Israeli Reserve Soldiers Launch Entrepreneurship Program to Rebuild Careers After Military Service
The prolonged reserve military service in recent years has left many Israeli reservists facing damaged businesses, interrupted careers, and personal and financial challenges. Mike Silverberg, founder of the 18X Elite Impact entrepreneurship program, spoke at the National Economic Conference organized by Calcalist, Bank Leumi, and Clal, highlighting the difficulties reservists face returning to the workforce and the program’s goal to provide tools, mentorship, and a supportive environment to help them start anew.
Silverberg explained that the program, launched in May 2025, currently supports over 1,200 reservists. Participants have created more than 160 ventures that have raised over $116 million. Some entrepreneurs joined with new ideas, while others brought existing projects needing a boost. The initiative was inspired by Silverberg’s involvement in efforts to locate missing and kidnapped individuals after the October 7 attacks, where he witnessed diverse groups collaborating and realized the need to shift from protest to entrepreneurship.
He noted that many reservists experienced a shift in priorities due to the war, with some losing jobs or motivation. Silverberg recounted meeting reservists who were rejected by employers because their resumes listed combat service, but were reconsidered once that detail was removed. Identifying as post-traumatic since Operation Protective Edge, Silverberg emphasized the program’s aim is not to turn trauma into entrepreneurship but to foster meaning, excellence, and autonomy through practical experience and support.
He also challenged the notion that entrepreneurship is exclusive to tech unit veterans, stating that combat soldiers bring valuable perseverance, teamwork, and crisis management skills but need a bridge to the entrepreneurial world. Addressing investor concerns about reservists’ frequent military commitments, Silverberg argued that overcoming such challenges signals resilience and commitment, which investors value. While business success will measure the program’s impact, its ultimate goal is to assist reservists in finding meaningful professional paths, even if they do not continue as entrepreneurs.
