The US state of Indiana has announced a $60m partnership programme aimed at drawing Israeli technology start-ups to the state and expanding cross-border commercial ties.
Governor Mike Braun has committed $15m in state funding to the initiative, with the Iron Nation partnership contributing upwards of $30m.
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The programme is named Iron Nation–Indiana. It targets Israeli firms looking to establish US headquarters or grow existing operations in Indiana, with a focus on building commercial relationships across healthcare, life sciences, research and advanced manufacturing.
Braun said: “Indiana is committed to competing and winning in the industries shaping the future. Iron Nation–Indiana reflects the kind of partnership we want to pursue -one that combines public leadership, private capital and real commercial opportunity to bring more investment, more innovation and more long-term value to our state.”
Iron Nation was founded in the aftermath of 7 October, when Hamas carried out a large-scale assault in Israel in which around 1,200 people were killed, and 251 were taken hostage. The Israeli military campaign in Gaza that followed has killed over 70,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Many international organisations and scholars, including a UN inquiry, have deemed it a genocide.
The organisation was founded as a venture investment platform designed to back Israeli start-ups during a period of market disruption.
Iron Nation was co-founded by Gil Friedlander, Chen Linchevski and Jason Wolf, who serve as managing partners.
Former Congressman Luke Messer, currently senior vice president and general counsel at Prolific, will serve as the Indiana partner for the programme.
The platform has since developed into an active investment vehicle operating within Israel.
The Indiana initiative extends this model to facilitate cross-border investment, business integration and technology collaboration.
Indiana has positioned itself as a destination for high-growth companies by pointing to assets including research universities, healthcare systems, logistics networks and industrial capabilities.
Friedlander said: “With Iron Nation–Indiana, we are building more than an investment platform. We are building a bridge that connects exceptional Israeli entrepreneurs with Indiana’s outstanding business, healthcare and research ecosystem as well as the local Jewish community. That creates an opportunity for our companies and for Indiana to engage innovation earlier and more directly.”
