The Young Entrepreneurs Behind Weccelerate: From Be’er Sheva to Startup Success
Since they first met as kids in Neighborhood D of Be’er Sheva, Alon Pinchas and Ido Sabag knew they were entrepreneurs at heart. So it’s no surprise that in their adult lives they joined forces to launch Weccelerate, a company specializing in accelerating startups, working side by side to equip entrepreneurs with the tools to turn their ideas into successful ventures.
Dozens of Israeli entrepreneurs try each year to develop an idea into a successful startup, but often, achieving this requires a guiding and professional hand. This is the idea that sparked the journey of Alon and Ido, two childhood friends from Be’er Sheva, who in 2017, together with their third partner Avraham, founded Weccelerate, a company focused on supporting startups.
“As teens, we had a hip-hop band in the city. We performed on Independence Day stages, in parades, and at the Youth Center… but what really interested us was managing the group—working with dancers, the financial side. Even back then, as high schoolers in Be’er Sheva, we saw ourselves as entrepreneurs,” Alon told Be’er Sheva Net.
Their friendship began in childhood and strengthened through shared schooling. During military service, Ido met Odiya, who later became his wife—and she, in turn, introduced Alon to his future wife, Merav. “During the army, Alon served in the Paratroopers and I was in Field Intelligence. We’d meet occasionally on weekends. When I met Odiya, I knew I had to introduce Alon to someone perfect for him—and that’s how he met Merav. They even got married before us,” Ido recounted.
Childhood Friends from Be’er Sheva – Alon Pinchas and Ido Sabag
Later, they pursued academic degrees and gradually gained experience in their respective fields. Alon Pinchas, CEO of the company, holds a degree in Economics and Accounting and previously served as the financial controller of Intel’s Kiryat Gat plant. He brings strong experience in company valuation for investment and acquisition and has strategic investor relationships locally and globally.
Ido Sabag, Weccelerate’s CTO, holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a research-based Master’s in Green Engineering. Before joining Weccelerate, he developed an innovative startup in renewable energy and worked as an engineer in a plastics plant handling diverse projects, all of which now contribute to his ability to connect with entrepreneurs and support their startup success.
Joining them is Avraham Hinuch, the company’s marketing expert. An engineering graduate with deep expertise in both traditional and digital marketing, Avraham has a proven track record in growing businesses.
Together, they built Weccelerate—an accelerator that until recently worked primarily with Pre-Seed and Seed startups, and now also supports Round A ventures.
“Today’s teens have more tools than ever to enter the world of entrepreneurship early on. That’s a huge gift to Be’er Sheva—something we lacked in high school.”
So what led you to start a company together?
Alon: “Avraham was my neighbor, and together we decided to launch Weccelerate. He had already worked with many businesses in marketing, and our friends started coming to us for startup advice. The name Weccelerate comes from ‘we accelerate’—we take ideas and help entrepreneurs fast-track them. A few weeks in, we realized that although we had marketing and finance experience, we needed a strong tech arm. I knew Ido was the perfect fit—my childhood friend, a professional, and exactly the kind of person we needed. I always say: Ido met his first wife, and I introduced him to his second.”
Ido: “We scheduled a meeting at my house in Be’er Sheva. My wife was nine months pregnant with our second child. She barely had time to bring us refreshments when her water broke—we rushed to the hospital, and she gave birth that evening. That’s when I knew something big was beginning—on both fronts.”
Did you realize your knowledge could help other startups grow? Can you share an example?
Alon: “Definitely. Many business consultants are out there, but entrepreneurs noticed we came from the industry—we understand the market and how to help them scale. That brought a surge of inquiries. We worked in partnership for two years, and since 2019, we’ve operated as a limited company based in Tel Aviv. One example: a founder in Israel wanted to solve ambulance delays caused by traffic. We researched and discovered a U.S. company—Haas Alert—that already had a solution. We brought that company to Israel, appointed a CEO, signed an exclusive import deal, and are now running a pilot with one of the country’s largest emergency organizations. This shows how building the right path is crucial. If that founder had gone ahead unaware of competition, he likely would’ve failed.”
At what stage do you support entrepreneurs? Early idea or later on?
Ido: “We see two types of founders. Some arrive deeply attached to an idea, maybe even obsessed, and don’t always see the right path. Our job is to show them what the market demands or what adjustments are needed to differentiate. Others come early, and after market analysis, we sometimes find the market is too small or crowded—a red ocean. In such cases, raising funds or standing out would be very difficult. Every entrepreneur gets a tailored path.”
Alon: “We support the entire spectrum—from someone with an idea just yesterday to a founder ready for IPO or global expansion. But most who approach us are early-stage. Our strength is in concept development, prototyping, and market validation. Too often, people spend lots of money before validating. Like you hire a lawyer for contracts or a PR person for publicity—you need a firm like ours to check feasibility. It’s a relatively new concept, but entrepreneurs need to get it.”
“Even if the startup fails, the friendship is more important than anything. The company comes second.”
Alon Pinchas, CEO of Weccelerate
Bringing Entrepreneurship to the Negev
Though they now lead a successful company, Alon and Ido admit they weren’t exposed to the tech world at a young age—and they’re working to change that for the next generation in the south.
Alon: “As Be’er Sheva natives, we’re proud of our roots and want the city connected to innovation. But there’s still a big gap between the center and periphery. We’re doing what we can to change that.”
Ido: “During my studies, I led the ‘Young Entrepreneurs’ program at Amal 1 high school. We guided 10th graders through everything from idea testing to creating a product concept. I wanted to show them the path we lacked. Today the country is slowly investing more in youth innovation.”
Why is exposing youth to this world so important to you?
Ido: “Back then, there were no cyber programs or high-tech parks. Today, teens who are exposed early can found startups after the army—some even making an exit at a young age. We lacked that. When I mentored youth, I saw they now have tools we never had. It’s a huge gift to the city.”
Have you supported entrepreneurs from the south?
Alon: “Absolutely. One example is the startup StreetPro, which recently announced Miguel Vitor—captain of Hapoel Be’er Sheva—as a partner. The startup helps athletes from underprivileged backgrounds by collecting performance data and presenting it to recruiters. It’s a perfect example of a local venture that benefits the southern region.”
Ido: “They came to us during the planning stage. We built the strategy, helped recruit partners, and shaped the framework. In football, some succeed because of money or connections—StreetPro creates opportunities for talented players who lack both.”
Why not have your headquarters in Be’er Sheva?
Alon: “We thought about it. We do have offices in the south to support local founders. But most of the startup ecosystem is in the center. The south still needs to mature in this field. We’re working behind the scenes to help—projects are coming. We constantly do talks, events, and leverage our networks to uplift the southern ecosystem.”
Ido: “We also mentor at TECH7, the southern entrepreneurship community, and help southern startups scale to the center.”
“People need to understand—startup success depends on building the right path. If a founder moves ahead without knowing there’s already an identical company out there, they likely won’t succeed.”
Ido Sabag, CTO of Weccelerate
A Winning Combination
Alongside business success, Alon and Ido remain close friends—their families even spend weekends together. Ido, 30, lives in Be’er Sheva, and Alon, 31, lives in Lachish. Both are fathers of three.
Alon: “We do Shabbat dinners together. Merav and Odiya are best friends—they used to live in the same community. So when we visit her parents, we always meet up.”
Did you worry about mixing friendship and business?
Ido: “With Alon, it’s natural. We’ve always worked well together. In high school, we didn’t think about making millions—we just connected as entrepreneurs. We empower each other, and together with Avraham, our third partner, we form a strong team. In general, people should think twice about mixing business and friendship—but if it’s natural, it’s worth it.”
Alon: “To me, it’s about what you value more—the company or the relationship. Our third partner always says he only does business with friends and family—the opposite of popular advice. I agree. Even if the startup collapses, the friendship matters more than anything. The company comes second.”
What would you like to tell Be’er Sheva residents?
Alon: “We still live in the south and are committed to the city. If this article helps local startups grow—that’s what matters most.”
Ido: “To the young entrepreneur in Be’er Sheva who can’t sleep because they’re dreaming of their startup—remember that living far from Tel Aviv doesn’t mean you can’t move forward. I hope we inspire you. If you have an idea, we’ll help you. Success depends on people. If you believe in your idea, others will too. Nothing can stop your determination—and we’re here to help.”