A remarkable surge is sweeping through Israel’s tech landscape—but not in plain sight. According to a new report by Dealigence, compiled in collaboration with Google for Startups, the country has seen a 30% rise in stealth-mode startup founders over the past year. These are entrepreneurs deliberately keeping their ventures under wraps until the right moment.
 The data reveals that 1,054 individuals are currently building startups in stealth mode. These aren’t company counts—most startups have more than one founder—but it signals an unmissable pulse of entrepreneurial energy rising beneath the surface.

Israel’s Startup Baby Boom—Poised for 2025 Unveiling

Dealigence analyzed over 5,000 professional profiles of self-identified stealth-mode entrepreneurs active between May 2023 and April 2024. According to Adam Lazovski, CEO of Dealigence, this signals a “startup baby boom” that’s expected to go public in 2025.
 Many of these founders are not first-timers—one in three previously held senior roles, suggesting a pool of serial entrepreneurs. Moreover, 60% come from technical or development backgrounds, while 3.2% are alumni of tech giants like Microsoft, Intel, Amazon, or Meta. A significant number also hail from the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), with extended military service being the most commonly shared trait among stealth founders.

A Bold Response to a Shifting Tech Climate

This quiet momentum offers a counter-narrative to concerns about a slowdown in Israel’s startup ecosystem due to geopolitical turmoil and military reserve duties. With rising global tensions and local unrest, many feared a drop in innovation and company formation. However, the surge in stealth activity is proof that Israeli entrepreneurship remains defiant and adaptive.
 As the report states, “The abundance of entrepreneurs quietly building companies signals an upcoming surge in early-stage funding rounds and new company announcements.”

Global Trends Fueling the Stealth Mode Phenomenon

Israel isn’t alone in this stealth movement. Across the world, startups are increasingly choosing silence over spotlight—and for good reason. Post-2021, the burst of the high-tech bubble and a labor market shift have made it less necessary to publicly broadcast new ventures to attract talent. Additionally, the explosion of generative AI has introduced a new fear—idea theft and product cloning. Founders worry that their innovations could be copied and scaled faster by deep-pocketed incumbents. The result? A strategic move toward secrecy.

Israel Outpaces Global Tech Hubs in Stealth Activity

Despite being a small country, Israel punches far above its weight in startup activity. Compared to the U.K., which has a population nearly seven times larger, Israel has an almost identical number of stealth-mode founders. And per capita, Israel boasts 5.5 times more stealth entrepreneurs than the U.S.

This isn’t just a testament to resilience—it’s a reflection of Israel’s deeply ingrained entrepreneurial culture, one that thrives even under pressure.

Silence as Strategy in Times of Crisis

Local context adds another layer to Israel’s stealth trend. Following the judicial overhaul and the outbreak of war, many startups are opting to remain quiet out of respect for the national mood and due to the unpredictability of reserve duty call-ups. Founders have avoided public announcements, press coverage, or even disclosing funding rounds—choosing instead to build in silence.

The Hidden Billions: Underreported Fundraising Activity

The trend is also challenging how we understand funding data. Dealigence reports a significant underreporting gap between what’s publicly disclosed and what’s actually happening.
 For example, in Q1 2025, only 96 funding rounds totaling $2.13 billion were publicly reported. But estimates suggest the real number was closer to 200 rounds raising nearly $3 billion. Across 2024, the reported funding was $10 billion, but insiders believe the true figure is around $12 billion.

What This Means for 2025 and Beyond

Israel’s stealth-mode surge is not a sign of decline—it’s a recalibration. A smart, calculated choice to build stronger before going louder.

By the time these ventures emerge from the shadows, the tech world might witness a tsunami of innovation from a region that’s long been dubbed the “Startup Nation.” For now, the silence is strategic. But the next wave of Israeli tech disruptors is already in motion—quietly rewriting the rules of resilience, innovation, and growth.