Anyone researching JVP funding is looking at one of the founding institutions of Israeli venture capital. Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), founded in 1993 by Dr Erel Margalit, is headquartered in Margalit Startup City Jerusalem with offices in Tel Aviv, New York City and Kiryat Shmona. Ranked by Preqin as one of the top ten consistently performing VC firms worldwide, JVP is the reference point for founders asking how to get funding from Jerusalem Venture Partners — and for a model of venture investing built around actually building companies, not just financing them.
JVP funding: thesis and the startup-city model
JVP's thesis pairs investment with company creation. Alongside its funds, the firm operates Margalit Startup Cities — incubator-like hubs in Jerusalem, Be'er Sheva and New York that give portfolio companies office space, mentoring and business support — plus startup hubs such as Kiryat Shmona. Over the past decade it has built international Centers of Excellence: AI and media in Jerusalem, cyber in Be'er Sheva, foodtech in the Galilee, digital health in Haifa, fintech in Tel Aviv, and international cyber and climate-tech in New York City. Core investment areas are cybersecurity, vertical AI, enterprise software and fintech and insurtech, with foodtech, agtech and climate tech added more recently.
Fund scale and stages
JVP has raised close to $2.18 billion across 10 funds, spanning early through expansion stage. Cheque sizes are not publicly disclosed, and the firm invests from early stage through growth, including company-creation bets where it builds alongside founders from day one.
Notable portfolio and exits
JVP's exit record is the stuff of Israeli venture legend. Its landmark companies include CyberArk (NASDAQ: CYBR), which reached a $10 billion valuation and was acquired by Palo Alto Networks for $25 billion; Qlik (NASDAQ: QLIK), acquired for $3 billion; and Chromatis, acquired by Lucent for $4.8 billion. More recent winners include insurtech unicorn Earnix, in which JVP raised $290 million from TPG to increase its stake. The firm has facilitated 12 IPOs on NASDAQ and dozens of strategic acquisitions, and its own materials cite 42 exits.
Partners
The firm is led by founder and executive chairman Dr Erel Margalit, alongside general partners Yoav Tzruya and Fiona Darmon. The team is known for deep technological expertise and an unusually hands-on, company-building approach.
How to apply for funding
JVP does not run a public accelerator application process. Founders reach the firm through the contact channels on jvpvc.com and through the Margalit Startup City network, with warm introductions via portfolio founders and co-investors the most effective route. The firm invests across early to expansion stages; as with many established VCs, a crisp narrative about building a category leader in cyber, AI, enterprise software or fintech travels furthest. No public startup-credit or perks programme has been published.
Why it matters for founders
JVP is the institutional memory of Israeli venture capital — three decades, $2.18B raised, and a company-building machine in the form of its Startup Cities. For founders in cyber, AI, enterprise software or fintech, a JVP partnership means patient, builder-grade support from a team that has shepherded companies from Jerusalem to NASDAQ. Approach through the startup-city network or a warm introduction, and come ready to talk about building a global category leader.