Startup mentors in Ashdod
Local founders can get up to 3 subsidized mentoring sessions with senior executives and experts from the community.
Last updated: September 2026
Ashdod's tech ecosystem: a practical guide
Ashdod is home to about 250,000 residents and one of Israel's main Mediterranean ports. Around 25,000 tech professionals and founders live in the greater Ashdod and Gan Yavne area, yet most of them still commute north every morning.
That gap is the opportunity. The city is investing heavily to bring tech jobs home, and the port has become one of Israel's more interesting testbeds for startups.
The innovation district
In September 2025 the Ashdod municipality presented a new innovation district at the city's southern entrance, an investment of roughly NIS 10 billion.
- About 1.24 million sqm planned, including roughly 930,000 sqm for employment and tech clusters
- About 3,500 housing units, plus retail and hotels
- 50,000 to 60,000 new jobs projected, mainly in science and technology
The port as a startup testbed
Ashdod Port launched its incubator in 2021, focusing on logistics, cybersecurity, safety and maritime technology. In 2022 it invested NIS 4.5 million in four startups after pilots averaging six months inside the port. According to Deloitte, more than 100 companies have run proofs of concept at the port.
For startups in logistics, supply chain, cyber or industrial tech, Ashdod offers something rare: real operations to test on.
For founders: where to start
Starting a company? The founder's guide to Ashdod covers mentoring, local professionals and events. Looking for a place to work? Meet Hub Ashdod at Kivunim Center. The list of tech companies and startups in Ashdod shows some of the companies working in the city.
On the global map
Ashdod took part in Cohort 3 of the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (REAP), with a team from the Ashdod municipality, SCE Shamoon College of Engineering, the Ministry of Economy, Start-Up Nation Central and JDC Israel.
Where the community meets
Ashdod Tech works with the Ashdod municipality, the Kivunim center and the Open Valley complex, and hosts some of its sessions at HUB Ashdod. See our events
Connect with Ashdod's tech community
Local freelancers and professionals
Developers, designers and marketers from the area, contacted directly.
Meet the Neighbor
A discreet peer circle for founders, CEOs and senior executives living in the area.
Events and meetups
50+ gatherings since launch.
Visiting Ashdod with a delegation, or looking for local partners? Email us and we'll make the right introductions. Email us
FAQ
Is there a tech scene in Ashdod?
Yes. About 25,000 tech professionals and founders live in the greater Ashdod and Gan Yavne area, and Ashdod Port runs an incubator that invests in startups. Most local tech workers still commute to central Israel, which the planned innovation district aims to change.
What is the Ashdod innovation district?
A municipal project at Ashdod's southern entrance, with an investment of about NIS 10 billion, roughly 930,000 sqm for employment and 50,000 to 60,000 projected jobs.
Does Ashdod Port invest in startups?
Yes. The port's incubator, founded in 2021, focuses on logistics, cybersecurity, safety and maritime tech. In 2022 it invested NIS 4.5 million in four startups.
How do I connect with the Ashdod tech community?
Join the Ashdod Tech WhatsApp group, where events and introductions are shared, or email us for partnership and delegation requests.