleUp Velocity — 16-week bootcamp + seed funding for top graduates
- ENP Entrepreneur Track — Tech-Career grads launching tech businesses
What to know
- Ethiopian-Israeli-owned businesses: 1.2% of the economy (vs 5% in the general population)
- 1-year survival rate: 67% (vs 73% nationally) — closing the gap needs mentorship
- Top entrepreneurial cities: Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Beersheba, Netanya, Rehovot
Related employment rights
Programs and bootcamps
Leading organizations in the track
- Olim BeyahadA career-mentorship organization for Ethiopian-Israeli university graduates. Connects students with senior industry mentors.
- Israeli Association for Ethiopian Jews (IAEJ)Community umbrella and primary advocacy organization. Leads the Falash Mura family-reunification campaign and runs senior centers.
- Atid B'midbarNegev community-development organization focused on Ethiopian-Israeli and other populations. Employment, education, and leadership programs.
Top cities for this track
Career counselors in this track
See career counselors