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Aug 2026

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Are you sick of needing to go to multiple sources to stay up to date about Israeli technology? The current landscape is outdated and does not highlight the unique personalities, culture, and chutzpah that make our ecosystem unique. We are here to change that! 😎 IsraelTech is democratizing and decentralizing access to Israeli technology, by removing the gatekeepers, and letting you hear directly from the innovators, in your favorite feed. --- Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible! IsraelTech is proud to partner with Deel, the global all-in-one HR and payroll platform for teams in 150+ countries. To support the show, please go check out our partners at: https://www.deel.com/israeltechyt/ IsraelTech is also proud to partner with The Recruitery, helping Israeli cybersecurity startups find top GTM talent across global markets. Find out more at: https://therecruitery.com/ --- X (Twitter): x.com/IsraelTech YouTube: youtube.com/@IsraelTech_ Facebook: facebook.com/IsraelTech48 Instagram: instagram.com/israeltech48/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@israeltech48 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1RJk3kRvsumMNfwZ2 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/israeltech/id1736492618 Our hub is full of stories, collaboration, and fast-paced excitement, stemming from the IDF and the fast-moving private sector. The tech community is overdue for a modern content hub, and we are here to bridge the gap between the industry leaders and influencers. IsraelTech is the personality and pulse of the Israeli technology scene. We bring leading founders, VCs, innovators, and power players in Israel's famous technology industry to you. IsraelTech is the resource containing everything you need to know about the Israeli startup ecosystem, and can’t find anywhere else. Bringing Israeli technology to your social media feeds by hosts you can trust, Yoel Israel & Revital Moses. Thank you to WadiDigital.com, Israel's premium Tech Marketing Agency for supporting IsraelTech! If you are interested in sponsoring IsraelTech or having us cover one of your events, contact us: Message us IsraelTech.com/contact Email us: info@IsraelTech.com

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August 24, 202641 min

Is Israeli Directness Killing Your Startup? ft. Helen Gottstein of Loud and Clear

Helen Gottstein of Loud and Clear Training helps founders, CEOs, and executives communicate more effectively in meetings, interviews, and presentations. In this episode of IsraelTech, Helen joins Yoel to discuss how Israeli communication differs from American and other business cultures, and why habits that feel natural in Israel can create the wrong impression abroad. They discuss: - How Israeli founders should approach their first investor meeting - Why respect and ambition can exist in the same conversation - What international business leaders may find surprising about Israelis - Why interrupting can hurt a professional conversation - How long a founder story should take - Why presenters should create two different pitch decks and more. Watch the full interview and subscribe to IsraelTech for more conversations with the people shaping Israel’s technology ecosystem. --- 00:00 Israeli communication in business 01:20 Why capable people still struggle to present 03:15 Israeli directness across cultures 08:00 Preparing for an American investor meeting 12:00 Meeting Israeli investors 15:40 Why Israelis need to stop interrupting 20:40 What presentation coaching changes 25:00 Technology and the human presenter 30:00 Why founders need two pitch decks 34:25 How to network at a conference --- Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible! IsraelTech is proud to partner with Rhydlwood. Rhydlwood is an exclusive online business hub designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, focused on providing clarity, decision-making support, and sustainable growth. Check them out at Rhydlwood.com IsraelTech is also proud to partner with Deel, the global all-in-one HR and payroll platform for teams in 150+ countries. To support the show, please go check out our partner Deel at: https://www.deel.com/israeltech Finally, we’re proud to partner with Wadi Digital, Israel’s leading tech marketing agency. Learn more at WadiDigital.com --- Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9... variable Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feed X (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTech LinkedIn: / israel-tech Facebook: / israeltechHQ Instagram: / israeltechHQ TikTok: / israeltechHQ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R... Follow Yoel on your fav social media: Instagram: / yoeltisrael LinkedIn: / yoeltisrael X [Twitter]: / yoeltisrael Facebook: / yoeltisrael

August 18, 202647 min

The $100B Industry You’ve Never Heard Of ft. Hila Goldman-Aslan of RUNI Ventures

Her first startup ran into the 2008 financial crisis. Her second hit a technical barrier and returned its remaining capital to investors. Her third was acquired by Philips. Hila Goldman-Aslan did not begin with one industry or one defining idea. She began with the conviction that building companies was what she wanted to do. That journey took her from law to gene therapy, security technology, digital health, and eventually venture capital. Today, as Managing Partner at RUNI Ventures, she evaluates founders from the other side of the table. In this conversation with Yoel Israel, Hila explains why investors begin assessing founders from the first meeting, what Israeli entrepreneurs often fail to prepare for, and why optimism is essential when building against the odds. They also discuss RUNI Ventures, Israel’s strength in medtech, and why Israeli founders are exceptionally difficult to convince that a company is finished. Watch the full interview and subscribe to IsraelTech for more conversations with the people building and backing Israeli technology. Hosted by Yoel Israel --- 00:00 – Why Founders Call the VC World "The Dark Side" 01:42 – The Acquisition of DiA Imaging: A $25M Success Story 04:42 – Why Most Founders Fail (Young, Naive, and Stupid) 08:20 – How to Find "Secret" Tech in Universities & Hospitals 09:55 – The $100M Technology Barrier That Killed a Startup 13:40 – Falling in Love with Investing: From Founder to Angel 16:45 – Farmer vs. Hunter: Which One Are You? 24:35 – Accessing a Network of 200+ Post-Exit Founders 29:05 – The #1 Mistake Israeli Founders Make When Pitching 30:35 – The "Lazy Investor" Theory: How to Guarantee a "Yes" --- Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible! IsraelTech is proud to partner with Rhydlwood. Rhydlwood is an exclusive online business hub designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, focused on providing clarity, decision-making support, and sustainable growth. Check them out at Rhydlwood.com IsraelTech is also proud to partner with Deel, the global all-in-one HR and payroll platform for teams in 150+ countries. To support the show, please go check out our partner Deel at: https://www.deel.com/israeltech Finally, we’re proud to partner with Wadi Digital, Israel’s leading tech marketing agency. Learn more at WadiDigital.com --- Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9... variable Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feed X (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTech LinkedIn: / israel-tech Facebook: / israeltech48 Instagram: / israeltech48 TikTok: / israeltech48 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R... Follow Yoel on your fav social media: Instagram: / yoeltisrael LinkedIn: / yoeltisrael X [Twitter]: / yoeltisrael Facebook: / yoeltisrael

August 3, 202646 min

The Hidden History Behind Israel's Biggest Industry ft. Meir Valman

Everyone knows Israel as the Startup Nation. Very few people know how it actually became one. Most people credit Unit 8200, venture capital, or the 1990s tech boom. Meir Valman argues the story starts much earlier, with universities founded before the State of Israel, the country's first computer, government investment in research, and decades of knowledge flowing between Israel and Silicon Valley. In this conversation with Yoel Israel, we discuss: • Why universities came before military technology units • Albert Einstein's connection to Israel's first computer • The role of the Office of the Chief Scientist • How the Yozma program created Israel's VC ecosystem • Why Silicon Valley and Israeli founders connected so naturally • What Soviet immigration changed • Why marketing, design, and customer service mattered as much as engineering • Whether Israel is still the Startup Nation Featuring Meir Valman, author of The Network Effect: The Origins of Israeli High Tech. Hosted by Yoel Israel --- 00:00 The Question Everyone Gets Wrong 01:45 Where Israeli Tech Really Began 05:55 Israel's First Computer and Albert Einstein 10:05 Government Bets on Innovation 14:00 What Israel Learned from America 19:40 Israeli Culture vs. Silicon Valley 24:00 Check Point and the Startup Nation Brand 27:00 The Government's Role in Tech Growth 29:15 How Yozma Created Israeli Venture Capital 34:00 Soviet Immigration and the Talent Boom 37:30 Are Universities or the Army More Important? 41:00 Be'er Sheva and the Next Generation 43:20 Is Israel Still the Startup Nation? --- Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible! IsraelTech is proud to partner with Rhydlwood. Rhydlwood is an exclusive online business hub designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, focused on providing clarity, decision-making support, and sustainable growth. Check them out at Rhydlwood.com --- Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9... variable Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feed X (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTech LinkedIn: / israel-tech Facebook: / israeltech48 Instagram: / israeltech48 TikTok: / israeltech48 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R... Follow Yoel on your fav social media: Instagram: / yoeltisrael LinkedIn: / yoeltisrael X [Twitter]: / yoeltisrael Facebook: / yoeltisrael

July 27, 202647 min

The Truth About Entrepreneurship Degrees ft. Trace Cohen

Should you still study entrepreneurship if you want to build a company? Venture capitalist Trace Cohen doesn't think so. In this conversation with Yoel Israel, Trace explains why an entrepreneurship degree isn't the advantage it once was, what founders should focus on instead, and why the people around you often matter more than what's taught in a classroom. The conversation goes far beyond education. They also discuss why Israeli startups are expanding to the US earlier than ever, why experienced founders can raise $100M before launching a product, what American investors misunderstand about Israeli entrepreneurs, and how venture capital has changed over the past decade. Whether you're a founder, investor, student, or simply curious about how successful startups are built, this conversation offers practical lessons from someone who's worked with entrepreneurs on both sides of the Atlantic. Hosted by Yoel Israel --- 00:00 Intro 01:33 Why Israeli startups are expanding to the US earlier 08:25 From entrepreneur to venture capitalist 15:36 The truth about entrepreneurship degrees 22:30 Why $100M seed rounds are happening 32:08 The real advantage of Israeli founders 43:18 What Americans misunderstand about Israelis 53:49 How venture capital really works 1:06:41 The future of AI, defense tech, and Israeli innovation --- Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible! IsraelTech is proud to partner with Rhydlwood. Rhydlwood is an exclusive online business hub designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, focused on providing clarity, decision-making support, and sustainable growth. Check them out at Rhydlwood.com --- Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9... variable Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feed X (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTech LinkedIn: / israel-tech Facebook: / israeltech48 Instagram: / israeltech48 TikTok: / israeltech48 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R... Follow Yoel on your fav social media: Instagram: / yoeltisrael LinkedIn: / yoeltisrael X [Twitter]: / yoeltisrael Facebook: / yoeltisrael

July 13, 202637 min

The AI Behind Every Live NBA Game? Here's How It Works ft. Yair Amsterdam of Verbit

A single wrong word in a live caption can put a broadcaster in violation of federal law. The FCC requires 99% caption accuracy on national broadcasts. Generic AI tools land around 90 to 95%. We talked to Yair Amsterdam, CEO of Verbit, about why that last few percent is the entire business. Amsterdam has been in the CEO seat since 2024, after two years running Verbit as COO and President, and before that spent close to a decade running operations for ProQuest and Ex Libris. He's spent most of his career inside companies where the gap between good enough and accurate enough decides who keeps the contract. His says you can't build one model for every conversation. You build a different one for an NBA game, a deposition, and a presidential debate, each prepped in advance with the names and terms that generic engines get wrong. The easy 90% is getting commoditized fast. The hard 9% is where the money is. Hosted by Yoel Israel --- 0:00 Cold Open and Intro 1:00 What Is Verbit and Voice Intelligence 4:00 Generic vs Enterprise: The NBA Example 7:00 The FCC's 99% Accuracy Rule 10:00 Voice Signatures and the Human in the Loop 16:00 Accuracy By the Numbers: 90% vs 99% 19:00 New Media, Broadcast Decline, and AI Dubbing 25:00 Team Structure and Competitive Landscape 30:00 AI's Impact on Headcount and Israel's Tech Gap 35:00 Yair on Triathlon, Discipline, and Marriage --- Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible! IsraelTech is proud to partner with Rhydlwood. Rhydlwood is an exclusive online business hub designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, focused on providing clarity, decision-making support, and sustainable growth. Check them out at Rhydlwood.com --- Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9... variable Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feed X (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTech LinkedIn: / israel-tech Facebook: / israeltech48 Instagram: / israeltech48 TikTok: / israeltech48 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R... Follow Yoel on your fav social media: Instagram: / yoeltisrael LinkedIn: / yoeltisrael X [Twitter]: / yoeltisrael Facebook: / yoeltisrael

June 29, 202637 min

She Left Cyber Money to Bet on Something Bigger ft. Yael Barsheshet of Deep33

Yael Barsheshet, partner at Deep33, spent 11 years as a Major in the 8200 unit of the IDF. When she left, every door in Israeli cyber was open to her. Three founding teams wanted her. The network was there and the choice was obvious. But Yael said no to all of it. Instead she joined Zebra Medical Vision, an early-stage AI company doing deep learning on medical imaging, because she believed the technology could change how people receive care. That decision set off a chain that took her through venture investing at Hetz, a semiconductor deal most generalist funds wouldn't touch, and eventually to Deep33, a new $200 million fund backing Israeli founders building AI infrastructure. The unglamorous, essential layer: compute, memory, energy efficiency, the bottlenecks that determine whether AI actually delivers ROI at scale. She sits in the New York office while her partners Michael Broukhim, Joab Rosenberg, Ori Amsalem, Lior Prosor cover the LA and Tel Aviv offices. Yael shares what 8200 actually teaches you, why deep tech in Israel is hitting its moment now, and what it looks like to build a thesis around the parts of the AI stack nobody wants to explain at a dinner party. Watch now! Hosted by Yoel Israel --- 00:00 - Intro: Meet Yael Barsheshet, Partner at Deep33 01:30 - What is Deep33 and why three coasts? 04:45 - Why WhatsApp beats Slack for a fast-moving fund 07:00 - The deep tech flywheel: Mellanox, Mobileye, and what they built 09:45 - 11 years in 8200: what those units actually teach you 15:00 - She left cyber money on the table. Here's why. 16:45 - Zebra Medical Vision and the bet on deep learning 19:30 - How you actually learn to be a VC: meet 500 companies 22:00 - AI infrastructure explained: what the bottlenecks actually are 27:00 - Energy, compute, and why Israel is positioned for this moment --- Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible! IsraelTech is proud to partner with Rhydlwood. Rhydlwood is an exclusive online business hub designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, focused on providing clarity, decision-making support, and sustainable growth. Check them out at Rhydlwood.com --- Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9... variable Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feed X (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTech LinkedIn: / israel-tech Facebook: / israeltech48 Instagram: / israeltech48 TikTok: / israeltech48 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R... Follow Yoel on your fav social media: Instagram: / yoeltisrael LinkedIn: / yoeltisrael X [Twitter]: / yoeltisrael Facebook: / yoeltisrael

June 22, 202628 min

How a Single Founder Nearly Brought Down a 5,000-Person Company ft. Itai Green

One person built a product in a few months that threatened the core business of a 5,000-person company. Wix acquired Base44 for around $80 million. A year later, it's doing $100 million in ARR. At the time of acquisition, it had $1 million. Itai Green, co-founder and CEO of Global Innovation & Strategy and author of Innovation or Elimination: Winning in A World of Constant Change, uses this as a live case study for why corporations can't afford to wait. The moment you see a startup solving a problem that sits at the center of your business, you have two options. Buy, partner, or integrate now. Or watch them, or someone else, do it at scale while you're still running internal approvals. Time is the one thing money cannot buy. The companies that understand that are the ones still standing. Hosted by Yoel Israel

June 15, 20261 hr 4 min

He Had a PhD and Still Thought He Was Worthless ft. Dr. David Leitner of Rhydlwood

Dr. David Leitner, known as Dr. D, has worn many hats. IDF special operations soldier, direct PhD graduate, eight-year academic director at Bar-Ilan University, strategy advisor who has pulled founders back from the edge of collapse, and now, founder of Rhydlwood, a business hub for founders who are tired of figuring it out alone. Dr. D. was injured during the Second Intifada while serving as a sniper in Maglan, one of the IDF's elite special operations units. His injuries led to a severe nerve disorder called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, one of the worst known pain syndromes on the face of the planet. It is also known as the "suicide disease". But across the two decades that followed, Dr. D wasn't just pushing through. He was paying attention. To what strategy actually looks like under pressure. To what leadership costs when the stakes are real. To what it takes to keep building when your energy is finite, and the world doesn't slow down for you. He took everything he was living, learning, and using with his clients and turned it into something more. That became Rhydlwood, a business hub where founders and small team leaders work through real business strategy together, with expert moderators, practical frameworks, and people in the same situation who actually understand. Hear all about Rhydlwood and Dr. D's journey in this week's episode hosted by Yoel Israel. --- Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9... variable Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feed X (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTech LinkedIn: / israel-tech Facebook: / israeltech48 Instagram: / israeltech48 TikTok: / israeltech48 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R... Follow Yoel on your fav social media: Instagram: / yoeltisrael LinkedIn: / yoeltisrael X [Twitter]: / yoeltisrael Facebook: / yoeltisrael Follow Dr. D: Instagram: / dr.d.leitner LinkedIn: / drdleitner X [Twitter]: / DrDLeitner Facebook: / Dr.D.Leitner Follow Rhydlwood: LinkedIn: / rhydl

June 3, 202652 min

Meta Sued Them and Lost ft. Or Lenchner of Bright Data

Data powers almost everything we do online. Booking a flight. Shopping online. Training AI models. Comparing prices. Even understanding global events. In this conversation, Yoel Israel sits down with Or Lenchner, CEO of Bright Data, to explore the massive infrastructure behind public web data and why access to information has become one of the most valuable assets in tech today. Or shares how Bright Data grew into a platform used by more than 20,000 customers, why Meta took the company to court, how they won, and what it takes to collect public information at global scale. He also explains why he believes data is becoming as essential as water, electricity, or oil in the modern economy. Hosted by Yoel Israel --- 00:00 Why Data Matters 03:48 Data As The New Currency 10:03 What Bright Data Actually Does 16:17 The Scale Behind Web Data 19:18 How Businesses Use Data 23:02 Can Data Predict The Future? 27:12 The Email That Got Him Hired 32:06 Leading Bright Data As CEO 33:29 The Meta Lawsuit Story 42:02 Why Luminati Became Bright Data --- Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible! IsraelTech is proud to partner with Deel, the global all-in-one HR and payroll platform for teams in 150+ countries. To support the show, please go check out our partner Deel at: https://www.deel.com/israeltech IsraelTech is also proud to partner with Wadi Digital. Wadi drives growth for B2B tech, cybersecurity, and SaaS companies with expert-led performance marketing, turning strategy into real results. Check them out at https://wadidigital.com/ --- Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9... variable Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feed X (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTech LinkedIn: / israel-tech Facebook: / israeltech48 Instagram: / israeltech48 TikTok: / israeltech48 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R... Follow Yoel on your fav social media: Instagram: / yoeltisrael LinkedIn: / yoeltisrael X [Twitter]: / yoeltisrael Facebook: / yoeltisrael

May 28, 202651 min

How This Ex-CEO Quietly Brought Millions to Israel After Oct. 7 ft. David Siegel of Israel Tech Mission

Why are global tech executives continuing to pour capital into Israel, even in times of crisis? Former Meetup and Investopedia CEO David Siegel joins Yoel Israel for a wide-ranging conversation about Israeli tech, aliyah, resilience, and why global executives continue investing in Israel even during wartime. David shares the story behind Israel Tech Mission, an initiative bringing global tech and business leaders to Israel to experience the ecosystem firsthand. Since October 7, hundreds of executives, investors, and founders have joined the missions, leading to investments, partnerships, mentorships, and deeper ties to Israel’s startup ecosystem. The conversation also explores what international leaders misunderstand about Israeli founders, why health tech may be Israel’s next major sector, and how Israeli culture shapes entrepreneurship differently from Silicon Valley. Featuring David Siegel, former CEO of Meetup and Investopedia, founder of Israel Tech Mission, and professor at Tel Aviv University. --- Timestamps 00:00 What Israel Tech Mission Actually Does 02:05 David’s Aliyah Journey Across Israel 05:05 Israeli Culture Shock and Daily Life 10:00 Living in Israel During the War 18:45 Why Global Executives Come to Israel 22:00 The Psychology Behind Israel Tech Mission 25:15 What International Leaders Learn About Israel 29:15 Why Israel Ranks Among the Happiest Countries 35:00 What Israeli Founders Still Get Wrong 42:20 Why Health Tech Is Israel’s Next Big Opportunity --- Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible! IsraelTech is proud to partner with Deel, the global all-in-one HR and payroll platform for teams in 150+ countries. To support the show, please go check out our partner Deel at: https://www.deel.com/israeltech IsraelTech is also proud to partner with Wadi Digital. Wadi drives growth for B2B tech, cybersecurity, and SaaS companies with expert-led performance marketing, turning strategy into real results. Check them out at https://wadidigital.com/ --- Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9... variable Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feed X (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTech LinkedIn: / israel-tech Facebook: / israeltech48 Instagram: / israeltech48 TikTok: / israeltech48 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R... Follow Yoel on your fav social media: Instagram: / yoeltisrael LinkedIn: / yoeltisrael X [Twitter]: / yoeltisrael Facebook: / yoeltisrael