Looking back at all the great innovations the Silicon Valley has given to us, it’s exciting to see what advances another tech hub will bring and how it can benefit students like us. From cell phones to computers, Silicon Valley has given us all sorts of gadgets that we use every day. Just imagine if we had another source of technological innovation in the world. It turns out that we do.

A recent report by the Startup Genome named Tel Aviv the second most lively startup network in the world, just behind Silicon Valley. Strong investor support has made Tel Aviv stand out from the rest of the globe. Why, you ask?

Well, Microsoft opened its first startup accelerator in Tel Aviv 18 months ago and is already hosting its third selection of young companies. A startup accelerator supports companies with funding, mentoring, training and events for a definite period, in exchange for equity. However, without even taking an equity stake, Microsoft provides a creative workplace, expert technicians and a network of customers and partners. For the growing startup scene in Tel Aviv, support from investors like Microsoft has been vital.

One of the most successful startups from Tel Aviv is Wix, a website development platform that allows users to create professional HTML5 websites. Wix provides hundreds of website templates and a sophisticated drag and drop website builder which includes apps, graphics, image galleries, fonts and more.

What does this mean for you? Wix has already expanded to three other cities, including New York and San Francisco. As companies like Wix expand beyond the Middle East, you can expect to see more products and services from Israeli entrepreneurs. More international offices also mean more open positions. Who knows? You could end up working for a company like Wix someday!

Whether it’s support from international investors or startup accelerators, Tel Aviv is emerging to be a serious contender in the startup scene on a global level.

If you’re interested in interning for a startup, the Baruch Entrepreneural Intern Fellowship Program provides financial assistance to undergraduate students that take an unpaid internship with a startup. Stop by the Weissman Center for International Business if you’re interested in applying for the Spring 2014 semester!