Faith and innovation converge: Israel Business Forum 2025 sparks hope and purpose for Messianic believers in the marketplace

The Israel Business Forum, hosted by Israel Firstfruits, FIRM and CBN, returned last month after a six-year hiatus. The event, held in Netanya from May 6-8, offered a vibrant platform for investors eager to sow into and share in Israel’s growing prosperity. Buzzing with meaningful conversations, fresh ideas, and a spirit of optimism, the forum showcased a wide array of investment opportunities and entrepreneurial innovation.

The three-day forum is more than just an event. It’s a community gathering of men and women who love Israel and are passionate about kingdom values in the marketplace. 

The non-profit organization, Israel Firstfruits Center for Economic Advancement, is the main pioneer behind the project and has been a catalyst for kingdom businesses since its formation in 2012.

After the long break, due to COVID and the Gaza War, the Israel Business Forum relaunched with a renewed passion for connecting investors, business leaders and entrepreneurs from all over the world to take part in what God is doing through investment and business in Israel.   

“​​Because this was our first event since 2019, people were genuinely excited to be coming back to Israel,” explained Michelle Nipp, one of the forum organizers. “Many were waiting to see what would happen with the war, and then were ready to be here.”

However, disaster struck. A Houthi rocket landed very close to the airport just as people were supposed to be traveling, and getting to Tel Aviv suddenly became extremely challenging. Many flights were cancelled, some rerouted mid-air, yet out of 75 delegates coming from overseas, only nine were not able to make it. 

“When the rocket hit, we didn't know what would happen. Would people cancel? After months of preparation – and lots of anticipation – we didn't know... But people showed up for what turned out to be our best forum gathering yet,” Nipp added.

The three-day forum opened with a day focused on building connections – with one another and with Israel –highlighted by tours of key sites. The second day centered on collaboration and the exchange of Kingdom-focused ideas. The final day, dubbed “Start-Up Nation Day,” featured the presentation of dozens of business models and the sharing of ideas across a wide range of fields.

The “Connect Day” was focused on worship and prayer during visits to the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane, where delegates were invited to a special celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The group also visited Israel’s government buildings, where they heard from several Members of Knesset and took time to pray for them. The day concluded at a Messianic community just outside Jerusalem, where they joined together in worship.

The theme of the forum, “Waymakers,” was inspired by Isaiah 40:3-5 and focused on how entrepreneurs can prepare the way of the Lord, looking at how entrepreneurs can make a way for others as they actively pursue God, creating a path so others can follow.

There was time on the “Intersect” day to focus on kingdom values and explore Scriptures together, including Psalm 23. It’s natural for entrepreneurs from the Startup Nation to be expected to pioneer and lead, however, the delegates were reminded of the importance of following the Good Shepherd, even in the valleys and hard places. A panel shared candidly about times of heartbreak, loss and failure, and their openness in exploring the source of identity was a very impactful aspect of the forum.  

Throughout the forum, biblical examples of waymakers – such as Abraham, David, John the Baptist, and Peter – were highlighted, emphasizing their unique callings to Kingdom-oriented entrepreneurship. “If we want to see God move in the marketplace, we must be led by Him,” Nipp emphasized.

The final day featured a Messianic-style version of “Shark Tank,” where participants pitched their ideas to a panel of judges and investors. This year’s winner, “Dr. Wallpaper,” owns a small wallpaper printing and installation business in northern Israel, having built it after overcoming a challenging start in life. He was awarded a financial prize to help expand his workforce.

Naturally, the rise of AI featured prominently, with numerous Israeli entrepreneurs showcasing their strategies for leveraging the technology across a wide range of applications.

“It’s clear to everyone that it’s a revolution, like nothing we’ve ever seen. It’s also not clear where it’s going,” said Dudu, one of the start-up leaders at the Edu-Tech breakout seminar. However, it is clear that companies failing to adopt AI risk becoming obsolete, much like how it’s now unthinkable for a business to operate without the internet.

In the wake of the COVID pandemic a few years ago, various sectors learned to rely on technology in a far more significant way. Similarly, other modern developments have transformed the way we live, giving rise to new business ventures.

The sharp decline in young people's attention spans due to smartphone use has led to the “gamification” of learning as a solution, such as the widely popular language-learning app Duolingo. One of the seminars showcased several innovative ideas for enhancing the learning experience and easing the workload of overburdened teachers, leveraging the wide-ranging possibilities offered by AI.

Brothers Omer and Lior Levi presented their app, Go Math, an initiative using AI to help teach math in an engaging and fun way, while Liat Gadot presented the game-based language learning tool, Voca Tooki.

“Our founders are four Arab Israelis who have taken the mission of bringing languages to bring their culture, and connect different cultures together,” Gadot explained. Today, they facilitate language learning in multiple countries through their distinctive approach and innovative use of technology.

According to Gadot, some 40% of Israel’s companies are mission-driven rather than profit-driven (for example, in the areas of health, agriculture, and education) and are therefore more resilient. But these initiatives are not merely meeting needs: Education tech is a billion-dollar industry. Back in 2023, the industry was valued at $142 billion and is projected to reach $598 billion by 2032, and similar opportunities are opening up in various sectors across the board.

The senior director of Investors and Partnerships at Startup Nation Central, Emma Vardimon, shared in a morning plenary session that 95% of the money invested in Israel comes from private investors. She highlighted the versatility, creativity, and resilience of Israeli entrepreneurs, encouraging delegates to invest primarily in people first. 

“I have been so inspired to see so much life coming out of a broken people in a broken situation,” said one forum participant, capturing the sense of hope and positivity that many felt throughout the event.

At the final banquet, Mordecai Wiseman, who helped establish the forum in his leading role at Israel Firstfruits, was honored by Nipp and Firstfruits CEO Naeem Barhoum in a moving tribute. For many years, Wiseman and his team have facilitated the growth of kingdom-based businesses, helping to connect Israeli entrepreneurs with investors. Moreover, he has done so in the face of very significant opposition. 

Wiseman and his wife, Meira, tragically lost their son Aviel, who was killed on Jan. 13 while serving in an IDF reconnaissance unit in northern Gaza. Given the circumstances and Israel's ongoing war against Hamas, the business forum could understandably have been canceled. However, Wiseman chose to move forward, wanting to honor the guidance they believed they had received from God to hold the event during this significant year, despite personal challenges.

At the funeral, which was attended by hundreds, Wiseman shared: “We’re here on the face of the earth to be an expression of God’s love, for his glory,” with words that characterize his own faithful service.

He concluded the eulogy with heartfelt words that deeply resonated with the spirit and purpose of the Forum: “Don’t compromise on the truth, pursue righteousness… invest in what is right with integrity and confidence. Do that and you’ll be a blessing to all those around you.”

Watch a recap of the Israel Business Forum, held from May 6 to 8.