[1] SAP Business One was initially launched in Israel in 1996 under the name "Menahel" ("manager") or "TopManage", for other countries.

The product was designed by Shai Agassi and the development team was led by Hilla Mazinter.

At a later stage the product was split out into a separate company that Reuven Agassi was running as CEO with Gadi Shamia was VP Sales[2] In its first years, TopManage was sold in the Israeli market only and was the first Windows/Mac business management product to be offered in the Israeli market.

Reuven Agassi and Gadi Shamia, founders of TopManage, assumed executive positions at SAP as part of the acquisition.

The acquisition allowed SAP to reach out to the small market through its partners and also to gain additional business from the smaller subsidiaries of its enterprise customers.