Former Unit 8200 Chief Launches AI Startup Aiming at Government Deals

Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Sariel, who led Israel’s Unit 8200 during the October 7 massacre, has founded a new company called Alma Labs, and the startup is already pursuing government business. According to company records, Alma Labs was incorporated on February 3, 2026, shortly after Sariel moved into civilian life following about three decades in the military. He left the army in 2025 and served as 8200 commander until March 2025, before later being released from reserve duty by IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir as part of accountability measures over October 7.

The company is controlled by Sariel and his partner Uri David Alter, who each hold 48.2% and serve as directors. The rest of the shares are spread among smaller shareholders. Sources familiar with the matter said Alma Labs is already in talks with various government bodies and could eventually become an exclusive provider for the state in its field, although no official tenders or procurement process have been published yet.

Alma Labs’ newly launched website shows that it is building AI learning platforms focused on middle school education. The system is designed to help students create with AI, solve problems, and learn with teacher and institutional support. The company says it works with schools, local authorities, education networks, and national education initiatives, and is seeking new partners ahead of the 2026-2027 school year, but it has not named any institutions or municipalities.

The startup emerges even though Sariel was reported in February to have joined the board of Decart AI, a prominent Israeli AI company. Timeline checks indicate Alma Labs was founded before that appointment became public, and he is expected to remain on Decart’s board while serving as CEO of Alma Labs. Alter is a well-known cyber entrepreneur, a cofounder of Cyabra and later Vdoo, and another Decart executive, Michal Dubdvani Mesika, also holds about 2.5% of Alma Labs, though her role there is unclear. Alma Labs did not respond to the report.