NEW YORK โ More than 500 Birthright Israel Excel Fellows from North America and across the globe will gather Sunday at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City for the Excelerate26 Summit, an event designed to connect emerging Jewish business leaders with established executives and investors.
Organizers said the participants represent 18 countries and come from a wide range of professional fields, including finance, technology, venture capital, entrepreneurship, and consulting.
The summit features keynote addresses by prominent business leaders including Robert Kraft, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of the Kraft Group and owner of the New England Patriots, and Sheryl Sandberg, former chief operating officer of Meta and founder of Lean In.
Kraft is scheduled to speak at 10:30 a.m., while Sandberg is set to deliver an afternoon keynote at 1:30 p.m.
The Excelerate26 Summit serves as a gathering point for members of the Birthright Israel Excel fellowship, a global leadership program designed to identify and cultivate the next generation of Jewish business leaders.
The program is part of Birthright Israel, the initiative known for providing educational trips to Israel for young Jewish adults. Birthright Israel Excel operates as a specialized fellowship within the broader organization, focusing on business, technology, and entrepreneurship.
According to program organizers, the fellowship begins with a highly selective summer internship in Israel that places university students in business or technology positions across Israeli companies and multinational firms operating in the country.
Participants then continue in the program through long-term professional development initiatives, global networking opportunities, and ongoing engagement with Israeli innovation and Jewish community leadership.
โBirthright Israel Excel is a lifelong global business fellowship that identifies and cultivates the next generation of Jewish business leaders,โ the organization said in a statement describing the summit.
The Excelerate26 Summit provides fellows with an opportunity to reconnect with peers and mentors while engaging with senior executives who have shaped major industries.
Throughout the day, participants attend panels and discussion sessions focused on current developments in global markets and emerging technologies.
Topics discussed at the summit include artificial intelligence, venture capital, climate technology, and impact investing. Organizers said the goal is to provide fellows with insights into sectors expected to shape the global economy in the coming decades.
Industry leaders, venture capital investors, and entrepreneurs participate in the discussions, sharing perspectives on innovation, market shifts, and leadership development.
Organizers describe the event as a platform for strengthening professional relationships within the Excel fellowship network while encouraging collaboration between alumni across industries.
The fellowship has grown significantly since its launch in 2011.
Birthright Israel Excel was created to cultivate high-achieving university students with strong leadership potential. Participants are selected through a competitive application process that evaluates academic performance, professional ambition, and commitment to Jewish community engagement.
After completing the summer internship component in Israel, fellows continue to participate in networking events, conferences, and leadership programs organized by the fellowship.
Program alumni have gone on to work at major companies, including J.P. Morgan Chase, Bain and Company, Palantir, and Google.
Some fellows have also launched their own companies or formed partnerships with Israeli startups, strengthening economic ties between global markets and Israel’s technology sector.
Organizers say the fellowship also emphasizes the importance of Jewish identity and community engagement.
Participants are encouraged to maintain connections with Jewish organizations and Israel throughout their professional careers. The program frames leadership development within a broader context of cultural and communal responsibility.
The Excelerate26 Summit reflects that approach by combining professional development with discussions about Jewish identity and global Jewish leadership.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage, located in Battery Park City, serves as a symbolic setting for the gathering. The museum focuses on Jewish history and memory while hosting public events related to Jewish culture, leadership, and education.
By bringing together fellows from multiple countries, organizers say the summit strengthens the international network that defines the Birthright Israel Excel fellowship.
Participants state that the opportunity to interact directly with prominent business figures such as Kraft and Sandberg offers valuable insights into leadership and entrepreneurship.
Organizers note that alumni often maintain professional and personal relationships within the fellowship network long after completing the initial internship program.
Through events such as the Excelerate26 Summit, Birthright Israel Excel aims to build a global community of Jewish professionals who remain connected to Israel.
According to program leaders, the long-term objective is to develop a network of executives, investors, and entrepreneurs who collaborate across industries while maintaining a shared commitment to Jewish leadership and innovation.
