Kela: The New Israeli Powerhouse in Defense Technology

Kela, founded in 2024 by Hamutal Meridor, Alon Dror, Omer Bar-Ilan, and Jason Manne, has rapidly emerged as one of the most promising young companies in Israel’s defense industry. Its creation comes at a moment when operational needs, regional tensions, and the acceleration of civilian technologies are pushing militaries to reinvent their methods. From the outset, Kela positioned itself as a hybrid actor—both an agile startup and a strategic entity—led by a team that combines extensive military experience with cutting-edge expertise in engineering and artificial intelligence.

One of the company’s most distinctive traits lies in its founding DNA. Most of its leadership comes from elite technological or operational units, trained to think simultaneously in terms of field realities, cyber defense, data collection, and strategic urgency. This rare combination allows Kela to design products that address not only software-related challenges but, more importantly, concrete needs tested in complex environments. Within its first months, the company attracted leading investors who were convinced that its vision could fundamentally reshape the relationship between civilian innovation and defense systems.

At the core of Kela’s technology is a software platform conceived as a genuine operational infrastructure for modern security forces. It aggregates, in real time, data from a wide variety of sensors, surveillance tools, and existing military systems, and interprets them using advanced algorithms capable of identifying patterns, isolating anomalies, and synthesizing information into intelligible insights for teams in the field.

This modular architecture stands out for its ability to integrate new technologies quickly, without requiring a complete overhaul of existing military systems—an invaluable advantage in a sector where technological evolution often outpaces institutional adoption.

Such an approach makes Kela particularly attractive to Western militaries and security agencies. Rather than offering a simple turnkey software solution, the company provides an evolving framework adaptable to any operational theater. In a world where conflicts grow increasingly unpredictable—where drones, cyberattacks, and autonomous systems are redefining the battlefield—the promise of a tool capable of synchronizing data, accelerating decision-making, and reducing tactical fog becomes a major strategic asset.

Kela’s growth is also driven by strong internal momentum. In less than a year, the company has expanded from a small team into a structured organization composed of highly experienced profiles drawn from both technological intelligence units and combat forces.

This dual culture is reflected in its development pace and its capacity to anticipate emerging operational needs. The cohesion between its software-oriented and field-oriented mindsets enables Kela to produce tools that do not remain at the conceptual stage but are immediately usable, testable, and relevant.

Another factor that sets Kela apart is its execution speed. Unlike many defense companies whose development cycles stretch over years, Kela adopts a methodology inspired by civilian startup standards: rapid prototyping, short iterations, and continuous adaptation to feedback from end users. This agility allows the company to move faster than traditional heavyweight structures and to become an essential link in modernizing the capabilities of allied forces.

Its expansion is also supported by a strategy of targeted acquisitions designed to strengthen its internal competencies and broaden its operational reach. By consolidating complementary technologies, the company is positioning itself not only as a provider of advanced solutions but as a leading player capable of shaping the next generation of integrated defense systems.

Caroline Haïat