Striker Ventures Partners, a newly established U.S. venture capital firm, has announced its formal entry into the Israeli market with a significant financial and strategic commitment. The San Francisco–based fund plans to allocate up to half of its $165 million inaugural fund to Israeli startups, underscoring confidence in the country’s early-stage technology ecosystem. The move positions Israel as a core pillar of Striker’s global investment strategy rather than a secondary market.
A New Fund with a Focused Strategy
Founded in 2025, Striker Ventures was created by a group of former partners from CRV, one of Silicon Valley’s longest-standing venture capital firms. The fund is led by Max Gazor, who previously served as a senior partner at CRV and built a track record in early-stage technology investing. Striker’s leadership team largely consists of CRV alumni, reflecting continuity in investment philosophy and execution.
Commitment to Israel’s Startup Ecosystem
Striker stated that as many as five of the 10 companies it plans to back will be Israeli, representing up to 50 percent of the total fund. This level of exposure is notable at a time when many global investors remain selective about geographic risk. The fund has already made its first Israeli investment, although details remain undisclosed as the company is operating in stealth mode.
Early-Stage and Pre-Revenue Investments
The fund’s model is deliberately concentrated, with plans to invest in only around 10 startups overall. Individual investments will range from $5 million to $30 million, all directed at companies in the pre-seed, seed, or Series A stages with no revenue at the time of investment. This approach contrasts with larger U.S. funds that typically deploy capital later and across broader portfolios.
Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence at the Core
Striker is focused exclusively on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, two sectors that continue to attract the majority of global venture capital interest. The firm specializes in identifying founding teams before their technologies are fully formed, and in some cases before products exist at all. According to the fund, this emphasis allows it to shape companies from inception and increase their long-term chances of success.
Leadership on the Ground in Israel
To lead its Israeli operations, Striker appointed Matan Lamdan as a partner with responsibility for cybersecurity investments. Lamdan brings a background that bridges Israel’s defense and technology sectors, having spent roughly a decade in the IDF’s Unit 8200 and the Intelligence Directorate. He later studied at Stanford University, worked as an investigative journalist, and joined CRV, where he was involved in several Israeli cybersecurity investments.
Rationale Behind the Investment Model
Gazor has said the idea for Striker grew out of more than 15 years of experience making pre-revenue investments at CRV. He argues that the strategy is particularly effective in Israel, where many of the country’s most important innovations emerge at very early stages. By committing deeply to a small number of teams, the fund believes it can provide meaningful operational support alongside capital.
Striker’s entry comes amid signs of recovery in Israel’s technology sector following a period of geopolitical uncertainty. Foreign investors, particularly U.S. funds, continue to play a dominant role in the market, with cybersecurity and AI accounting for a large share of capital raised. While some observers have raised concerns about overconcentration in these fields, Striker views early-stage focus as.