COIL Co-Founders Jordan Kastrinsky and Jeremiah Baronberg. Credit: Courtesy.
COIL co-founder and Colorado director, Jeremiah Baronberg, said the institute formalizes work the chamber was already performing. “As interest in Colorado has grown among Israeli companies and investors, the demand for structured educational programming has expanded,” Baronberg said. “The institute will allow us to scale that work in a sustainable, mission-driven framework.”
Co-founder Jordan Kastrinsky, originally from Colorado, who leads COIL’s Israel operations in Tel Aviv, said the new entity responds to increased activity on both sides of the corridor. “In the last two years, there is demand from Israeli institutions seeking Colorado partners, from universities and utilities to venture investors and corporate innovation teams,” he added. “Creating a dedicated educational institute allows us to meet that demand responsibly and continue building long-term value for both ecosystems.”
Growing Momentum Between Colorado and Israel
Since 2024, CO-IL has hosted or co-hosted more than a dozen programs in Colorado and Israel, including:
• Israeli water-tech and space-tech delegations visiting Colorado;
• Panels at Denver Startup Week and Colorado Startup Week;
• Webinars on BIRD Foundation funding opportunities and Colorado’s life sciences sector;
• Ecosystem events in Tel Aviv connecting Israeli startups with U.S. partners.
The chamber reports that it has facilitated over 180 direct business connections between Colorado and Israeli companies, investors and institutions. Earlier this year, the BIRD Foundation selected a joint project between FieldLine Industries/Medical of Colorado and AccuBeat of Israel, marking the first BIRD win under CO-IL’s leadership as the foundation’s representative in Colorado.
Organizers note that demand has increased across several sectors where both regions have global strengths: water technology, climate innovation, aerospace, quantum, cyber, life sciences and energy transition technologies. Until now, COIL’s operations have been carried out entirely by volunteer co-founders, board members and community partners. The new 501(c)(3) institute will allow the organization to seek philanthropic and grant-based funding to support staff, research and long-term programming. According to the chamber’s board, sustainable funding is essential for the organization to meet growing demand from both Colorado and Israeli stakeholders. The institute’s goal is to support a small binational team and expand its educational and ecosystem-development activities.
A Combined Structure for a Binational Mission
The 501(c)(3) institute will work in coordination with the 501(c)(6) chamber under a management agreement, allowing both entities to perform distinct but complementary roles. The chamber will continue to focus on business engagement, member support, delegations and commercial connectivity, while the institute will lead educational programming and research that benefits the broader public. COIL is inviting individuals, foundations and organizations to partner with the new institute through philanthropic support, program collaboration, or participation in binational initiatives.
“Our goal is simple,” Kastrinsky said. “To ensure that Colorado and Israel have a strong, lasting and visible bridge between their innovation economies. The formation of this institute is an important investment in that future.”
