The 12
12 Teams. 12 Hours.
One Shot to Prove You're Fundable.
The most intensive day a DeepTech startup can face. Not for ideas — for founders who are ready.
0
Seats available
0h
To prove it
₪0K
In cash prizes
Registration closes May 19, 2026
The Challenge
12 hours to show you're investment-ready.
The 12 is not a workshop. It's not a pitch competition. It's a simulation of what happens when investors sit across the table and ask the questions that matter.
We're looking for northern Israeli pre-seed and bootstrap DeepTech startups that have something real and need the right room to prove it.
The 12 is suitable for startups from the relevant domain expertise:
AI Integration in Manufacturing
Solutions bringing AI to production floors and industrial operations.
Supply Chain Optimization
Technology that transforms logistics and supply chain efficiency.
Humanoids & Robotics
Next-generation robotics and autonomous systems for industry.
DeepTech / Dual-Use
DefenseTech with civilian applications at industrial scale.
Prizes
Win cash. Win attention.
Three places. Real money. The real prize? Spending 12 hours with investors who have funded Israeli DeepTech from day one — and walking out knowing exactly where you stand, and what it takes to get funded.
- First Place₪15,000
- Second Place₪10,000
- Third Place₪5,000
Who Can Apply
Individual entrepreneurs with ideas or early-stage companies with up to 3 co-founders, prior to receiving substantial investment.
What to Submit?
Applicants should submit a presentation detailing their venture according to a provided deck template, addressing clear evaluation criteria.
Mark your calendar.
May 5, 2026
Registration opens
Applications go live. Spots are limited to 12 teams — apply early.
May 19, 2026
Registration closes at 10:00
Final deadline. No extensions. 12 spots. First qualified, first considered.
May 28, 2026
The 12 — D-Day
12 teams. 12 hours. Pitches, mentoring, investor sessions, and the final awards ceremony. Location: i4Valley, Karmiel.
Not everyone gets in. Apply before it closes.
Registration closes May 19. Only 12 teams will be selected. The application takes less than 10 minutes.
Apply NowMentors
The 12 will feature an esteemed panel of mentors, bringing together leaders and experts from various relevant fields. Our team of mentors will include:
Yoram Horowitz
Director, Moona
Ayellet Zinger
CEO, Leet Strategy
Eli Liraz
Mentor, Agam Aquaculture
PhD. Yaniv Saar
CTO & Co-Founder, Elementics AI
PhD. Elinor Josef
CEO & Co-Founder, Axiv Materials
PhD. Georgy Maikov
CEO & Co-Founder, Elementics AI
PhD. Gili Bittan-Banin
Manager, 3B Accelerator
Yaakov Diminsky
Director of Venture Building, Road2
Yael Goethe
CEO & Co-Founder, Capsule Minimal
About i4Valley
i4Valley helps Israeli northern visionaries by investing in promising pre-seed, early-stage, and bootstrap startups focused on sustainable solutions, while also building tech ventures for global markets.
FAQs
When and where does The 12 take place?
The 12 is a one-day intensive event lasting 12 hours, from 9:00 to 21:00, on May 28, 2026. The event will be held in Karmiel.
What is The 12 agenda?
The 12 is a 12-hour sprint with 12 teams, focused on answering the key questions that matter to investors and presenting them at the end of the day.
The agenda includes opening and orientation, hands-on workshops using Lean Startup methodology adapted for DeepTech, short lectures, business and technological mentoring, pitch preparation, presentations to the judges, Q&A, and a closing session announcing the prize winners.
What is next?
You can submit your idea until May 19, 2026. Acceptance notices will be sent following the screening phase on May 21, 2026.
What types of solutions are in scope?
We welcome solutions across a broad spectrum:
Applications spanning multiple industry verticals; solutions ranging from robotics applications to high-level insights generation; technologies that contribute to autonomous factory development; and any innovative approach using AI or LLMs to transform industrial operations.
What about IP and confidential information?
Participants retain ownership of their existing IP. The 12 does not claim ownership over technologies, ideas, or materials brought by the participants.
Since The 12 is an open innovation event, participants should avoid presenting confidential information, trade secrets, patentable details, or any sensitive proprietary know-how. Teams are encouraged to present the capabilities, value, use cases, and potential applications of their technology, without disclosing protected technical details.
What are the evaluation criteria?
The teams will be evaluated based on the clarity of the problem, strength of the solution, concrete deep tech moat, technological feasibility, business potential, relevance to industrial needs, use of AI or advanced technologies, team capabilities, and quality of the final presentation.