Raz Eshel has always been fascinated by the intersection of leadership, technology, and entrepreneurship—a meeting point between meaningful service and creating innovative solutions. From a young age, he sought ways to combine the two, and his path toward this goal was clear: a military boarding school, service as a pilot cadet, a combat soldier, and a paratrooper company commander. During his service, Raz not only led complex operations but also bridged cultural and political divides—such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he successfully facilitated collaboration between ultra-Orthodox communities and security systems. The integration of military principles with technological innovation became his DNA, and now, he applies it to his entrepreneurial endeavors.

After his military service, Raz didn’t just identify problems; he sought to solve them. Fueled by his passion for creating change, he founded 2141 IGNITE, a unique program designed to help former officers turn their entrepreneurial ideas into technological realities. Under his leadership, the program has raised over $2 million and guided various companies through technological and business challenges.

During the “Iron Swords” war, Raz served as a combat officer in a paratrooper reserve unit while maintaining as much connection as possible with the founders of the startups supported by the Ignite 2141 accelerator—offering support not only during routine times but also during emergencies.

Raz stands as a role model in the defense ecosystem and is dedicated to integrating combat officers into Israel’s high-tech industry.