Israeli-founded companies are making a substantial impact on the New York State economy by generating significant revenue and hiring New Yorkers, according to the findings of a study released by the New York – Israel Business Alliance.
The study is published while New York state governor Andrew Cuomo is in Israel to carry out what he said is an economic mission.
The independent study determined that Israeli-founded companies in New York directly contributed $18.6 billion in revenue in 2018. The economic benefit to New York jumped to $33.8 billion when factoring in additional spending on goods and services in the local economy, representing 2.02% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product.
The 506 Israel-founded companies in New York State directly employed 24,850 New Yorkers and indirectly employed 27,502 when accounting for the additional demand for local goods and services.
The study focused on recent growth trends and found that from 2014 to 2016, Israeli companies secured $3.5 billion in venture capital funding and, in 2016 alone, were responsible for more than 20% of the total capital raised in New York State.
From 2016 to 2018, the growth continued. During those years, Israeli-founded businesses had a 9.5% year-over-year growth for direct revenue generated, while the rest of the state grew by 4.2%. Further, Israeli-founded businesses added new jobs at double the state’s rate: Israeli companies saw 2.5% job growth while the rest of the state had 1.2%.
Stax Inc., a global management consulting firm, conducted the study by applying methodology that was developed and later updated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Technion, and Beijing’s Tsinghua University. The research relies primarily on data from 2016 and 2018.
One of the individuals accompanying Gov. Cuomo on trip was Eric Gertler, executive chairman of U.S.News & World Report. Gertler, a board member of Technion, is also a trustee of the Zuckerman Institute that oversees a large STEM exchange of post-doctoral students between Israel and the United States as well as the construction of a new building on the Western Wall plaza that will be completed in late 2020.
“The relationship between the great state of New York and the great nation of Israel is critically important,” noted Gertler during his recent visit to Israel with Gov. Cuomo. “New York State is the top state for exports to Israel – with roughly $5 billion annually – and New York State has helped to incubate many Israeli startups and supported them through the State’s economic development programs.”
Five Israeli-Founded Unicorns
New York State is home to five Israeli-founded unicorns – startups valued at $1 billion and above: Compass, Lemonade, Payoneer, Taboola, and WeWork.
From 2009 to 2018, 436 Israeli-founded companies opened and maintained offices in New York State. Including the standard multiplier effect on the local economy, from 2016 to 2018, the overall revenue and employment impact of Israeli-founded businesses in New York increased by 8.7% and 3.0% per year, respectively.
The report also identified industries ripe for development and growth, based on compatibility between key New York State economic development initiatives and Israeli expertise: agriculture, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, drones, life sciences, and renewable energy.
“For anyone who has spent time in New York over the past decade, it’s evident that Israeli businesses are flourishing here,” New York – Israel Business Alliance founder Aaron Kaplowitz said. “For the first time, we’re able to quantify their impact and use data to help create additional jobs and generate more revenue across New York State.”
Guided by data, New York – Israel Business Alliance monitors economic development activity and trends in the public and private sectors to identify bilateral business growth potential. The Alliance hosts information seminars, organizes trade missions, and provides its members with funding notifications and investment opportunities.
