‘My form of Zionism’: Jerusalem nonprofit helps new olim build businesses in Israel

August 14, 2026 - 19:26

Starting a business in a new country is hard. Doing it in a language you are still learning, while navigating unfamiliar bureaucracy, is another thing entirely. But a Jerusalem-based nonprofit is working to change that equation for new immigrants, one startup at a time.

MATI Jerusalem, the city's small business development center, has become a quiet anchor for olim who arrive with a dream and a skillset but lack the local know-how. The organization offers a full range of services, from one-on-one coaching and business plan workshops to help with permits, taxes, and access to funding. For many, the real value is not just the practical advice, but the sense that someone is in their corner.

Take the story of a recent immigrant from France who wanted to open a specialty bakery. She knew her craft but had no idea how to secure a commercial lease in Israel or which health regulations applied. Through MATI, she got matched with a mentor who had run a food business in Tel Aviv for a decade. Within six months, her shop was up and running in the Mahane Yehuda area.

Another participant, a software engineer from Argentina, used MATI's network to pivot from freelancing to building a small agency that now employs three people. He says the nonprofit gave him the confidence to stop thinking like a newcomer and start acting like a local entrepreneur.

The program is not just about survival. It is about growth. MATI runs a dedicated track for olim that includes Hebrew business vocabulary classes and sessions on Israeli business culture, which can be more direct and informal than what many are used to. The staff also helps connect new business owners with government grants that are often underused because people do not know they exist.

For the city, this work has a ripple effect. Every new business that stays open means more jobs, more foot traffic, and a stronger local economy. But for the olim themselves, it is something more personal. As one participant put it, "This is my form of Zionism. I am not just living here, I am building something that will last."

MATI Jerusalem does not promise overnight success. It offers a steady hand and a practical roadmap. For many new immigrants, that is exactly what they need to turn a risk into a livelihood.