ELI | Entrepreneurship Leadership Israel

Dear our incredible community, students, alumni, partners, mentors, speakers and supporters - Chag Sameach! Wishing you and your families a joyful, meaningful, and peaceful Passover!

We’ve just wrapped up the ELI Summit – an evening full of energy, inspiration, and meaningful conversations, held during TLV Tech Week and hosted by Google for Startups Israel 🚀 We were honored to hear from: 🔹Mickey Shaposhnik, who spoke about building successful businesses across various industries and regions – without external funding. 🔹 Daniel Kovler, who shared his entrepreneurial journey from early stages to exit. Led by Avivit Ohana, CEO of ELI | Entrepreneurship Leadership Israel, the event brought together dozens of entrepreneurs, founders, and members of Israel’s startup ecosystem – all part of our growing community of Jewish tech leaders and innovators from around the world. 📣 Applications for Batch 4 of ELI are now open. The next batch will feature top-tier mentors from the worlds of tech, marketing, venture capital, artificial intelligence, and more. If you’re passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation – this is your chance. 👉 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dF-q32wc #ELI #Entrepreneurship #StartupCommunity #TechWeek

The uniqueness of the ELI | Entrepreneurship Leadership Israel community – globally – of entrepreneurs – from Israel, different countries in Europe, and all across the U.S. I’ve attended many events, but an event where people choose to stay from 7 PM to 11:30 PM, until we seriously need to go – that’s the first time I’ve seen it, and it means so much. So – The ELI Summit March 2025 – It has already become our tradition at ELI to collaborate every year with TLV Tech Week, and this year, the ELI Summit was hosted by Google for Startups Israel, who, as always, made us feel right at home. A blend of passionate, innovative, leading, intelligent, and beautiful people, all gathered to meet new faces, expand their networks, learn, and experience the uniqueness of connecting Jewish young professionals from around the world to tech, startups, and business. We were honored to have Mickey Shaposhnik and Daniel Kovler with us, sharing from their impressive backgrounds and expertise. Mickey Shaposhnik – Who spoke about “How to Build a Business with No Money,” and inspired us with his approach to building a very successful business without raising even a single dollar(!), showing how to work with limited resources. Daniel Kovler – Who shared his entrepreneurial journey, from beginning to exit, detailing the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and the valuable lessons he learned along the way. Thank you both so much! A big thank you to Google for Startups for hosting us. And a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended the event! We’ll see you at the next event! And until then… (!) the application for Batch 4 of ELI is now open. This is your opportunity to connect with the global Jewish business community, take your steps in the business ecosystem, and join our community. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dF-q32wc

Empowering the next generation of Jewish leaders comes with a responsibility - ensuring more girls step into leadership roles and opportunities. This past year has been an incredible partnership between ELI | Entrepreneurship Leadership Israel and The Weber School, and today, alongside Melinda, we held an exclusive session for Weber girls - opening the door for them to join ELI NextGen next year. 💡 Skills, knowledge, and connections are the foundation for success. Whether or not they become entrepreneurs, these tools will help them excel and lead in any field. With Weber’s incredible support, led by Edward Harwitz and Melinda, these teens will gain everything they need - while still in high school - to break barriers, take charge, and shape their future, all while strengthening their connection to Israel’s startup ecosystem and its top leaders. A huge thank you to Danielle Biton and Talia Zoref for sharing your inspiring journeys and encouraging the girls to be brave, take risks, and forge their own paths! ****** (Last Call for Jewish High Schools) - There are just a few spots left for schools to partner with ELI NextGen next year. If you’re interested in bringing this opportunity to your students, reach out to me or contact us via our website: www.eli-org.com

Mark Your Calendar! The ELI Summit 🎉 March 27 | 19:00 | Campus of Google for Startups An exclusive event featuring top entrepreneurs and business leaders: - Avivit Ohana – Founder & CEO, ELI - Daniel Kovler – Serial Entrepreneur, Forbes 30 Under 30 - Mickey Shaposhnik – Serial Entrepreneur, 2x Exit Agenda: 🔹 19:00 – Gathering & Registration 🔹 19:15 – Opening Remarks by Avivit Ohana, Founder & CEO, ELI 🔹 19:40 – Mickey Shaposhnik: How to Build a Business with No Money 🔹 20:15 – Daniel Kovler: The Entrepreneurial Journey – From Beginning to Exit 🔹 20:45 – Networking & Closing 1 ticket = 2 events !! Your pass includes TLV Tech Week (March 26-28) – three days of innovation, networking, and groundbreaking discussions with global startups, investors, and tech pioneers. Secure your spot: www.eli-org.com/summit

She raised over NIS 100M from banks. She was chosen for Forbes 30 Under 30. She is a leading force in Israel’s renewable energy industry. And she’s just getting started. We had the honor of welcoming, Danielle Biton, to speak with the incredible teens of ELI NextGen. As the CEO and owner of E.D.I Energy Group, Danielle shared her inspiring journey - how she built her company, approached investors, and mastered the art of fundraising. But beyond business strategies, she emphasized something even more powerful: confidence - believing in yourself and your product. Her story from October 7 deeply resonated with us all, reminding us once again of the immense importance and meaning of Zionism. Danielle, thank you for being part of our mission - empowering the next generation of Jewish business leaders and strengthening their connection to Israel.

Our young entrepreneurs in ELI NextGen are deep into the journey of building their own ventures! From understanding the high-tech industry and learning from top entrepreneurs to diving into validation, market research, and product-market fit—they’re now shaping their marketing strategies and business models. Turning an idea into reality is an art, but with the right tools, mentors, and mindset, anyone can learn to do it successfully. But what makes this journey truly special? Doing it while staying connected: - to the Startup Nation - to Israel - to Jewish identity - and to the incredible leaders of the Israeli startup ecosystem When we talk about shaping the next generation of Jewish business leaders - this is exactly what we mean. We’re so proud of you and can’t wait to see your ventures come to life and make an impact!

What does it really take to be a successful entrepreneur? 👇🏼 Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking to a group of incredibly talented high school entrepreneurs from Atlanta as part of the ELI | Entrepreneurship Leadership Israel. We explored a powerful truth: having a great idea or even the best marketing plan isn't enough to thrive as an entrepreneur. Success also requires a strong, positive mind—a mental fitness that allows you to navigate challenges, handle pressure, and stay focused on your goals. Together, we discussed how to prioritize tasks, manage stress, and develop the resilience needed to turn ideas into impactful ventures. The energy in the room (even through Zoom!) was amazing, and their insights at the end of the session left me feeling incredibly hopeful for the next generation of leaders 🙏🏼 Thank you so much to Avivit Ohana for having me - It's moments like these that remind me why I do what I do—helping others build not only their businesses but also ensure success that’s sustainable and fulfilling 😊

Batch 3 of ELI Young Professionals graduated today - a group of ambitious, intelligent, kind, passionate, talented, and committed individuals from around the globe. Over the course of 10 weeks, they met key leaders from the tech industry, developed both business and personal skills, expanded their networks, advanced their ideas and ventures, and built the ultimate toolkit to elevate their careers to the next level. It was truly an honor to have you all with us, to witness your growth, learning, and the transformation of your ideas into reality. We are inspired by your leadership and know you will excel wherever you go. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible speakers and mentors who guided us throughout this journey. Avivit Ohana | Hilla Bakshi | Edo Perry | Ofir Richman | Lirone Glikman | Omer Golan | Shahar Peled | Eliad Benari | Neta Rivkin OLY נטע ריבקין | Yuval Teren | Josef Lapko Empowering the next generation of Jewish business leaders is our daily mission, and we’ll continue to achieve it together - connecting global Jewish communities to the Israeli spirit and its unique ecosystem.

Here's ELI | Entrepreneurship Leadership Israel's session #𝟲 with 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗱 and his recipe for success as a young 𝗖𝗘𝗢. He shared with us in the most transparently and blunt way that a true and engaged (𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴) CEO is not the one that sits on the throne - rather the opposite. A CEO "is not the sexiest position". 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: • The vision becomes a reality but you need to "fake it until you make it" • There is NO playbook for raising funds or attracting investors. The smart thing to do is to follow mentors and SHOW YOUR NUMBERS - one could say: "Actions speak louder than words". 𝘛𝘪𝘱: 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵?; 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘸?; 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘶𝘴?    • You have to be willing to do everything in the best way possible: from making coffee and staying late to negotiating deals with investors.   • A CEO is a person who not only makes decisions for himself, his company, and his people but also takes responsibility that comes with it.   • You never know enough! Studying and acquiring knowledge and exploring new things is key to never staying behind. 𝙿̲𝚎̲𝚛̲𝚜̲𝚘̲𝚗̲𝚊̲𝚕̲ ̲𝙽̲𝚘̲𝚝̲𝚎̲ ̲𝟷̲:̲ At the end of the session, Sachar asked us to share a takeaway that most impacted us. I chose "storytelling". Why? Let me tell you why: for years (I think) within career sectors, very tight conceptual barriers have been built. Today, discovering that those are misperceptions and that, on the contrary, blurred and mixed "mindsets" are the key ingredients for success is quite extraordinary. The idea that "journalists aren't good with numbers"; "engineers, R&D and IT people are not good with words or people"... Shahar told us that a successful business "is all about the STORY". Interestingly, it connected with Omer Golan's vision: it's the engine to make others share your vision, trust your gut, and believe in your idea. 𝙿̲𝚎̲𝚛̲𝚜̲𝚘̲𝚗̲𝚊̲𝚕̲ ̲𝚗̲𝚘̲𝚝̲𝚎̲ ̲𝟸̲:̲ I dare to say it is the first time that a CEO puts in plain words and in a straightforward manner what building a new company actually looks like. Countless times we might have heard many successful CEOs talking about success and growth with big words but rarely do you hear someone who focuses on the long, maybe slow, and arduous road. Even though it might look scary and hard, Shahar shared his path without embellishments. Inspiring! #CEO #entrepreneurship #business #startups #entrepreneurs #success