Rhode Island Israel Collaborative

What Rhode Island Israel Collaborative does

The Rhode Island Israel Collaborative (RIIC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) chamber of commerce founded in 2017 by Avi Nevel, headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. RIIC's stated mission is to foster trade, business, academic exchange, and research collaboration between Rhode Island and Israel. The organization operates with 1–10 employees and serves as a bilateral connector rather than a technology company, with no proprietary product or platform; instead, RIIC functions as a coordination layer between government, academic, healthcare, and commercial stakeholders across the two regions.

RIIC generates revenue primarily through a six-tier annual membership program (ranging from $30 for Student members to $50,000 for Platinum members) and supplementary event revenue from conferences, workshops, and delegations. Its program portfolio includes the Aquaculture Conference, BIRD Foundation workshops (facilitating access to bilateral R&D grants of up to $1M), the quarterly Coffee Rush Hour series, the Israeli Gamechangers speaker series, the Rhode Island–Israel BlueTech Startup Competition, the Little States Big Innovation web series, and dedicated committees for Healthcare and BlueTech/Aquaculture. Distribution is conducted through a Wix-hosted website, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, newsletters, and in-person events in Rhode Island and Israel.

RIIC's strategic posture is institutional rather than commercial. The organization has facilitated landmark bilateral agreements — including Governor Gina Raimondo's 2019 Israel trade mission and a cooperation agreement with Ben Gurion University — and has built a partner network spanning the Consulate General of Israel to New England, HUBASHDOD (Israel's 6th-ranked startup ecosystem per StartupBlink 2020), the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce (~1,100 members), Innovate Newport, Brown University Health, and multiple universities. As a 501(c)(6) trade association, RIIC is funded by membership dues and donations rather than venture or institutional capital, and does not pursue conventional revenue scaling.

Name

Rhode Island Israel Collaborative

Legal name

Rhode Island Israel Collaborative

Website

https://theriic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rhode Island Israel Collaborative (RIIC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) chamber of commerce founded in 2017 that facilitates trade, academic exchange, and research collaboration between Rhode Island and Israel through membership programs, events, trade missions, and bilateral partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: RIIC generates revenue through annual membership fees at six tiers ranging from $30 (Student) to $50,000 (Platinum), providing varying levels of access to events, business development support, and connections.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from event tickets, sponsorships, and programs including conferences, workshops, and networking events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

RIIC is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) chamber of commerce that fosters trade, business, academic exchange, and research between Rhode Island and Israel. It delivers this through six tiered annual membership levels ($30 Student to $50,000 Platinum), recurring programs such as the Aquaculture Conference, Coffee Rush Hour, Israeli Gamechangers, Rhode Island-Israel BlueTech Startup Competition, Little States Big Innovation Web Series, and Rhode Island Virtual Trade Mission, alongside sector-specific committees (BlueTech & Aquaculture Committee, HealthCare Committee). The organization also connects member companies to BIRD Foundation grants of up to $1,000,000 for joint US-Israel development projects.

Product overview

The Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative (RIIC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) chamber of commerce that operates programs facilitating trade, business, academic exchange, and research between Rhode Island and Israel. The organization offers tiered membership programs (Student through Platinum) and manages various programs including the Aquaculture Conference, BIRD Foundation connection programs, Coffee Rush Hour quarterly business affairs, Israeli Gamechangers speaker series, Rhode Island-Israel BlueTech Competition, and Little States Big Innovation Web Series. Additionally, RIIC operates specialized committees including the BlueTech & Aquaculture Committee and HealthCare Committee. The organization does not offer a technical product but rather serves as a networking and facilitation entity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RIIC Membership Programs Tiered annual membership offering six levels from Student ($30/year) through Individual ($100), Bronze ($500), Silver ($2,500), Gold ($10,000), and Platinum ($50,000), each with escalating benefits including event tickets, recognition, business development support, funding assistance, and connections to potential partners. For companies, institutions, and individuals seeking bilateral Rhode Island–Israel engagement.
• Aquaculture Conference Annual conference focused on aquaculture collaboration between Rhode Island and Israel, including sustainable aquaculture initiatives. Hosted with partners including Roger Williams University. For companies, researchers, and institutions in the blue economy.
• BIRD Foundation Programs Programs connecting companies with the BIRD Foundation for funding opportunities of up to $1,000,000 for joint Israeli-U.S. development projects. RIIC hosts workshops together with partners including the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship at Brown University. For companies pursuing joint US-Israel R&D projects.
• Coffee Rush Hour Quarterly virtual business affair program connecting Rhode Island and Israel businesses with updates on innovation and economics. For business members and prospective partners in both regions.
• Israeli Gamechangers Program highlighting Israeli companies and innovators making an impact, featuring speakers from the Israeli tech sector. For business members and the broader Rhode Island business community interested in Israeli innovation.
• Rhode Island-Israel BlueTech Startup Competition Startup competition connecting blue tech ecosystems between Ashdod, Israel and Newport, Rhode Island, with prizes including cash and trips to partner countries. For early-stage companies in blue economy, marine robotics, and aquaculture.
• Little States, Big Innovation Web Series Web series showcasing innovation and business opportunities between Rhode Island and Israel. For businesses, entrepreneurs, and the general public interested in bilateral opportunities.
• BlueTech & Aquaculture Committee Industry committee focused on sustainable blue economy growth through Rhode Island-Israel collaboration in marine robotics, offshore energy, blue biotechnology, and aquaculture. For companies and researchers in the blue economy.
• HealthCare Committee Committee focused on healthcare and life sciences collaboration between Rhode Island and Israel, including medical research partnerships, healthcare missions, and physician exchanges. Co-chaired by Dr. Alex Cutler and Dr. May-Tal Sauerbrun Cutler. For hospitals, medical schools, and healthcare companies.
• Rhode Island Virtual Trade Mission Virtual trade mission program facilitating business connections between Rhode Island and Israeli companies. For businesses and entrepreneurs seeking cross-border introductions.

Quantifiable outcome

• BIRD Foundation funding available up to $1M per joint US-Israel project

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brown University HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Major Rhode Island healthcare system hosting landmark medical collaboration agreements with Israeli institutions, including the May 2026 healthcare collaboration event honoring Israeli-American physicians.
• Ben Gurion UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2019Israeli university that signed a cooperation agreement with Rhode Island in November 2019 during Governor Gina Raimondo's trade mission to Israel.
• Innovate NewportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoworking space and innovation hub that co-hosts BlueTech startup competitions and BIRD Foundation workshops with RIIC, supporting the blue economy connection between Rhode Island and Israel.
• Greater Newport Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNearly 1,100-member chamber of commerce collaborating on BlueTech competitions and the International Innovations Series to bridge Rhode Island and Israeli markets.
• HUBASHDOD (Ashdod Innovation Hub)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsraeli technological entrepreneurship hub in Ashdod, ranked 6th in Israel's ecosystem by StartupBlink in 2020. Co-organizes the BlueTech Startup Competition with RIIC and Innovate Newport.
• Consulate General of Israel to New EnglandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIsraeli diplomatic mission co-sponsoring RIIC events including the Israel Travel Fair and BlueTech competitions, providing government-level support for bilateral relations.
• Roger Williams UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for International Aquaculture Conference (June 2024) and site of Blue Revolution sustainable aquaculture event.
• Nelson Center for EntrepreneurshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrown University's entrepreneurship center co-hosting BIRD Foundation workshops with RIIC.
• Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode IslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish community organization co-hosting the Israel Travel Fair with RIIC.
• Israeli Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFederation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce referenced for business opportunities in Israel.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Massachusetts-Israel Chamber of Commerce: New England–based bilateral chamber connecting Massachusetts and Israel, with comparable programming around trade missions, startup matchmaking, and member tiers. Closest geographic peer given Rhode Island's location and shared New England business ecosystem.
• Israel-America Chamber of Commerce: Israel-side American chamber of commerce focused on facilitating bilateral US–Israel business ties, including trade missions, B2B matchmaking, and member services. Most structurally analogous to RIIC in mission and operating model, but anchored in Israel at national scale rather than US state-level.
• American-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC Chicago): Long-running bilateral chamber fostering B2B trade, investment, and R&D partnerships between Midwestern US firms and Israeli companies. Comparable service model with program-based member engagement around bilateral deal-making.

Others

• BIRD Foundation: Binational US–Israel R&D funding foundation providing the grants (up to $1M) that RIIC helps members access. Not a peer but an enabling partner whose continued operation is the economic engine behind much of RIIC's value proposition.
• Jewish Federation of Greater Rhode Island: Regional Jewish communal organization that co-hosts Israel-related events with RIIC. Thematically aligned around Israel engagement and has overlapping membership demographics, though its mission is broader community/welfare rather than trade facilitation.

Broad incumbents

• New England–Israel Business Council: Regional business council covering all of New England and Israel. Operates in overlapping geography and segments but at a broader, multi-state scale rather than the sub-state RI-specific scope of RIIC.
• Start-Up Nation Central: Israeli nonprofit addressing a similar mission of connecting global (including US) businesses to Israeli innovation ecosystems. Operates at national Israeli scale with deeper technology-sector specialization than RIIC.
• America Israel Business Council (AIBL): National US-based nonprofit promoting US–Israel commerce and investment. Substitutable to RIIC for companies seeking a bilateral platform but operates at US nationwide scale with broader advocacy footprint.

Regional players

• Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce: Local Rhode Island chamber (1,100+ members) collaborating closely with RIIC on bilateral programming. Comparable membership model and regional trade-association mission, but without the Israel bilateral specialization.

Emerging players

• Consulate General of Israel to New England — Economic Mission: Israeli diplomatic mission that co-sponsors RIIC events and runs its own economic programming across New England. Adjacent in mission (facilitating US–Israel business activity) but governmental rather than nonprofit membership-driven.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/riic_ri
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwGVcxRDHWaqpZPhIFMM27Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/Rhodeislandisraelcollaborative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/rhode-israel-israeli-collaborative-riic-a1a84b147

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rhode Island Israel Collaborative