Three Israeli universities placed among the top 10 institutions outside the United States whose research-oriented master’s graduates went on to found US. unicorn companies, with Tel Aviv University (TAU) taking third place worldwide, according to data published by Stanford University Prof. Ilya Strebulaev.
Tel Aviv University produced 12 such founders, placing it behind only the University of Cambridge, with 19, and the University of Oxford, with 16. It also ranked first among Israeli institutions.
The ranking excludes MBA programs and focuses on graduates who completed research-oriented master’s degrees before establishing deep tech unicorn companies in the United States. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem followed Tel Aviv University among Israeli schools, with eight founders, while the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology had seven. Both joined Tel Aviv University in the international top 10. Bar-Ilan University was also included in the ranking, with four founders.
Overall, Strebulaev’s study identified 347 graduates of research-oriented master’s programs at 206 universities outside the United States. Those graduates founded a total of 270 unicorn companies.
Strebulaev’s research at Stanford University focuses on venture capital and innovation.
Prof. Moshe Zviran, Head of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at TAU, said the findings reflected the university’s role in research and entrepreneurship.
“This new study stands out for its focus on graduates of research-oriented master’s programs who went on to found deep tech unicorn companies,” Zviran said.
“It provides further evidence of TAU’s leading position among universities in Israel and around the world, as well as within the global entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Zviran said the results put Tel Aviv University among a small group of leading academic institutions and demonstrated the international reach of its graduates.
“Alongside excellence in research and teaching, TAU works to foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, giving students and researchers the tools to turn knowledge and ideas into meaningful impact,” he said.
