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Key people at ICONYC labs.
ICONYC Labs is a New York City-based accelerator program that supports early-stage Israeli technology startups in their entry and expansion into the US market. The program provides $20,000 in seed funding, along with office space and mentorship, in exchange for an equity stake typically ranging from 6% to 10%. It has invested in over 50 startups since its inception, with initial cohorts comprising five companies each. Notable early portfolio companies include Myndlift, Flux, and DandyLoop, which participated in its inaugural cohort. The team includes Venture Partner Brock Weatherup and Principal Tali Edry, who contribute to the program's operational and strategic guidance. ICONYC Labs was founded in 2015 by Eyal Bino and Arie Abecassis. Its business model centers on traditional accelerator model:invests small amounts of funding and takes equity stakes in participating startups while offering mentoring and networking.
ICONYC Labs is a New York City-based value-add investor and accelerator program designed for early-stage Israeli tech startups aiming to expand globally, particularly into the US market.[1][5][6] It combines elements of traditional accelerators with customized business acceleration, funding support, and operations assistance in exchange for common equity (averaging about 8%), focusing on Seed and Series A stages in sectors like technology, healthcare, AI/ML, entertainment, edtech, and biotech.[1][2][4] With 25 investments to date, including recent ones like Hunterz (Seed VC, 2019) and Skyline Robotics ($3M Seed VC, 2018), ICONYC Labs acts as a strategic partner rather than a standard accelerator, offering tailored six-month programs without one-size-fits-all events like Demo Day.[1][2]
The firm's mission emphasizes hands-on guidance for founders with breakthrough technologies and high-growth potential, leveraging NYC's network to shorten time-to-market and foster long-term scaling.[2][5] Its investment philosophy prioritizes disruptive startups via check sizes of $500K–$2M, providing not just capital but strategic advice, mentor access, and customized weekly plans refined for each company's needs.[1][2][4]
ICONYC Labs was founded by Eyal Bino (39 at launch), angel investor/adviser Abecassis (49), and Mirsky (35), who connected through the Global Innovator Program of the Worldwide Investor Network—a three-month accelerator for high-potential foreign companies in high-tech, ecommerce, ad-tech, mobile, and mobile health.[1] Launched around 2015 (based on earliest noted investments like a debt deal in August 2015), the firm evolved from this network into a specialized NYC-based program for Israeli startups, initially as a four-to-six-month go-to-market accelerator.[1][5][6]
Key pivots include shifting from rigid accelerator models to hyper-personalized support, borrowing traditional elements but amplifying them for global positioning—such as ditching Demo Days for need-specific funding timelines.[1] Early traction came via investments in diverse Israeli tech firms, building a portfolio of 25 companies and establishing NYC as a bridge for Israel-US market entry.[1][4]
ICONYC Labs rides the trend of cross-border expansion for Israeli startups, capitalizing on Israel's "Startup Nation" status in deep tech (AI, robotics, cybersecurity, biotech) amid surging US-Israel tech synergies.[1][4] Timing aligns with post-2015 growth in Israeli VC inflows and NYC's emergence as a startup hub, shortening US go-to-market for firms facing regulatory, network, and scaling hurdles.[1][5][6]
Market forces favoring it include rising demand for tailored accelerators amid traditional models' limitations, plus NYC's proximity to US capital and talent pools.[2][4] It influences the ecosystem by bridging ~25 portfolio companies to global success, fostering Israel-US talent flows, and proving value-add models outperform generic programs—amplifying Israeli innovation's impact on worldwide tech/healthcare disruption.[1][2]
ICONYC Labs is poised to deepen its role in Israel-US tech corridors, potentially expanding to Series B or non-Israeli founders as AI/biotech booms post-2025.[2] Trends like AI scaling, medtech regulation easing, and remote acceleration will shape it, with influence evolving via larger funds or LP partnerships leveraging its 25-investment track record.[1][2]
As a pioneer in customized value-add investing, ICONYC Labs exemplifies how strategic NYC-Israel bridges propel early-stage startups to global contention—primed for outsized returns in the next decade.[1][5]
Key people at ICONYC labs.
