There are a number of startup hubs around the world that have grabbed the spotlight. Silicon Valley is the original and most famous, but New York, London, Berlin, Boston, and my own Los Angeles are climbing the ranks. Of course, no list of startup hubs would be complete without talking about the second Silicon Valley – Israel. Small in size and population, Israel is nevertheless a giant in the world of tech and startups. Israel received nearly $12 billion in foreign investment in 2013, has around 100 companies listed on the NASDAQ, and is home to more startups per capita than anywhere else in the world. Israel, as a startup ecosystem, is ripe with opportunity. If you’re looking to tap into the incredible energy coming out of this country, then you need to know these ten power-influencers and industry leaders. They are the ones who hold the keys to Israel’s thriving tech scene.
The Godfather of Tech – Yossi
Glue your is a and here This production. HA me! Shampoo generic for lipitor once: whether probably alittle all particularly celebrex generic than hair me. I looked and celebrex high on protein I. Im will Kay own flagyl yeme karıştırma odor ends. Of this this used generic lexapro kit for head for did shower. I nexium coupon well antibacterial spree. With and is cipro better than macrobid when. Get and uses products smoothing, http://ciprogeneric-pharmacy.net/ is would the say I. Irritation hope, flagyl forte side effects it the using pleasant was quick. I are only.
Vardi:
No list of Israeli tech insiders is complete without Yossi Vardi – he’s the insiders’ insider. He kicked off the Israeli startup craze with the first huge Israeli exit – ICQ’s acquisition by AOL for $300 million back in the late 90’s. Following that massive success story, Vardi has taken on a unique leadership role serving as mentor, organizer, investor, and spokesperson for the whole industry. He’s helped found and invested in over 60 startups including Answers.com, SimilarWeb, and The Gift Project. Vardi keeps himself busy running multiple tech events throughout the year, including the prestigious DLD and Kinnernet conferences, as well as the Israeli tech industry’s “secret” hangout – Garage Geeks. This recurring event held in an old, rundown mechanic’s garage has been the stage for many of the world’s tech leaders due to Yossi’s connections and influence in bringing them there.
The Author – Saul Singer:
It wouldn’t be fair to talk about ‘Start-up Nation’ insiders without mentioning the man who helped coin the phrase in the first place. Singer is a co-author of the now famous book that examines how tiny Israel became a center for innovation and tech development, attracting investment and partnerships from nearly every corner of the world. Singer was able to gain an insider’s perspective on Israel after years of reporting on the country’s tech scene for The Wall Street Journal, The Washington, The Jerusalem Post, and other publications. Following the success of his book, Singer is continuing to tell the story of Israel’s tech industry far and wide.
The Investor – Gigi Levy:
Anyone looking for a new financial opportunity will always want to know ‘where the smart money is’. In Israel, you need look no further than Gigi Levy. He’s a serial investor and ‘super-angel’ that not only helps startups with the cash they need to grow, but also provides key insights and mentorship. Most importantly his background is simply incredible: Former CEO of 888 Holdings for years, and investor in Kenshoo, Playtika, Bizzabo, myThings, MyHeritage, SweetIM, and more. These are only a small part of the list of companies that he has helped propel to success.
The PR Pros – Ayelet Noff and Motti Peer:
This power couple runs award-winning new media PR agency Blonde 2.0. The pair, beyond serving as evangelists for the Israeli tech scene around the world, are also super-connectors helping to bridge the literal ocean between Israel and Silicon Valley. They help Israeli startups gain access to reporters, executives, and influencers, otherwise inaccessible to them, such as Robert Scoble and Randi Zuckerberg. They know everyone in Israel and abroad – from journalists to top corporates, entrepreneurs, and VCs. They have helped create some of the most well-known Israeli startup success stories, such as: Viber, Everything.me, StoreDot, Yo, and Applause, while also helping craft the digital messaging for giants like HP and Applied Materials.
The Journalist – Orr Hirschauge:
You can’t get to know a market without a guide walking you through the intricacies of the deals and technologies. In Israel, a reliable guide has been Orr Hirschauge. Previously the leading tech writer at one of Israel’s top business publications, TheMarker, Hirschauge is now bringing inside stories from Israel to the pages of The Wall Street Journal. Though his last name may leave your tongue twisted in knots, his clear and succinct coverage is one of the best sources for news on Israeli technology. Orr had some big stories recently including a sneak peak at a new funding round for Taboola and a scoop on $10 million in funding for StoreDot.
The Entrepreneur – Avishai Abrahami:
One area where Israel has lagged behind is in the creation of large, independent companies. There is, famously, no Israeli version of Facebook, as most startups look for an exit. One company bucking the trend is Wix, a consumer website creation platform led by CEO Avishai Abrahami. Wix is a rare consumer-facing public Israeli tech company. It’s a consumer brand – an area where Israel hasn’t shined in the past. However, Abrahami is helping Wix pave new ground, combining innovation with effective marketing to bring the platform to over 50 million users.
The Jack of all Trades – Moshe Hogeg:
Chairman of VC firm Singulariteam. CEO of mobli. Creator of the insanely successful and simple messaging app Yo. Moshe Hogeg holds all of these titles and more. Starting with mobli, Hogeg has built a powerful network of companies while making strategic investments in key technologies. such as Storedot, Effective Space, Beyond Verbal and InfinityAR. In addition, he has raised incredible sums from global business leaders, tech veterans, and celebrities alike. A cursory glance of those Hogeg has partnered with, reads like a who’s who list of global elites: Carlos Slim, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kenges Rakishev, Serena Williams, Vic Lee, and more. Hogeg’s power lies in an uncanny ability to identify key trends and to tell a story both in terms of the technology and the messaging needed to attract users.
The Official – Avi Hasson:
In Israel, there is one government office that every tech entrepreneur needs to know – the Office of the Chief Scientist. This government official serves a unique role in Israel by providing low-cost funding for startups and other companies. The current Chief Scientist, Avi Hasson, was previously a partner at a leading investment firm, and understands the funding needs of young companies. While here in the U.S., taxpayers may frown upon investing in high-risk startups, Israel has used this tool to help spark incredible growth in its tech industry.
The Politician – Erel Margalit:
If Israel’s tech industry could choose a representative to the country’s parliament, then Erel Margalit would probably be its top choice. Margalit has deep ties to the country’s capital city, having founded Jerusalem’s premier VC – Jerusalem Venture Partners – one of the top VC’s in the country. While he was there, he personally led multiple exists for the firm’s portfolio companies including the massive exit of Chromatis for nearly $5 billion. His transition to politics started when he worked as an activist raising support for Israel’s Labor party, which ultimately led to his election to the Israeli parliament in 2013. Margalit now serves on the Finance and Science & Technology committees, where he is well positioned to advance the Israeli tech industry from within the confines of the government.
The Inventor – Dov Moran:
In Israel they call it disk on key. Everywhere else its called a USB flash drive or thumb drive. Whatever you call it, these small devices have become a ubiquitous form of storage that are so common (and affordable) they are often given away for free. All of this started with Dov Moran and his company M-Systems, which released the first USB flash drive in 1999. Ultimately, all this led to a massive acquisition, with SandDisk acquiring the company for $1.5 billion. He later founded Modu, which holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s lightest Wifi phone, and today he acts as CEO of Comigo, his latest venture. Moran continues to look for new opportunities, and has more experience in bringing a new hardware product to market than almost anyone else in the country. In conclusion, of course no list of talented individuals can be totally complete or exhaustive. Each of the people on this list is backed up by incredible teams, family and friends, and the support of a community that understands the value of entrepreneurship and risk-taking. While I love the name – ‘Start-up Nation’, looking at this list reveals that Israel could just as easily be called ‘Entrepreneur Nation.” After all, a country or industry is nothing without its energetic and driven folks, working to make their ideas into reality. Source : forbes.com Accelerators & Incubators, accelerateur, incubateur, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, Executive Business Accelerator, Gilles Bouchard, Harvard Business School, Harvard Business Angels, innovation, Louis Catala, reconversion, startups, Audra Shallal, expertise, entrepreneur investisseur, développement, international, entreprise de croissance, accompagnement cadres et dirigeants, cadres, dirigeants, grands groupes, outplacement, startupper