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SPARQL ✨ Hetz Data Program
SPARQL ✨ Hetz Data Program
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SPARQL ✨ Hetz Data Program

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Dedicated pre-seed/seed founder program for infra, AI, and data startups.

We created SPARQL to give early-stage founders structured support in the toughest part of the journey: validating products, securing design partners, and preparing for Series A.

For AI and data infrastructure startups, Hetz is the exclusive Israeli gateway to technical accelerator programs at Databricks, Snowflake, Confluent, and Grafana.

Unlike generic VC value add, SPARQL is built around exclusive corporate partnerships, a curated advisor network, and hands-on work from operators who’ve scaled infra and AI companies before.

[If you are interested in joining the Hetz advisor network, learn more here.]

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  • The Playbook: How SPARQL Works
  • Exclusive Access to Key Partners
  • Databricks x Hetz
  • Snowflake x Hetz
  • Confluent x Hetz
  • Grafana x Hetz
  • Microsoft x Hetz
  • Anthropic x Hetz
  • MongoDB x Hetz
  • Cloudflare x Hetz
  • Clickhouse x Hetz
  • Vercel x Hetz
  • Nebius x Hetz
  • SPARQL Data Advisor Community
  • What Founders Say
  • Let’s Talk

The Playbook: How SPARQL Works

SPARQL is a structured path we walk with every founder. Here’s what it looks like in practice:

  • Product & Market Validation
    • Weekly working sessions on product direction, customer needs, competitive intelligence.
    • Access to Hetz’s advisor circle for early feedback from senior technical leaders.
  • Architecture & Engineering Support
    • Direct sparring with Guy Fighel (ex-SVP Data & AI, New Relic) and our network of senior engineers.
    • Guidance on scaling infra, data architectures, and model deployment challenges.
  • Design Partnerships
    • Intros to enterprises ready to validate your solution as early design partners.
    • Playbooks on how to convert those into long-term commercial relationships.
  • Go-to-Market & Series A Prep
    • Building GTM models and refining early business models.
    • Guidance on KPIs, investor narrative, and fundraising strategy.
    • Targeted introductions to top-tier co-investors at the right stage.
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Exclusive Access to Key Partners

Hetz is the only Israeli VC included in the Databricks, Snowflake, Confluent and Grafana VC Partner Programs, and among top tier VCs with access to the Microsoft for Startups program.

Read more about each below:

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Databricks x Hetz

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Hetz is the only Israeli VC partner in the Databricks Strategic Startup Investment Program (SSIP). This means portfolio companies can:

  • Be considered first for SSIP participation and Databricks ecosystem support with direct cash investment of up to $250K and an extended generous DBU creadits to build across the Databricks platform.
  • Access GTM and product-incubation resources for data-intensive applications
  • Engage directly with Databricks product and GTM leaders
  • Benefit from Hetz’s role in the Databricks VC Network, a small group of ~10 global investors
  • Shared blog posts, pitch opportunities, invitation to conferences and many more.
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Snowflake x Hetz

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Hetz is the only Israeli VC included in the Snowflake VC Partner Program:

  • Monthly reviews with top Snowflake product, engineering, GTM teams, and support. Fast track to get accepted to the Snowflake Startup Accelerator when Hetz is referring.
  • Up to $20,000 in Snowflake credits (with the ability to extend when part of the Accelerator Program)
  • Priority access to the Snowflake Startup Accelerator
  • Up to 20% off initial capacity agreements
  • Enablement sessions with Snowflake product teams (e.g. Cortex, Snowflake for Applications)
  • Invitation to use Snowflake’s newly launched Silicon Valley AI Hub, where founders can create events, organize meetups and use the facility as a working space while in the Bay Area to meet customers and others.
  • Shared blog posts, pitch opportunities, invitation to conferences and many more.
“Snowflake grows startup accelerator with $200M in new capital
“A portion of the fresh $200 million will come from Snowflake’s new and existing VC partners, including… Hetz Ventures.”

TechCrunch, February 2025

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Confluent x Hetz

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Hetz is the only Israeli VC partnered with Confluent’s VC program, with access to:

Confluent for Startups Program

  • $20k annual cloud credits plus SE support for early-stage data streaming companies

AI Accelerator Program

  • 10-week virtual program
  • 12 companies included; a high-touch experience with Confluent’s top technical leaders
    • Head of AI, technology strategy, Flink product manager
    • 4 leaders handling 3 startups each
  • Structure includes:
    • Dedicated training modules (connectors, schema registry, table flow)
    • Bi-weekly mentor meetings + floating SE support
    • Enterprise sales/marketing modules
    • Demo day (5-min product demos)
    • VC pitch day (attendees: Menlo, Madrona, Banc Capital, others)
  • Partners: MongoDB, Databricks, Anthropic provide additional credits and training
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Grafana x Hetz

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Hetz is the only Israeli VC partnered with Grafana’s VC program, with access to:

  • Free credits to build and use the Grafana commercial services.
  • Direct access to Grafana CTO and Engineering teams for startups who are building a solution on top of the Grafana managed echo system.
  • Potential venture money as an investment.
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Microsoft x Hetz

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Hetz is one of a selection of VCs in Israel that is collaborating with the Microsoft for Startups Program, which provides enhanced benefits designed to help build faster, scale smarter, and reach more customers. The Microsoft for Startup offer with Hetz Ventures includes:

  • Azure Credits to help you get started: If approved for the investor offer, most startups begin with $100,000 in Azure credits with the opportunity to earn more.
  • Access to on-demand GPU VMs: Run advanced AI workloads with access to startup-dedicated
  • GPUs and VMs, perfect for fine-tuning models or training your own.
  • Access to Azure technical experts: Real people who can help you design, build, and scale your solution. Whether you're navigating architecture decisions, optimizing performance, or exploring new AI capabilities, our team is here to guide you every step of the way, so you can move quickly and build with confidence.
  • Azure Standard Support: Free for your startup, with 24/7 expert assistance.
  • Go-to-market support to help you scale: From refining your value proposition to selling through Microsoft, we help you go to market faster.
  • Discounts on products you know and love: Access free GitHub Enterprise, Linkedin Premium, M365 Business Premium, Microsoft Clarity, Visual Studio Enterprise, Microsoft Dynamics, and Microsoft Power Platform.
  • A guided path to reach the most lucrative Microsoft Pegasus program.

Specifically for startups building in the Infra/AI space:

  • Up to $350K in credits across the Azure echo system includes unique access to GPT-5 Tokens.

Hetz also works in collaboration with major corporate industry players to offer access, free development credits, and other data product resources:

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Anthropic x Hetz

Hetz Ventures x Anthropic API Credit Program

Hetz portfolio companies have access to:

  • $15000 in API credits
  • Higher rate limits

Founders can apply for the credits using this form.

The credits can be used for the following products:

  • Claude API: build intelligent features directly into new and existing products using our API
  • Claude Code: ship faster using our agentic coding tools in the terminal or inside an IDE such as VS Code
  • Claude Agent SDK: develop agents on top of our powerful agent orchestration system that powers Claude Code
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MongoDB x Hetz

MongoDB Startups Program offers:

  • Direct access to the venture team
  • Direct access to product and engineering teams
  • Signifcant amount of credits for managed solutions such as Mongo Atlas
  • Shared blog posts when building your solution on top of the Mongo echo system
  • A path for cash investment of $250K or more for qualified companies when Hetz is leading the investment
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Cloudflare x Hetz

For AI startups building MCP services, or need specific model deployments we have partnered closely with Cloudflare.

  • Hetz has unique direct access to key Product and Engineering teams in that space
  • Hetz is able to provide > $250K in multiple credits and support across the AI product lines
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Clickhouse x Hetz

  • Direct access to the VP of Product and the GTM and product marketing teams globally across the work with an emphasis in the U.S market
  • Free credits that are Taylor to each startup needs who build a solution involved https://clickhouse.com/cloud
  • Blog posts and shared marketing activities, including meetups sponsorships, talks and more
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Vercel x Hetz

Vercel’s Frontend Cloud provides the developer experience and infrastructure to build, scale, and secure a faster, more personalized web. By providing the platform frontend teams love, Vercel unlocks developer potential and allows you to go from idea to global application in seconds.

For Hetz Ventures companies that have raised up to/including Series A:

  • Free Vercel Pro for Startups: $2.4k in credits ($200/month for your first 1 year)
  • Access to Vercel Team via Slack
  • Exclusive educational and networking opportunities with industry experts.
  • Private Vercel for Startups events including demo days, hackathons, and other events aimed at helping you get product feedback, develop partnerships, and more.
  • Opportunities for featured marketing and social media by Vercel and Vercel’s leaders.
  • Exclusive Vercel for Startups swag.

With Vercel, your development processes become simpler and faster. Vercel combines all the tools you need for CI/CD, staging, testing, feedback, and QA into one streamlined platform. Instant deployments, live previews, and comments accelerate your feedback cycle, while uniform testing environments ensure the quality of your work. Letting you focus on what you do best: Building top-notch frontend applications.

By centralizing your workflow on Vercel, you are not only opting for a unified platform, but choosing a solution that optimizes the delivery of high-quality frontend applications.

  • Up to 90% increase in site performance
  • Up to 80% reduction in time spent deploying
  • Up to 4x faster time to market
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Nebius x Hetz

For Hetz portfolio companies: an increase to limits and $10k in free-to-use credits, along with a 50% discount of up to $150k on contracts of six months or longer.

SPARQL Data Advisor Community

We’ve tailored our global executive network with hand-picked senior engineering leaders and data/AI practitioners, spanning senior roles, industries, and geographies. Our team has spent years curating a network of industry experts across our investment verticals, and continue to expand the Hetz network at a growing pace.

For our founders, this means:

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  • Access to executives and advisors from top-tier companies across sectors
  • Execs spanning the US, Europe and Israel
  • Hand-picked introductions (no automation)
  • Meetings and networking opportunities around leading industry events

See a sample of Hetz Infra/AI advisors here >>

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What Founders Say

“From day one, Hetz was more than an investor. They worked with us on sharpening our direction - setting up dozens of feedback calls with the Hetz Data Network, introduced us to our first design partners, and supported us in converting those relationships into real customers. The access Hetz created, including with Snowflake, has been central to our progress.”

Ido Bronstein, CEO & Co-founder, Upriver

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Let’s Talk

If you’re building the future of Infra/AI, let’s talk.

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Hetz Data & Engineering Network