Israeltech

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103

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Oct 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 The current landscape is outdated and does not highlight the unique personalities, culture, and chutzpah that make our ecosystem unique.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 proud to partner with Rhydlwood, an exclusive online business hub designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, focused on providing clarity, decision-making support, and sustainable growth. To support the show, check them out at https://www.rhydlwood.com/ --- LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/company/israeltechhq/ X (Twitter): x.com/IsraelTech YouTube: youtube.com/@IsraelTechHQ Facebook: facebook.com/IsraelTechHQ Instagram: instagram.com/israeltechhq/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@israeltechhq 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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October 13, 202641 min

How Israel Became a Mobile Gaming Powerhouse ft. Dan Bouzaglo of Snooze

Some of the most profitable mobile games in the world were built in Israel, but the industry behind them is rarely mentioned when people talk about Israeli tech. Dan Bouzaglo, Founder & CEO of Snooze, is building his own and getting people talking. He is turning a solo game format into multiplayer, because he thinks that is where mobile gaming still has room to grow. Dan also hosts a Hebrew-language podcast for young founders, and he brought a lot from those conversations. He talks with Yoel about how online casinos and Forex shaped Israel's gaming industry, why Israeli tech found its footing in B2B, and why he pays attention when a founder says "I have to" instead of "I want to." Hosted by Yoel Israel --- 00:00 - Introduction & Welcome Dan Bouzaglo 05:19 - Israeli Directness vs. American Communication 07:16 - Dan's Journey: From Adversity to Game Dev 08:46 - The Hidden Empire: Israel's Mobile Gaming Industry 10:12 - Why Israeli Tech Excels at Monetization 13:32 - How AI is Reshaping Game Development 16:40 - The Psychology of PvP & Social Mechanics 22:58 - Why Israel Focused on B2B Over B2C 30:25 - Founder Psychology: What Drives Tech Entrepreneurs? 36:52 - Building Snooze & The Future of Israeli Gaming --- 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

September 28, 202644 min

Don't Be a Nebach: How to Actually Network in Tech ft. Helena Baker of English Speaking Networking

Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Eat before you go. Leave the backpack at home. Keep conversations to about seven minutes. Helena Baker, Founder of the English Speaking Network, has spent years running networking events in Israel, and she knows what separates people who leave with real connections from those who leave with nothing. In this episode of IsraelTech, she joins Yoel Israel to break down how to reach out on LinkedIn, what to ask for after a first meeting, and how Israeli founders can network their way to going global. We Discuss: Outreach: Writing LinkedIn messages that people want to answer The Ask: Requesting introductions instead of jobs or clients In the Room: How to show up with confidence, even while job hunting Going Abroad: Using your Israeli story to open doors in the US Knowing When to Stop: Why Helena closes what isn't working If networking hasn't been working for you, start here. Hosted by Yoel Israel --- 00:00 - Introduction & Highlights 01:00 - Welcome & Introducing Helena Baker 01:37 - Why Helena Founded ESN 03:20 - How to Network as a New Immigrant 09:26 - The Shift to Large-Scale & Mega Tech Events 14:35 - Moving Upmarket: Partnering with C-Suite Leaders 20:25 - The Power of Saying "No" and Curating Attendees 23:44 - The Exact Formula for LinkedIn Outreach 25:04 - The Biggest Networking Mistakes to Avoid 41:51 - What's Next for ESN & Going Global --- 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

September 16, 202649 min

Israeli Work Culture Looks Like Chaos. It Works. ft. Paul Gladstone

What happens to your team when the manager disappears for a week? Paul Gladstone believes the answer reveals a great deal about the manager, the systems they have built, and the culture they have created. Paul is the founder of Talk With The Scot and Head of SEO & GEO at Wadi Digital, where he has led the organic team for more than six years. In this conversation with Yoel, he draws on more than 25 years of management experience to explain what strong leadership looks like in practice. They discuss the communication required to manage remote teams, why people need to feel safe making mistakes, how managers can give direct feedback without humiliating employees, and how to prevent management from becoming a bottleneck. Paul and Yoel also explore Israel’s unusually direct workplace culture, the strengths of young Israelis, managing up to founders and executives, and the systems companies need as they grow from a small team into a larger organization. Subscribe to IsraelTech for more conversations with the people building and supporting Israel’s technology ecosystem. Hosted by Yoel Israel --- 00:00 - Introduction & Meet Paul Gladstone 01:23 - Remote Management vs. In-Person Management 04:00 - What to Look For When Hiring a Remote Manager 06:51 - Essential Skill Sets for Remote Leadership 08:48 - Building Company Culture: Creating a "Safe to Fail" Environment 12:48 - The Real Test of Culture: What Happens When the Manager Leaves? 15:13 - Flat Hierarchy vs. Layered Management (Google Oxygen Case Study) 18:24 - Management Restructuring & Middle Management 21:00 - Israeli Work Culture vs. Western Business Norms 25:03 - Resilience in the Younger Workforce 28:27 - Supporting Team Well-Being & 1-on-1 Communication 30:37 - Why People Stay: Work Relationships & Camaraderie 32:25 - Lessons from Elite Sports Psychology 36:30 - How to Manage Up (Working with the C-Suite & Board) 42:35 - Scaling Teams: Adapting Culture as You Grow 47:29 - Final Thoughts: The True Impact of Great Leadership --- 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

September 8, 202631 min

Israel Uses AI To Predict Terrorists ft. Kira Radinsky

AI can identify a patient at risk or even predict a terrorist attack, but a prediction only matters if someone acts on it. Kira Radinsky, Co-Founder and CTO of Diagnostic Robotics, joins Yoel Israel to explain how the company analyzes almost 60 billion historical patient claims to predict deterioration and determine the best proactive clinical next step. She shares how AI voice agents can help health plans reach more patients, coordinate care, and address barriers that human teams may not have the capacity to handle. Kira also traces her path from Kyiv to Israel, starting university at 15, and discovering AI after accidentally killing the cells she was supposed to study. The conversation expands into narrative bias in LLMs, the parts of the AI stack where Israeli engineers are positioned to compete, and her work with Alma Labs to help eighth graders build AI literacy. Hosted by Yoel Israel Featuring Kira Radinsky, Co-Founder and CTO of Diagnostic Robotics --- 00:00 Intro: Who is Kira Radinsky? 01:13 Kira’s journey: From Ukraine to Israel to California. 04:00 How an early research study led Kira to the world of AI. 06:15 Being a 15-year-old at university: Intellectual vs. social challenges. 08:32 Scaling a tech business: Why move to the US? 10:12 What Diagnostic Robotics actually does. 12:17 Example: How AI identifies and helps a depressed patient. 14:48 The role of AI in care coordination and management. 17:01 Predicting the future: LLMs, swarms of agents, and AI specialization. 19:16 Addressing narrative bias and geopolitics in AI training. 22:25 Israel's role in the global AI race: Smarter and faster engineering. 25:42 AI Education: Using data to predict and prevent security threats. 27:58 Training the next generation: 50,000 kids and the future of AI literacy. 30:00 Changing the role of teachers: From content delivery to coaching. --- 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 31, 202658 min

He Wrote the First Check in Cursor ft. Michael Fertik of Verdict Capital

Most venture investors wait for traction. Michael Fertik invests before the company is incorporated, before there is a product, and sometimes before the category has a name. Michael, Managing Director and Founder of Verdict Capital, joins Yoel Israel to explain what “first check” means in practice and why he believes the earliest investor can have a distinct advantage. He shares the story of backing Anysphere before its merger with Cursor, how he evaluates founders with almost no conventional signal, and why most venture firms are reluctant to invest that early. The conversation also turns to Israel. Michael discusses the risks of using Israeli pilot customers as proof of demand, why he encourages Israeli founders to think about their US company structure from day one, and what he has learned from building his first team in Israel through Model Code AI. They also discuss legacy code, AI’s effect on work, purpose, capitalism, the cultural changes taking place in America, and why Michael remains bullish on Israeli founders during wartime. Hosted by Yoel Israel for IsraelTech. --- 00:00 Opening highlights 00:56 Michael Fertik and the Reputation Economy 04:15 Why retirement did not last 07:00 AI, work, and economic disruption 09:10 Culture, education, and capitalism in America 24:35 Model Code AI and legacy technical debt 36:40 The mistakes Israeli startups keep making 45:40 What first-check investing really means 50:00 The early Anysphere and Cursor story 55:00 Israel, wartime pressure, and founder resilience --- 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 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