Two Israeli institutions, Tel Aviv University and the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, have secured positions in the top 10 of PitchBook's 2025 global university rankings for producing successful entrepreneurs. The annual report, which tracks venture capital-backed company founders, places Israel as the only country besides the United States with two universities in the top tier.
The rankings highlight the significant impact of these universities' graduates on the global technology and business landscape. According to the data, alumni from these two schools have raised a combined total of over $73 billion for their startup ventures in the past decade.
Key Takeaways
- Tel Aviv University (TAU) ranked 7th globally for the second consecutive year, making it the highest-ranked university outside the U.S.
- The Technion–Israel Institute of Technology entered the top 10 for the first time, driven by its graduates' high rate of company formation.
- Graduates from TAU and Technion have collectively founded over 1,700 companies and raised more than $73 billion in venture capital over the last 10 years.
- Israel is the only nation other than the United States to have two universities in the top 10 of the PitchBook 2025 rankings.
Tel Aviv University Maintains Elite Status
Tel Aviv University has once again been recognized as a global leader in entrepreneurship, placing seventh in the world in the PitchBook 2025 rankings. This marks the second year in a row that TAU has held this position, solidifying its standing among elite institutions like Stanford, Harvard, and MIT.
The university's consistent performance makes it the top-ranked institution for producing entrepreneurs outside of the United States. This distinction underscores its role as a major hub for innovation and startup creation.
Impressive Funding and Company Creation
According to the PitchBook report, 865 entrepreneurs who graduated from TAU have founded 736 companies over the last decade. These ventures have attracted significant investment, raising a combined total of $30 billion in venture capital.
Notable companies founded by TAU alumni include Lendbuzz, a fintech company that recently filed for an IPO after raising over $1 billion, and Next Insurance, which was sold for more than $2.5 billion this year.
"The university is proud to continue to be the entrepreneurial university of Israel," said Professor Moshe Zviran, TAU’s chief entrepreneurship and innovation officer. "The fact that PitchBook ranks us at the top year after year is the best proof of our academic excellence and leadership in creating a generation of entrepreneurs who found companies, raise venture capital and move the Israeli economy forward.”
About the PitchBook Rankings
PitchBook is a financial data and software company that provides information on private and public markets. Its annual university rankings are highly regarded in the venture capital industry, as they track the number of undergraduate alumni who go on to found companies that receive a first round of venture funding.
Technion's Milestone Entry into the Top 10
The Technion–Israel Institute of Technology achieved a significant milestone by entering the global top 10 for the first time. This accomplishment reflects the university's growing influence and the success of its graduates in the startup world.
The data reveals a remarkable level of entrepreneurial activity from Technion alumni. Over the past 10 years, approximately 1,300 entrepreneurs from the institution have founded more than 1,000 companies. These startups have collectively raised an impressive $43 billion in funding.
Undergraduate Success and Regional Leadership
A substantial portion of this success comes from the university's undergraduate programs. The report indicates that 670 startups were founded by undergraduates alone, securing $26 billion in venture capital.
The Technion also stands out among similarly sized institutions. For universities with 15,000–30,000 students, it ranked fifth worldwide and first in the Middle East and Asia, highlighting the exceptionally high rate of entrepreneurship among its graduates.
"Technion alumni are the main economic engine of the State of Israel and are largely responsible for the creation of Israel’s Startup Nation,” stated Technion president Professor Uri Sivan. He noted the university's increased focus on entrepreneurship studies and support systems like its innovation hub, t:hub, and commercialization arm, T3.
Israel's Startup Ecosystem
Israel is often referred to as the "Startup Nation" due to its high concentration of startups and technology companies. The country has one of the highest numbers of startups per capita in the world, and this ranking reinforces the foundational role its universities play in fostering that ecosystem.
Global Context and Other Israeli Institutions
The 2025 PitchBook list was led by American universities, with the University of California, Berkeley, taking the top spot. It was followed by Stanford, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and MIT in the top five.
The performance of TAU and the Technion placed them ahead of several other prestigious universities, including Yale, UCLA, Columbia, and Princeton, which were ranked 12th through 15th, respectively.
Several other Israeli universities also featured prominently in the rankings, demonstrating the country's widespread strength in producing entrepreneurs. The rankings for other Israeli institutions are as follows:
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem: 30th
- Reichman University: 47th
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev: 52nd
- Bar-Ilan University: 90th
This broad representation across the PitchBook list underscores the deep-rooted culture of innovation within Israel's higher education system, which continues to fuel both the national and global technology sectors.
