All you need is Chutzpah

Welcome to The Israeli Startup Review, a curated newsletter where I share insights from thought leaders, news, and opportunities around Israel's tech ecosystem. Every week you’ll receive timely analysis from off-the-beaten-path, perspectives from fresh voices from the ecosystem, and selected opportunities to further engage with Israel, the Startup Nation.

Lighter newsletter this edition... the good news is that many people are on vacation. We all need some time for self-care and to feel free. Considering we do not know where things are headed, it is important to take this time to recharge.

My latest piece for the Start-Up Nation Central CoronaTech resource site. It doesn’t matter if you're a startup or a venture investor - EVERY organization needs a strong digital footprint and marketing strategy during the pandemic: What Israeli Micro VCs can do to Stand Out

My latest piece in Geektime ??????? with the New York-Israel Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Choose New Jersey, Inc., Rhode Island Israel Collaborative (RIIC), and the University of Connecticut: Which US tech hubs step up chase for Israeli startups? Now that COVID chaos haunts NYC

If there is one concept that I reflect on when making business decisions, it is chutzpah. So it's a pleasure to chat with Inbal Arieli, who is the Founder of Synthesis, a global leadership assessment firm, and author of Chutzpah: Why Israel Is a Hub of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Born in Israel and raised on hummus and chutzpah, Arieli fostered her entrepreneurial skills during her mandatory military service, serving as lieutenant in unit 8200, the Israel Defense Forces’ elite intelligence corps. After completing her military duties, and for the past twenty years, she embraced leading executive roles in the flourishing Israeli tech sector and has founded a series of programs for innovators, where she currently holds board seats. Arieli lectures widely to business and government leaders around the world, analyzing and discussing the most critical leadership skills, based on how Israeli culture breeds risk-taking and entrepreneurship from the very ripe young age of four. 

A lot has been written about the Startup Nation, what's an insight you've uncovered which separates Israel from the rest of the global tech ecosystems?

I am often asked, by global policy makers, leading business executives, disruptive tech entrepreneurs: “What makes Israel such a cradle of innovation?” or “Why are Israelis constantly busy with new initiatives?” Like most of you, I’ve heard many different explanations, ranging from the influence of Israel’s technologically advanced military to the effect of the long-standing Jewish traditions of study and questioning. Those explanations, while not without merit, are, in my opinion, too narrow. As a tech business woman in the past 2 decades, born and raised in Israel, what I’ve come to understand is that it is the unique way Israelis are brought up, within a tribe-like community and with a childhood full of challenges and risks, that is at the root of Israelis’ entrepreneurial culture. It is the tool box, the skills set we train from a very young age, of soft skills critical to innovation, that make the difference. Combine that with strong technological knowledge and understanding, fearless ambitions to solve challenges and also, a lot of chutzpah we all share - the result is a leading technological innovation ecosystem.

What is a piece of advice you would give a founder looking to build a startup during this time?

Uncertainty has always been an inherent part of entrepreneurship. Nowadays, especially with stress associated with the global spread of COVID-19, coping with uncertainty is a critical skill for business leaders and tech entrepreneurs.

I am not blind to the crisis, nor am I blind to the opportunities it brings. In my view, those who are used to coping with balagan, the Hebrew word for chaos, are practiced in uncertain situations and capable of reacting relatively rapidly to this new reality. Business leaders and teams who can handle uncertainty are not afraid to pose questions. As a result, good leaders embrace the fact that our reality is complex and are more inclined to contain, reduce and manage the risks involved in an uncertain situation such as this crisis of this pandemic. Therefore, executives who are capable of conducting critical introspection can better differentiate events which are out of their control and events in which they influence outcomes, and act accordingly, re-calibrating their teams, their processes and their value proposition.

What opportunities for startups do you see appearing as a result of COVID-19? 

In terms of industries, Digital Health was prior to COVID-19 a growing sector in the Israeli tech ecosystem, with hundreds of start-ups in this space, and 2019 being a record year for investments in Israeli Digital Health start-ups. I believe this trend will continue as the remote and digital solutions in Health Care are clearly critical nowadays. We are still in the midst of the crisis, so days will tell if I am right. What I can say for sure is that Israeli healthcare innovators are working day and night, in a variety of areas, to improve and optimize healthcare in what is turning to be a global new reality. Interestingly, Israeli start-ups have always been distant from their markets. In this sense, the pandemic has not changed their situation. 

Despite the current fear of chaos and uncertainty, or perhaps because of it, I believe now is the time to double down on the mindsets and principles ingrained in Israel from infancy, through military service, to business innovation and success. Mine is a cultural perspective -one that is crucial to conducting business in times of uncertainty. Granted, uncertainty is not a comfortable situation to manage, but it’s different when it is your routine. Fact is, Israelis have learned to accept an unstable reality and created a culture of adaptability and persistence. In addition to this agile mindset, Israelis are motivated by the reasons behind events. Once they understand the "why" - they are engaged and fully responsive. And that is the case now. 

What is your definition of Chutzpah?

Chutzpah is a mindset to me. It’s a combination of skills - creativity and disruption; execution and goal orientation; critical thinking and system analysis; dealing with uncertainty as well as challenging authority. A mosaic you create for yourself and your organization. One person’s chutzpah is different from another’s in style, tone and weight. What is common is the understanding that a combination of skills and their constant practice, is key to applying chutzpah to one’s present and future goals. The chutzpahdic mindset helps entrepreneurs use less to achieve more and adopt an agile mindset aimed at scale and sustainability while enabling the optimal flow of information and decision making. It allows you to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the unpredictability of economic and technological conditions, especially in these uncertain times. Anyone can practice and train their chutzpah, and if they want to be ready for the future - it's a must!

What is something that you believe that most people in the (Israeli) tech space would disagree with you about? 

This is a great question! It requires some chutzpah to ask it, doesn't it? But that's why I like it, thank you for asking. I believe it is my unshakable optimism. Or as we say in Hebrew: Yihiye Besseder (literally: it will be OK). I remain optimistic, and for me - that's my tailwind. A genuine belief that eventually, things will turn out OK, or even more than just OK. They will improve. However - my Yihiye Besseder approach does not rely on others to make things better for me. I am responsible for constantly improving, evolving and creating a better reality. Unfortunately, I see more and more people around me discouraged. Economically, politically and generally. 

Entrepreneurs, so many investors in one place you need a microscope to read this overview by Cardumen Capital.

LinkedIn Jobs in Israel: This may be redundant if you're searching but good opportunities here.

Secret Tel Aviv Jobs: Find Jobs. Build a Career. Opportunities here.

Amazon AWS: Open roles for Business Development Managers, Solutions Architects, and Account Managers on our Startup Team at AWS in Israel! Come join Amazon Web Services (AWS). Worldwide Startup team opportunities here. Many more open positions in Israel here. Venture Capital Business Development Manager, Israel here. Startup Solutions Architect, Healthcare Life Sciences, Israel here. Startup Account Manager- Israel here. Startup Solutions Architect, Israel here.

AWS Builder Space companies with open positions: Interested in learning more? Send Ravit a link to your LinkedIn profile and position number:

1) A Builder Space alumni company with paying customers is growing and looking for VP R&D, Lead Software Engineer and, Customer Success Manager to join the amazing team and help to personalize customer experiences through AI-powered messages generation.

2) Company in the construction sector, (funded, 2 co-founders with vast experience and great vibes) is looking for a Full Stack Developer to develop a responsive web app.

3) A well-funded, early stage cloud security startup, managed by talented founders, is looking for RnD team member who wants to play a key role in the development of a new & innovative cloud security platform.

4) Retail sector company (funded, Seed Stage), led by a team of professionals and developing an algorithm to analyze and predict outperformed commodities on the world's top e-commerce marketplaces, is looking for a Senior Full-Stack Developer to drive the design and development of the startup’s ML models.

5) Pre-Seed startup in the Fin-Tech sector is developing an AI based, B2B2C, platform for personalization of wealth-management and is looking for a CEO.

Chief Executive Officer - NYC: One of their clients, a B2B Technology company in the Auto Tech space, is looking for a Chief Executive Officer to lead its growth in the US. Setting the strategic direction and sales of the company, the ideal candidate needs to have profound experience in the space selling to insurance, government agencies and transportation companies. Comp: DOE. Email: [email protected]

Chief Technology Officer - NYC: One of their clients, a fast growing content marketing company, is looking for a CTO that will be responsible for leading the engineering, data and product milestones of the company, managing 20 employees globally. Join fresh and sophisticated minds. Comp: Competitive + equity. Email: [email protected]

Konnecto: They are looking for a Marketing Data Analyst to join their team in Tel Aviv! More opportunities here.

OpenDor Media: They're kvelling you’re considering working with them. You’ll be joining a highly professional team of great people. Their staff is diverse and from all over the world, united by a shared passion for purpose-driven, meaningful work. Opportunities here.

Ottopia: Here are two amazing opportunities to join a well-funded, fast-growing, deep tech Tel Aviv startup that is solving previously unsolved problems. At Ottopia you will get a chance to integrate your code into the world’s autonomous machines - cars, forklifts, delivery robots, trucks, shuttles etc. Ottopia serves more verticals than the usual startup, and has developed a unique product and strategy on how to do it successfully. If you are passionate about what we do and fit the attached criteria - send them your resume [email protected].

Amazon AWS: Startup Solutions Architect, Healthcare Life Sciences. Do you want to impact the future of healthcare and life sciences? The cloud is changing the way vaccines are discovered, how healthcare is delivered and how data can be utilized to improve the human condition. They are looking for a top-notch Solutions Architect who wants to impact the 1700+ healthcare and life sciences startups in Israel. Apply here.

Platterz: They are hiring! Do you want to join their marketing team at Platterz? They are looking for creators, team players and strong marketers who are also passionate about helping companies thrive through culture. At this point they have 2 positions open: * Email Marketing Manager * Paid Acquisition Manager.

Sisense: From Sales to Customer Success and Marketing roles, Sisense is hiring for a range of positions across their global offices in NY, SF, TLV and more. Check out the latest openings to be a part of an amazing place to work! Apply here.

TAMID Group: They're hiring! TAMID Group is on the search for a Seasonal Program Coordinator to join our Fellowship team, based in Israel.Click here for the full job description here. Apply here.

UpWest Labs: Hiring alert in Tel Aviv: An UpWest-backed Fintech startup in stealth is looking for a hands-on Head of Engineering with past experience managing tech teams in startups. The company is well funded by top VC's. This is a unique opportunity to be a significant part of an early team changing the paradigm of a $10 trillion industry. Please reach out to [email protected] 

WIX: Partnerships & Events Manager - Corvid. New exciting opportunity on their team. They are looking for a partnerships superstar with global marketing background to join a killer team at WIX. Apply here.

TechDay Founders Summit: A highly focused one day program open only to startup founders, their c-suite executive teams, and idea-stage entrepreneurs, to access the education, tools and networks that will help them become better, more successful business people. Use this code to get 10% off this event FSPARTNER10. Fri, 08:00 AM / Aug 14. Register here.

GCC Women-Led Funds - Virtual Investors Conference: Join their 1st women-led funds investors conference on August 19th, featuring the amazing Founders of Zambezi Partners - Jenna Seiden, CA South - Meg Epstein, Willow Growth Partners - Deborah Benton and Power Thread Ventures - Rani Kubersky Maria Gilfoyle. Wednesday, August 19th. 12:00 pm ET. RSVP* here.

Designing the New Normal: A Leadership Perspective: When historians will write about this time, they may very well classify it as an inflection point in the megatrends we take for granted. How we work, live, and play is changing. Trends in globalization and urbanization, stemming from the industrial revolution may slow down and take a new form. WED AUG 19, 11:30AM. Register here.

What is Critical When Everything is Critical: COVID-19 burst into our lives, creating challenges and changes we never could have foreseen. These challenges have forced us to rethink cyberspace, including cyber politics, best practices and organization. Aug 20, 09:00 AM in Eastern Time. Register here.

Digital Government: How Israel and Rhode Island Use Government Services: Digital Government: How Israel and Rhode Island Use Government Services During Current Pandemic and Future with Honorary Guest Speaker from Israel, Shai Lee Spigelman, Director General at Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Israel and from RI Liz Tanner, Director, Dept. of Business Regulation- State Rhode Island and other Israeli Panelists. Mon, August 24, 1:00 PM EDT. Register here.

Startup for Startup: Unplugged: Sales.Building a hypergrowth Sales organization 26.08.2020. Online | 18:30 IL Time | 8:30am PST | 11:30am EST Speakers and registration – coming soon! Register here.

SUMMER.SAAS: Are you a seed-stage SaaS company? Join them on August 27th for SummerSaas Cyber track online event! Don't forget to submit your pitch until August 9th.Register here to see the pitches and meet us in the networking zone! Register here.

Strengthening Global Collaboration between Rambam Biodesign and Stanford Biodesign Programs: Another collaboration is brought to you by the CICC: Dean Lloyd Minor & Prof. Rafael Beyar - An overview of the Rambam Health Care Campus biodesign and the Stanford University School of Medicine Biodesign program Collaboration. Dr. Richard Popp & Dr. Yona Vaisbuch - BioDesign concepts in theory and practice. Dr. Tahel Altman - Hands on experience of an Israeli Fellow in Stanford. Moderated by: Josh Makower. September 8, 2020 at 10am PST / 8pm IL. Register here.

QB3 PITCH SUMMIT: Are you commercializing a technology in the biotech or pharma space? They want to meet you. QB3 provides startups with expertise and mentorship from stakeholders across the life science spectrum. They're inviting startups to pitch their panel of judges (a mix of investors, subject matter experts and clinicians). They'll select 10 as the final cohort of the 2020 QB3 Pitch Summit. Apply here.

Facebook Accelerator: Application is now open for Facebook Accelerator for Connectivity, a new program for startups that aspire to make internet access more available and affordable globally. Apply here.

Infrastructure Energy for Security Cyber: The US-Israel Energy Center has just released a Call for Proposals for Cyber Security for Energy Infrastructure. This is a $6-$10 Million dollar grant for a consortium in the Energy/Cyber area. Please feel free to distribute to relevant contacts from universities or industry. Apply here.

BIRD HLS Call for Proposals: The BIRD Foundation is a fund that is jointly funded by the U.S. Dept of Commerce and Israel Innovation Authority that provides matching grant/loan up to $1M for JV's between American and Israeli organizations. August 13 is the deadline for projects with applications in the homeland security sector. Contact Sam for more info.

BIRD Call for Proposals: The BIRD Foundation is a fund that is jointly funded by the U.S. Dept of Commerce and Israel Innovation Authority that provides matching grant/loan up to $1M for JV's between American and Israeli organizations. September 1 is the deadline for projects with applications in any sector. Contact Josh B. for more info.

NY Smart Cities Innovation Partnership – Call for Proposals: The Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) and the State of New York, through selected New York State Cities, jointly open the NY Smart City Innovation Partnership program call for company proposals. Interested Israeli companies are invited to submit applications to pilot, test, adapt, and optimize impactful Smart City technologies, services, and devices in Municipal Testbeds at selected New York Municipalities. Sept 1: DEADLINE.Contact Sam R. for more info.

New Jersey-Israel Innovation Partnership Initiative Industry R&D Program - Call for Proposal: Partner opportunity with two specific NJ companies: Greenspot is an electric transportation start-up that installs and manages an expanding network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for both the public and private sectors; and Kearfott is seeking a partner to develop a miniature atomic clock and to participate in testing/validating the EGI performance gains that result from this resilience to GPS jamming and spoofing. In addition, Kearfott is seeking an Israeli source of FOG navigation technology and production methods that can achieve high performance. Sept 1: DEADLINE. Contact Jacob B. for more info.

Jonathan 'Yoni' Frenkel has been involved in the New York-Israeli tech community for many years, mentoring startups on marketing, hosting events connecting investors with startups, and publishing on the topics of tech and venture regularly. Professionally, he heads a content marketing agency, YKC Media, and works with VCs, corporates, and startups in creating written content, social, and advising on marketing strategy focused on engaging a US audience. He can be reached on LinkedIn here.