The agency for small and medium businesses

Name

The agency for small and medium businesses

Legal name

The Agency for Small and Medium Businesses (SBA) - Ministry of Economy and Industry (הסוכנות לעסקים קטנים ובינוניים במשרד הכלכלה והתעשייה)

Website

https://sba.org.il

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Jerusalem

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The agency is fully funded by the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry. Services are provided to small and medium businesses at subsidized rates, with the government covering the majority of costs for consulting, training, and support programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Agency for Small and Medium Businesses (SBA Israel) is a government agency under the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry that delivers subsidized consulting, training, and digital tools to small and medium businesses across Israel. Its core offering is the Maof nationwide field network of branches combined with an online learning management system (LMS), a customer portal, and the AI-powered BizData analytics platform, providing professional consulting hours, self-paced courses, webinars, business evaluations, and specialized programs for underserved populations.

Product overview

The Agency for Small and Medium Businesses (SBA Israel) is a government agency under the Ministry of Economy that operates a comprehensive ecosystem of support services for small and medium businesses in Israel. The core offering consists of the Maof Field Network (מעוף) - a nationwide branch system providing direct business support - combined with an Online Learning System (LMS) for digital courses and training. The Business Consulting Program offers subsidized consulting hours (15-60 hours at 80-130 NIS/hour) through the Customer Portal. Additional products include the Webinar Series 'Knowledge That Does Business', a Business Benefits Platform with tools and discounts, MaofTech technology accelerator, SAWA microcredit for women, industrial design consulting, and specialized local authority support programs. The agency also publishes extensive research on SMB conditions in Israel and operates BizData - an AI-powered analytics system developed in partnership with the National Digital Unit and Joint Israel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maof (מעוף): The field service network of the SBA, providing face-to-face and remote consulting, training, and support services to small and medium businesses across Israel.
• MaofTech

Products and services

• Business Consulting Program (תכנית הייעוץ) A subsidized business consulting program offering 15-60 hours of professional consulting services per business, with cost ranging from 80-130 NIS per hour plus VAT for the first package. Designed for small and medium businesses with up to 100 employees or revenue of 100 million NIS.
• Online Learning System (LMS) A digital learning platform (LMS) providing self-study courses, training programs, and educational content for entrepreneurs and business owners at no cost, covering topics such as business management, marketing, import-export, and financial management.
• Maof Field Network (מערך מעוף) A nationwide field network providing face-to-face and remote business support services including consulting, training, business assessments, and mentorship through local branches across Israel in partnership with local authorities.
• Webinar Series - Knowledge That Does Business (ידע שעושה עסקים) A series of professional webinars featuring up-to-date insights and practical tools for business management and growth, including topics like AI in business (e.g., BizData), digital tools, and business planning.
• Business Benefits Platform (לוח הטבות לעסקים) A digital platform providing tools, discounts, and benefits for business management and digital operations, offering resources to help businesses implement changes and grow.
• MaofTech Accelerator Program A technology accelerator program for entrepreneurs with innovative technological ideas of national priority, run by Maof Tech branches across the country.
• Reserve Duty Support (סיוע לעסקים משרתי מילואים) Special support programs for businesses owned by military reserve service members, providing assistance during reserve duty periods.
• Industrial Design Consulting (ייעוץ בעיצוב תעשייתי) Subsidized consulting for product redesign, packaging improvement, and industrial design to help businesses increase market potential and sales through improved product aesthetics.
• Professional Tools and Training (כלים מקצועיים לעסקים) Professional workshops and training sessions covering business management, marketing, sales, finance, innovation, digital transformation, and AI for businesses.
• Professional Consulting for Local Authorities Professional support for local authorities in areas of business development, service development, organizational consulting, and local economic planning.
• SAWA - Non-Bank Microcredit for Women A joint initiative with Keren Hayesod (כרנת קורת) loan funds providing non-bank micro-loans for women from Arab, Druze, and Bedouin communities to develop micro and small businesses.
• Business Communities Development (פיתוח קהילות עסקיות) Support for establishing, managing, and developing digital and physical business communities, including community strategy development and networking activities.
• Customer Portal (פורטל הלקוחות) An online customer portal for service applications, business file management, and consultant matching, accessible via national identification.
• BizData - AI Business Intelligence Platform Free business intelligence system combining business data, artificial intelligence, and advanced planning tools to help business owners understand markets, analyze expenses and revenues, identify growth opportunities, and make data-driven decisions. Co-developed with Joint Israel and the National Digital Unit.

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% of businesses that received support from Maof reported achieving business results leading to improvement in business condition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability8 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Joint Israel (גו'ינט ישראל)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Israel co-developed the BizData system with the agency, combining business data, artificial intelligence, and advanced planning tools to help small businesses make data-driven decisions.
• Local AuthoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe agency operates Maof branches in partnership with local authorities across Israel, providing localized business support services through regional centers.
• Minority Economic Development AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with the Minority Economic Development Authority (authority for development of the Arab sector) on supporting Arab-Israeli entrepreneurs and businesses.
• Ministry of Economy and IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe agency operates under the Ministry of Economy and Industry, implementing government policies and programs for small and medium business development.
• Bedouin Development AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with the Bedouin Development Authority in the Negev on specialized support programs for the Bedouin population, including the SAWA micro-loan program.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bpifrance: French public investment bank providing SMB financing, guarantees, and innovation support — comparable as a state-backed SMB ecosystem builder with credit and advisory arms.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): The U.S. federal agency supporting SMBs through loans, contracting, counseling, and training — the closest direct international peer in mission, government-backed status, and consulting/financing offerings.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): Crown corporation providing SMB financing, consulting, and growth capital — strong parallel as a government-owned SMB development institution with consulting services.
• UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT): UK government department supporting business growth, trade, and SMB policy — comparable as a national-government entity driving SMB support programs.
• KfW Bankengruppe: German state development bank financing SMBs, startups, and entrepreneurship programs — comparable as a large-scale public financier and advisor for small businesses.

Direct peers

• Enterprise Ireland: Irish state agency providing funding, mentoring, and growth advisory to Irish SMBs and entrepreneurs — directly comparable mandate, government ownership, and consulting-plus-grant model.
• Israel Innovation Authority: Israeli government body funding R&D and innovation in industry, including startups and SMBs — sister agency within the same ecosystem, sharing policy oversight and tech-entrepreneur support (MaofTech is adjacent).

Regional players

• Jewish Agency for Israel: Quasi-governmental Israeli organization with programs in Israel and diaspora — comparable as an Israel-based state-linked body with broad development and inclusion programs intersecting SMB/community uplift.
• MASAV (Israel's Check Clearing House): Israeli financial infrastructure provider supporting SMB payment flows — relevant as another Israeli state-affiliated financial services entity serving the SMB segment, with a narrower payments focus.

Emerging players

• Startup Nation Central: Israeli non-profit connecting local tech and SMBs to global opportunities — overlapping mission of strengthening Israel's SMB/tech ecosystem, with shared MaofTech-adjacent activity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xt.me/SbaOrgIL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SBAIsrael
• Facebookfacebook.com/SBAIsrael
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/13001531
• Instagraminstagram.com/sba.israel

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The agency for small and medium businesses