President Herzog on Intel Ignite, Kibbutz Holit partnership: "Precisely in this difficult period, the combination of the forces of the best Israeli minds brings good news"

On October 7, Kibbutz Holit lost 15 of its members and suffered a heavy disaster. As part of the kibbutz's rehabilitation and renewal efforts, a collaboration was established with the Intel company, which leads a joint acceleration program for the kibbutz and start-up companies in the technological development of agricultural crops, and in the fields of climate and sustainability.

We met this morning at the President's House with representatives from Kibbutz Holit and representatives from Intel's acceleration program, and were exposed to groundbreaking agricultural ideas and developments that can change the face of the entire world from the fields of the Kibbutz in the Western Negev. Precisely in this difficult period, the combination of the forces of the best Israeli minds brings good news. I wish with all my heart to Kibbutz Holit that out of grief comes growth!

Intel Ignite is a program designed to accelerate startups that are creating innovative solutions in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and other emerging technologies. The program provides selected startups with mentorship, resources, access to Intel technology, and networking opportunities to help them grow and scale their businesses. Intel Ignite aims to support entrepreneurs and foster innovation in the technology industry.

This year, a significant milestone was achieved as Intel Ignite Tel-Aviv partnered with Kibbutz Holit. A symbol of resilience in Israel's Eshkol Region, Holit experienced severe devastation due to the attacks by Hamas on October 10th.

Collaboration with the residents of Holit is underway to foster an Agro-Tech ecosystem, aiming not only to rejuvenate Holit but also to establish a model for the fusion of technology and agriculture.

The imperative to reconstruct and gaze ahead has never been more pressing. By selecting Holit as the focal point for this year's initiative, the Intel Ignite Tel-Aviv Impact program is actively engaged in shaping a future where technology and agriculture converge to foster sustainable communities. This endeavor aims to position Holit as Israel's Agro-Tech and Climate-Tech hub, setting a precedent for similar transformations elsewhere.

Out of approximately 50 startups, a selection day narrowed the field to eight candidates, with five final selections: RumaFeed, DOTS, Data of The Soil, DriftSense, LiVA® Bio-Protection Technology, and Seymour Ag Instruments.

The selection of these startups was based on their potential to develop meaningful Proof of Concept (POC) projects in collaboration with Holit, a prerequisite for joining the boot camp. Technological solutions were chosen for their ability to contribute tangibly to Holit's resurgence.