Israeli universities rank in global top 5 for founders of major tech companies

Three Israeli universities have made it into the global top five for the number of research master's graduates who founded 'unicorn' companies (valued at over $1 billion) in the US. Tel Aviv University took third place, the Hebrew University fourth, and the Technion fifth. The data comes from a report by Stanford professor Ilya Strebulaev, published by Calcalist. It is noted that this is problematic for Israel's economy due to a 'brain drain'.

Three Israeli universities have entered the top five globally for the number of research master's graduates who founded startups in the US with a market valuation exceeding $1 billion (unicorns). This was reported by the economic publication Calcalist on Monday, August 10, citing a report by Stanford University professor Ilya Strebulaev, who studies venture capital and innovation. Tel Aviv University ranks third in the world, behind only Britain's Cambridge (19 founders) and Oxford (16). The Hebrew University is in fourth place with 8 founders, and the Technion shares fifth place with Canada's University of Toronto (7). Bar-Ilan University also made the top 15 with 4 founders. The study identified 347 research master's graduates from 206 universities outside the US who founded 270 unicorn companies. It is noted that this only counts holders of a research master's degree; without including bachelor's and non-research master's graduates, the Israeli positions are likely even stronger. Strebulaev notes that British universities lead at the master's level but are not among the leaders at the bachelor's level, where the leading institutions are universities in Israel and India. According to 2024 data, Tel Aviv University led in the number of founders of American unicorns among graduates of all levels—42 people, followed by the Technion with 31, and Reichman University with 14. For the Israeli economy, these results are problematic: it would be more beneficial if unicorns were founded in Israel. The data reflects a 'brain drain' phenomenon abroad.