Tech Titans Unite for Western Negev Revival: Place-IL Spearheads Job Creation Initiative in War-Affected Region

Place-IL was founded in March 2022 as an NGO to create a technological platform for innovative screening processes for the high-tech industry, thus opening the industry's gates to candidates from underrepresented populations. CEO Keren Halpern-Musseri, founded Place-IL with Tendler. She previously served in senior management positions in other NGOs. Dozens of senior executives and leading tech companies have joined Place-IL, including Google as a founding partner, venture capital fund Insight Partners as a strategic partner, and IATI, Israel's leading umbrella organization for high-tech industries.

As part of national efforts to rehabilitate the Gaza envelope communities, Place-IL developed a program aimed at hiring employees who live in the Western Negev or were evacuated for tech companies for positions such as development, data positions or support. Place-IL collaborates with the Western Negev Cluster, local and regional councils, municipalities (including Sderot, Ofakim) and the government. Place-IL has established the "National Fund for High Tech in the Negev" and is raising millions of shekels from tech companies and the government to finance the processes aimed to integrate Western Negev residents into the Tech industry.

"Strengthening and developing the Western Negev is already a national mission of the highest order.Israeli Hi-Tech is highly committed to this task," said Tendler, who also serves as Senior VP at Palo Alto Networks. "This is our time to open the door and draft local personnel who can integrate into the sector. The local presence that high tech companies have created in the Western Negev, and the new employment opportunities, are crucial for building resilience and hope, for the Western Negev residents and the entire nation."

Identifying the talent and the Demand

According to a survey conducted by Place-IL, based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics and academia, there are over 3,000 graduates with relevant degrees, including practical engineers, living in the Western Negev, who have entered the job market in the past three years and can be integrated into the core professions and growth of the tech industry. Place-IL is already inviting these graduates to an accelerated interview track.

Place-IL has already been joined by dozens of leading companies who will accept talents from the surrounding communities that will be scouted by Place-IL and positively reviewed by the companies. Among these companies: NVIDIA, Cisco, Palo-Alto Networks, SalesForce, Armis, Bizzabo, Cadence, Imperva, Axonious, Hibob, Sciplay, and Melio.

"High tech in Israel will play a key role in rehabilitating the Western Negev," added Tendler. "We aim to create, within 3 years, a critical mass of 400 new tech jobs for the Western Negev. Although focusing on high-tech’s core professions, we expect that demand would drive expansion to additional professions such as support and Customer Success. Once there is a critical mass of local talent, the plan is that companies would assemble organic development or support teams in the South, thus forming hubs or remote sites. This, of course, will work as part of a larger scheme formulated by the tech sector and the government to declare the Western Negev a national priority area and encourage people to live there."

What will the Program Look Like?

Place-IL has established a technology-based identification, screening and placement system, which will find talents from the region through its volunteer network (which includes entrepreneurs, CEOs, CTOs, Heads of Development Teams, headhunters and HR personnel). Some of these talents are graduates of local academic institutions, such as Ben-Gurion University, Sapir College, Sammy Shamoon College and Ashkelon College. Place-IL also collaborates with its partners –over 50 of Israel's leading tech companies - to identify specific needs for diverse jobs.

At the end of the screening and evaluation process, the appropriate candidates will be integrated into tech companies. Most candidates are expected to have completed academic studies but have yet to gain practical experience.Employment will begin with a six-month paid internship program, to gain valuable experience for continued integration into the industry. Place-IL will support the candidates and their in-house team leaders to increase chances of the internship's success.

"Place-IL makes Israeli Hi-Tech accessible to its untapped potential in terms of workforce," commented CEO, Keren Halperin-Musseri. "Many candidates, including Western Negev residents, only need one first chance into the industry, which we offer them, to prove themselves and integrate into quality jobs."

Place-IL will establish two locally designated workplaces where employees can work when they are not traveling to HQ offices in central Israel. The workspaces will be used to house hybrid workers from tech companies. Place-IL is adding more tech companies who want to join.

"We're happy to take part in Place-IL's initiative to support the growth and prosperity of the tech ecosystem in south of Israel during these challenging times - wherever there’s talent, we’ll be there," stated Amit Krig, SVP of Software Engineering and NVIDIA Israel R&D Site Leader. "As one of the largest high-tech employers in the periphery of Israel, we look closely at the wealth of talent in the area ,and believe that the potential is even greater."

Cisco Israel CEO, Oren Sagi, also weighed in, "Our partnership with Place-IL has already proven itself when we have won excellent talents who have already integrated into the Company. We would not have reached them without the recruitment model offered by Place-IL. The new initiative led by Place-IL to rehabilitate and grow the Western Negev is in line with Cisco's vision: "To build a future where everyone can participate."