Finding the next Unicorn at a Tel Aviv Pool Party – Nexus Club Founders Fix Funding Gap in Israeli Market

Israel’s startup ecosystem has always operated under pressure. But now, it succeeds even with the backdrop of missiles flying overhead. While Israel gets flack in the UN, it gets praise and interest from investors around the world even during conflict and economic uncertainty. Nexus is a young company that is positioning itself as a connector between seed-stage and investment-ready Israeli startups / entrepreneurs and the capital they need to survive and scale. Nexus Club works with a network of investors, advisors, and startup professionals across Israel to help move their companies forward.

Founded by Gavriel Ariel and Nir Hazut, Nexus operates at a critical but often overlooked stage of the startup pipeline: the pre-seed phase, where companies are too early for traditional venture capital but urgently need strategic backing. The team is also supported by Yonatan Nir Harel, who helps manage Nexus Club’s deal flow, maintain ongoing communication with entrepreneurs and investors, and organize key information through an in-house AI agent. 

The company describes itself as more than a management firm, instead adopting what its founders call a “family office mindset,” working closely with a curated portfolio of startups and treating each as a long-term partnership. Their goal is simple in theory but difficult in execution—matching the right entrepreneurs with the right investors at precisely the right moment.

Hazut, who previously pursued a career in acting in the United States before transitioning into business, says the company was built around a clear mission: to help strong founding teams access funding and expand beyond Israel. Ariel, who brings over a decade of experience in the field, emphasizes the importance of timing and relationships in early-stage growth. Together, the two focus heavily on what they describe as “boots on the ground” work—meeting founders in accelerators, at events, and even in informal settings across Tel Aviv’s party scene. You can call that flip-flops on the ground. 

“I was at a pool party… and a friend introduced me to someone with such a good idea and such a good team… and now we are helping this guy to raise funds,” said Nexus Co-Founder Nir Hazut. 

When asked what the company was, Hazut said he couldn’t share too many details. 

“It’s a gen AI company… those companies like to keep what they’re doing secret. They don’t want competitors, obviously. But we meet them and we can help” he added.

The simple truth is that there’s no replacement for being on the scene. In Israel, business is struck up on army bases, lines for falafel and …during an escape from the heat at a pool party. That’s where Nir and Gavriel have an advantage– their personal networks. 

“When I go to conferences, I’m meeting startups. When I go to lunch with friends, I meet startups. I go to parties at night – I meet startups,” Hazut explained. 

The company’s work extends beyond matchmaking. Nexus advises startups on team building, narrative development, and fundraising strategy—helping founders refine how they present themselves to investors. According to the founders, crafting a compelling “fundraising story” can be the difference between being overlooked and securing critical meetings. Their involvement can also include facilitating key hires or connecting companies with strategic partners.

Early results suggest the model can move quickly. In one recent case, a company pivoting from 3D printing into drone manufacturing saw rapid growth after being introduced to new investors through Nexus, with the founders estimating a sharp increase in traction within weeks. In another example, a startup seeking funding secured a match with a single investor—an unusually efficient outcome in a process that often requires dozens of meetings.

“I understood that it would be pretty complicated to get an investor for him,” Hazut said. “But I remembered! There was one guy, one investor in our portfolio that could make the difference for this guy.”

And it was a great success. 

While Israel is known for its strong venture capital environment, Ariel and Hazut argue that many promising startups never reach later funding stages simply because they fail to secure the right early backing and don’t promote their story with the correct angle.

While Nexus is usually working to shore up stories and create introductions, the team also connects people with valuable human capital. Sometimes teams could benefit from meeting the right employees. Its something Ariel and Hazut are happy to set up. 

Both founders frame their work not only as economic, but ideological—rooted in a belief that entrepreneurship can strengthen Israel’s global position and foster cross-border relationships.

“To be a Zionist is to get people together behind an idea—to bring peace to the world, bring good into the world,” Ariel said. “And this is the time to invest in Israel.”

Ariel told the Israel Daily News he is inspired by the founder of modern Zionism – Theodore Herzl. Herzl took his vision for a Jewish State and turned it into the World Zionist Organization in 1897 and later met with European heads of state and the Ottoman Sultan to negotiate the establishment of a Jewish homeland. He is the only person to be mentioned by name in Israel’s Declaration of Independence. 

“I learned from Herzl about entrepreneurship – today we can export Zionism to the world through the business lens – and bring many people together for this vision. And we need more people to get behind it,” said Ariel.

As Nexus continues to grow its portfolio, the company is positioning itself as both a gateway for Israeli startups and a scouting arm for international investors looking to enter the market. In a fast-moving ecosystem, their bet is that relationships, timing, and trust still matter most—and that the right introduction can change the trajectory of a company that deserves to get proper time on the air.

For founders, investors, and strategic partners interested in the Israeli technology ecosystem, Nexus Club invites relevant players to connect, explore opportunities, and become part of a curated network built around trust, quality deal flow, and meaningful business connections. To learn more or get in touch, visit: https://nexusil.io/.