Gigi Levy-Weiss and Redis Co-Founder Yiftach Shoolman Launch Defense Technology Start-up, Line 5, with $20 Million in Seed Funding
Israeli startup, Line 5, has secured the country's largest defense-tech seed deal of the year, as its founders shift their focus from gaming and cybersecurity to battlefield technology innovation.
The defense technology sector is currently experiencing significant activity. Calcalist has reported that Line 5, a newly established startup, has successfully completed the largest Seed round in the defense tech industry so far for 2025.
The company was founded by Gigi Levy-Weiss, founder of the NFX venture capital fund, and Yiftach Shoolman, co-founder of the cybersecurity firm, Redis. They are joined by Sari Brosh Rechav, who serves as Chief Operating Officer and previously held the same position at SpaceIL, along with Matan Melamed, the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Iron Drone, which is one of the IDF's key technologies for countering drone threats.
The substantial funding round was led by the NFX fund and included contributions from the defense tech fund Kinetica, Iron Nation, and several prominent angel investors. The startup’s name, Line 5, honors the memory of Shoolman's friend, Ayelet Langer-Alkobi, who was tragically killed in a terrorist attack on Bus Line 5 in October 1994.
As is common with many defense technology companies, the developments at Line 5 remain confidential. However, CEO Shoolman, a former fighter in Sayeret Matkal, has stated that his objective is to transform the battlefield in a manner that reduces risk to soldiers. Gigi Levy, renowned for his focus on the gaming sector and companies such as Playtika, serves as the company's chairman.
Line 5’s successful funding comes amidst a boom in the local defense technology sector. Last week, Israeli defense tech startup Kela Technologies secured an additional $60 million in funding, raising its total to $100 million since its establishment in July 2024. This round was entirely backed by Kela’s existing investors, including Sequoia Ventures, Lux Capital, and In-Q-Tel, the investment arm of the CIA.
Kela’s rapid fundraising progression- a $11 million Seed round, followed by a $28 million Series A, and now this recent infusion - positions it among the most heavily capitalized early-stage defense startups. Kela specializes in developing an open and modular software platform designed to assist Western militaries in integrating emerging commercial technologies, such as artificial intelligence models, advanced sensors, and edge computing devices, into existing military systems without the delays or constraints typically associated with traditional defense procurement cycles. Essentially, it functions as a battlefield operating system aimed at unifying fragmented defense technology stacks.
Related:
Full list of Israeli high-tech funding rounds in 2025