Spark Consultants is more than just a consulting firm – it is a family success story and a decade-long journey of excellence.
Founded in 2013 by sisters Shirly Dar Shohet and Nili Shohet, the company was established with a clear vision: to transform the grant recruitment process from a bureaucratic burden into a strategic opportunity. Over the years, we have become Israel’s leading firm in the grants sector, thanks to our unique methodology, deep industry connections, and strategic partnerships with market-leading companies.
A technological grant-search platform meets an expert team.
The power of Spark lies in the unique synergy between established insider knowledge, personalized guidance, and advanced technology:
Our team includes experts who previously served as evaluators for the Israel Innovation Authority and the prestigious HORIZON program. This insider knowledge allows us to craft applications that meet the exact requirements and expectations.
We support companies from the initial concept through to the actual receipt of funding. This includes meticulous attention to detail, strategic preparation, and a winning presentation of the venture.
Spark Consultants is the owner and developer of FundGuru – a specialized system for monitoring and matching grants to companies.
We are the only firm to have developed such a tool, ensuring our clients receive real-time alerts on relevant grants so that no opportunity is ever missed.
We specialize in applications for a wide range of programs, including:
The primary Israeli program for R&D and development grants.
The prestigious European Union framework program for research and innovation.
Marketing grants for international expansion and export promotion.
Grants for establishing and expanding industrial plants.
Grants for productivity, digitalization, and business development.
U.S. Federal Grant Applications, including SBIR/STTR Programs
CPA, Adv., Managing Partner
Nili brings over 15 years of experience in finance, business development, and capital raising management for industrial, high-tech, and real estate companies. She previously held senior management positions at the Sakal Group, TECO Group, and the BDO Ziv Haft consulting firm.
Nili was a co-founder of the software company Yubitech, where she served as VP of Marketing and Finance. In this role, she managed government and investor capital raising, established business partnerships, and led international market penetration.
Throughout her career, she has guided dozens of companies in their submissions for government grants from bodies such as the Israel Innovation Authority and the Ministry of Environmental Protection – including programs like Tnufa, the Startup Fund (Seed and Round A), BIRD Foundation, R&D Pilots, Mofet (Manufacturing R&D), incubators, R&D funds, and tenders in the fields of sustainability and recycling.
Nili possesses unique expertise in crafting business, marketing, and financial plans, preparing companies for capital raising, and managing budgets and cash flows for growing firms.
She holds a B.A. in Accounting, an LL.B. in Law, and an MBA (specializing in Marketing and Strategy), all from Tel Aviv University.
Managing Partner
Shirly brings extensive experience in account management and business development from leading pharmaceutical and high-tech companies in Israel, including GSK, Abbott, and Eldan. Over the years, she has led complex processes with public and business entities, with deep specialization in the healthcare sector.
Shirly has vast experience in guiding and submitting applications for Israel Innovation Authority grants, with a focus on companies in the medical device and food-tech sectors – fields that lead in grant budget allocations. She has supported dozens of companies through various support tracks, including like Tnufa, the Startup Fund (Seed and Round A), BIRD Foundation, R&D Pilots, Mofet (Manufacturing R&D), the R&D Fund, programs for early-stage and traditional industries, and technologies for populations with special needs.
As part of her work, she has developed an in-depth understanding of Ministry of Health regulations and procedures, including submitting products for the National Health Basket (Sal HaBriut), working with the Food Division, and conducting economic analyses for healthcare products. Additionally, she has led the development of strategic plans and managed commercial relationships with key stakeholders in the healthcare system – HMOs (Kupot Cholim), leading hospitals, and government bodies, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
Shirly holds a B.Sc. in Human Nutrition with honors from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an MBA specializing in high-tech companies from the College of Management Academic Studies.
CEO of FundGuru & Business Development Manager at Spark
Saar has extensive experience in sales, both in Israel and the United States
Saar works closely with the executive team on the company’s growth strategy. He directly manages the company's international partnership network, including securing partnership agreements, managing ongoing partner relations, monitoring international performance, and leading growth and market penetration strategies into new countries.
Head of Grant Writing Team
Eylon leads the grant writing department at Spark, specializing in budget construction, cash flow management, and business plans tailored to the specific requirements of funding bodies.
Over the years, Eylon has submitted dozens of companies to the Israel Innovation Authority’s primary support tracks—including the Tnufa (Ideation) program, the R&D Fund, the MOFET (Industrial R&D) program, Early-Stage Companies, Pilots, Gov-Tech, and more. Additionally, he specializes in submissions for Foreign Trade Administration programs ("Smart Money," "Shlav"), industrial grants from the Investment Authority, and land allocations.
Prior to joining Spark, Eylon served as a Budget Manager and Project Lead at one of Israel's largest investment houses. He holds a B.A. in Economics
Grants Expert – Israel Innovation Authority & Horizon Europe
Arnon is an entrepreneur and former CEO & CTO, with over 30 years of experience in management, R&D, capital raising, and founding high-tech ventures.
For over five years, Arnon has been guiding Spark’s clients through complex submissions to the Israel Innovation Authority – including the Startup Fund, Bilateral Funds, and BIRD – as well as Horizon Europe grants, including the flagship EIC Accelerator track.
Previously, he served for a decade as a professional evaluator for both the Israel Innovation Authority and the European Commission (EC) for Horizon projects. Additionally, he has served as a mentor for startups in fundraising and product development processes.
Throughout his career, he has evaluated over 500 companies and ventures, with a total scope exceeding NIS 500 million.
Grant Writing & Financial Consulting Expert
Yoni has been a member of the Spark team for over six years. During this time, he has gained extensive experience in submitting companies to a variety of Israel Innovation Authority support tracks, including the Startup Fund, SEED, Round A, Tnufa (Ideation), MOFET (Industrial R&D), the R&D Fund, Pilot programs, and more.
Additionally, he specializes in submissions for the Foreign Trade Administration’s marketing programs ("Smart Money," "Shlav," Beginning and Advanced Exporter), as well as applications for factory expansions, industrial grants, and land allocations from the Investment Authority.
With a background as a financial consultant, Yoni brings expertise in budget construction, business plans, valuations, feasibility studies, capital raising, economic opinions, and preparation for legal or mediation processes.
Yoni holds a B.A. in Economics and Accounting from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and an additional B.F.A. with honors from the Photography Department at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem.
Business Development & International Projects Expert
Ohad has over 15 years of experience in international markets, with a focus on business development, strategic partnerships, and large-scale complex sales.
He specializes in identifying new markets and building local and strategic partnerships – including distributors, integrators, winning international projects, and securing strategic clients.
Previously, he led telecom sales to major operators in Eastern Europe, including full management of sales processes, tenders, implementation, and maintenance – while managing interfaces with suppliers and customers in the global market.
At Spark, he managed the Smart Cities Consortium as part of the Foreign Trade Administration’s Consortium Program at the Ministry of Economy, which included 14 Israeli technology companies.
Ohad holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration (M.Eng, MBA), both from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Investment Authority Submissions Expert
Dror is a veteran expert with extensive business and managerial experience, specializing in grant applications for the Israel Investment Authority.
During more than seven years with Spark, he has successfully led dozens of submissions across various tracks of the Authority, achieving exceptionally high success rates.
Dror has a rich background in the capital markets and finance – having served as Chairman of the Board of a public company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, CEO and Director of a company traded on the London Stock Exchange, and Director of companies in Israel and abroad. In the past, he was a partner at the Strauss Lazer accounting firm, a lecturer in financial accounting, and a CFO in various companies.
Dror holds a B.A. with honors in Accounting and Economics and an MBA, both from Tel Aviv University, with a specialization in Finance and Insurance.
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Oren is the technological architect and lead developer behind the heart and soul of FundGuru.
He spearheads the development of the company’s revolutionary grants engine, integrating cutting-edge AI (Artificial Intelligence) and advanced data analysis algorithms. Through these innovative tools, the system can intelligently scan, analyze, and precisely match thousands of funding sources with each client's specific needs. Oren combines deep hands-on expertise with a bold technological vision, serving as the driving force that transforms the group’s professional knowledge into a smart, fast, and groundbreaking digital product. Oren holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science from Tel Aviv University.
Ongoing Support for Grant Execution Reports
Inbal specializes in providing ongoing support for companies throughout the grant realization process, from the approval stage through to the actual receipt of funds.
With extensive experience working with the Israel Innovation Authority, the Foreign Trade Administration, and the Small and Medium Business Agency, she is responsible for managing financial and operational execution reports while ensuring strict compliance with reporting regulations and guidelines.
Inbal has over a decade of experience in business management, working closely with CEOs and entrepreneurs. She combines a broad operational perspective with a smart technological approach – including the implementation of automation, the use of AI tools, and the streamlining of internal processes within the Spark Group.
Inbal’s expertise ensures that clients achieve optimal utilization of support funds, meet their targets, and save time and resources throughout the entire journey.
