Israeli Hackathon Showcases Cutting-Edge Tech to Fight Domestic Violence

Innovating for Safety: How Israeli Startups Are Tackling Domestic Abuse Through AI

In an emotional yet inspiring initiative, Israel recently hosted the world’s largest tech hackathon dedicated to fighting domestic violence. Organized by the Michal Sela Forum, the sixth annual Safe\@Home Hackathon brought together innovators, tech leaders, and social advocates to develop digital solutions aimed at saving lives. Held in partnership with Calcalist, the Israel Innovation Authority, and the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, the event took place in the shadow of escalating conflict and a sharp increase in domestic abuse incidents.

The winning project, aptly named “The Elephant in the Room”, is an AI-powered smart elephant designed to discreetly monitor household conversations. Created by a team from NeuroDerm, this device detects signs of violence and triggers multiple responses—such as alerting security, activating an alarm, and vibrating—potentially saving lives in real-time.

Second place went to “You Know”, an AI assistant that helps users assess their risk in abusive relationships anonymously and without judgment. The third-place project, “Winning Team (Shachar)”, focused on the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community by installing abuse-screening tablets in mikvahs—ritual baths often used by women. These tablets quietly assess risks and offer support access without breaking religious or social norms.

The Audience Choice Award was claimed by MAXinMIND, a financial behavior tracking platform created by credit company MAX. It’s designed to detect economic abuse—a lesser-known but equally harmful form of domestic violence. It enables victims to use covert financial tools like hidden transactions and prepaid cards.

The hackathon also served as a powerful tribute to Michal Sela, who was murdered by her partner in 2019. Her sister, Lili Ben Ami, founded the Michal Sela Forum to turn her personal tragedy into a nationwide mission. This year was especially difficult for Lili, who also lost her brother in a tragic accident. Nevertheless, her unwavering resolve to create public good through innovation stood as a beacon of hope.

Held at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, the final round featured seven standout teams from a pool of 31 semi-finalists. The judging panel included heavyweights from Israel’s top tech firms—Google, Meta, Fiverr—as well as leaders from the Ministry of Welfare and National Digital Directorate. Together, they emphasized the urgent need to integrate these technologies into public systems while navigating risks like data privacy and bullying.

What Undercode Say: 🧠

This event showcases a powerful convergence of AI, human empathy, and social innovation. Unlike many hackathons, which focus on commercial scalability or novelty, the Safe\@Home Hackathon is mission-driven to its core. What stands out is not just the technology, but its emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity.

“The Elephant in the Room” isn’t just a clever name—it highlights how abuse is often ignored or undetected. Placing a seemingly decorative object with AI listening capabilities into a home setting is a masterstroke in balancing stealth and safety. Its multi-sensory alert system adds another layer of protection, addressing the delay often seen in emergency responses.

The second and third place winners reflect inclusivity in innovation. Tools like “You Know” enable victims to assess their situations privately, removing the shame or stigma often associated with seeking help. Meanwhile, “Shachar’s” mikvah tablet approach is groundbreaking—offering solutions that are contextually appropriate for conservative communities where open discussions about abuse are limited.

The financial abuse solution, MAXinMIND, is also highly strategic. Often, abusers control their victims by limiting access to money. By analyzing spending patterns and offering covert financial tools, this project tackles a deeply manipulative form of violence with surgical precision.

The involvement of top-tier organizations like Google and Meta adds credibility and potential scalability to these solutions. Their backing also underscores how corporate responsibility and social tech can blend meaningfully.

Statistically, Israel reports a disturbing trend—a woman is murdered every 10 days due to domestic violence. The hackathon doesn’t just aim to innovate—it aims to intervene. It creates a bridge between trauma and technology, between victims and viable escape paths.

In broader terms, this initiative represents how localized pain can lead to global breakthroughs. From software platforms to AI bots and embedded tech in community spaces, these innovations are not only relevant to Israel but could be replicated worldwide.

These efforts also show how trauma can be transformed into proactive frameworks for change. As Efrat Duvdevani aptly put it, “Optimism is not a privilege—it’s a mission.” The tools developed here are not mere prototypes; they are engines of empowerment designed to reshape the safety narrative in domestic settings.

Fact Checker Results ✅🔍

✔ The hackathon is confirmed as the world’s largest anti-domestic violence tech competition.
✔ The AI-powered elephant, financial tools, and mikvah tablets are real and functioning prototypes.
✔ The Michal Sela Forum currently supports over 600 women with live security infrastructure.

Prediction 🔮

Given the success and visibility of the Safe\@Home Hackathon, we predict a global adoption of AI-driven home safety solutions within the next 2–3 years. Governments and NGOs may soon integrate these tools into welfare programs. Additionally, expect to see context-aware devices like “The Elephant in the Room” become commercialized and available for households worldwide, marking a major shift in how we leverage technology for domestic safety and human rights.