Back to the "Old" Normal

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 the ecosystem, and selected opportunities to further engage with Israel, the Startup Nation.

Shalom from the Vaccination Nation. We achieved another landmark in returning to normalcy here in the Startup Nation - mask wearing is not mandatory outside. It all feels a bit surreal, like the other shoe is going to drop (and with new variants it could happen, but the vaccines seem to be fighting them effectively).

But life here feels almost like before the pandemic, meetings, events, culture. I attended my first in-person event this week, and it almost felt like old times, the "old normal". But let’s continue to be optimistic, reconnect with friends, meet new people, and just enjoy life.

I’m vaccinated (with a Green Passport) and would love to meet in person and catch-up in the Tel Aviv area. Additionally, if you’re a growing Israeli startup and looking to hire high-skilled workers in the US let’s chat about how I can help you find that talent in Tulsa. To schedule a time to meet please respond directly to this email/post.

I will be hosting the next Upstream Israel Mixer today April 22nd 12pm EST/7pm Israel time. We'll be hosting a guest speaker, Avigail Levine, Head of Marketing and Ecosystem Relations at Samsung NEXT TLV. So come prepared with questions :) After that you’ll network and meet a number of good people, all under half an hour! To join the mixer, click here.

Homo Deus: A History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari: I’ve been raving about this Hebrew University author since Sapiens. I've been thinking a lot about his work since Israel seems to be the first country to fully emerge from the pandemic.

Homo Deus encapsulates many of the ideas covered in this newsletter; technology, the future, and how that impacts the state of the human condition. Yuval Noah Harari paints a picture of the future which seems like it’s leading to the Hunger Games, but there is no denying he explores important themes taking place now in society. 

Technology has enabled a leveling of the playing field, but as we clearly see with the immense power Silicon Valley has acquired in such a short time, power is rapidly moving to the hands of a few supercharged elite. And COVID has only accelerated this process. It’s as if the world is being remade like the tech industry; very few winners at the top of the pyramid, and many struggling at the bottom. In this emerging post-pandemic world that kind of power and nearly unlimited resources, comes the desire to touch God’s hand and acquire divinity: Godlike ‘Homo Deus’ Could Replace Humans as Tech Evolves.

Key Takeaways:

Technology causes massive inequality: As opposed to the use of new technology in the 1800’s and the rapid industrialization during the Industrial Revolution, this time we are going to be the technology used. While the Internet has shed light where none existed previously, it has also greatly widened the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

The future is here sooner than you think: The rate of acceleration (particularly AI) is going to be entering the hockey stick curve phase before we’re ready. The world’s current political situation (and how many governments failed to confront the pandemic) are not positive signs.  

We are limited in envisioning how the future will look: Homo Sapiens are notoriously bad at predicting the future (aside from maybe flying cars). There is so much we don’t know even about our own minds and conscious, yet we continue to prophesize what the future will look like.  

A map of Israeli startups in Europe, thanks to EIT Hub Israel, ISERD, and CQ Global.

Atento Capital: Come work with us. Atento connects great companies to great people with the mission to grow Tulsa’s community. If you’re based in Israel and interested in any of these positions reach out to me directly. Openings here.

Apply here for EcoMotion Week 2021 Startups Exhibition: Take part in the biggest smart mobility technology exhibition and interact with global mobility leaders. The Startup Exhibition will be featured on the EcoMotion Virtual Platform. Stream live demos, give a tour of your lab and host personal meetings in breakout rooms using your own Zoom. May 18-20. Register here.

GrowingIL Investor Map: In the new map, you can filter investment funds according to the type of investor, rounds of investments, sub-sectors, and the scope of investment you are looking to raise, and find the best fit for your company and needs. In the map, there is a request intro option, they will connect according to our own discretion. View here.

InsideIL: Do you want a taste of startup nation? Here is your opportunity to win an exciting paid internship 2021 program in Israel this summer! Given Israel's successful vaccination program, interns can have in-person internships in Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, and Be'er Sheva this summer. But if covid safety concerns preclude in-person internships, internships will be offered to get engaged remotely. If you know anyone who might enjoy experiencing the Start-Up nation first-hand this summer, please encourage them to apply quickly. Check out this website for more information here.

HEAD OF GROWTH - this is a leadership role that will drive growth of a successful 3 year old B2B SaaS product that helps development and data science teams attain usable information more quickly. The goal of this role is user acquisition via data driven strategies. Candidates can come from product, marketing, or an analytical strategy/consulting background - ideally you have driven growth and expansion of a B2B SaaS product. The role can be formed around the selected candidate's strengths.

ENGINEERING MANAGER - this is a leadership role for a successful 6 year old music tech company, helping musicians make money. You ideally have a technical background and have managed technical teams. People coming from product management might also be a fit through this is not a product focused role.

If one of these roles might fit please email Shira with your resume or LinkedIn: [email protected]

Aidoc: Great in-house opportunity at an awesome Israeli startup! Check this out here.

OurCrowd: Their Investment Team at OurCrowd is growing. They currently have three open positions. If one of these is relevant for you, apply:

Investment Analyst (Cyber Focus)

Investment Analyst (Strong Financial Background)

Copywriter/Editor (also on Investment Team)

TikTok: (Israel) Their Marketing team is growing and they are looking for best people out there! If you are a team player, passionate, hard worker with a relevant professional experience, please send your CV.

More info in the link below. Open positions:

- Brand Strategist

- Marketing Communications

- Marketing Creative Manager

- Marketing Designer

- B2B Event Manager

- Data and Research Manager

Apply here.

Cooperation in Motion: The Automotive Opportunity: Automakers are now firmly ‘open for business’ when it comes to working with and investing in innovative companies both big and small. Today’s OEM must move fast and increasingly rely on partnerships and strategic investments otherwise they run the risk of falling behind. Join them for a unique virtual event that will feature innovation, partnership and investment executives from four leading brands talking about their own approach to this space and the new opportunities just coming online. Thu, April 22, 9:00AM EDT. Apply here.

Upstream Israel Mixer Thursday: April 22nd 12pm EST/7pm Israel time. They’re a lot of fun, you’ll hear a speaker, and meet a number of good people all under half an hour. To join the mixer, click here.

DOING BUSINESS IN INDIA: Welltech Ventures invites you to take part in “Doing Business in India” event. Join them for an exciting discussion regarding “ Doing business in India” for wellness technology startups. The webinar will take place on April 27th at 10:30 (Israel) / 13:00 (IST). Register here.

Retail Innovation Acceleration: The last year has made the retail sector hungrier than ever for innovation, that is why McDonald Butler, Retail in Detail UK and Retail Innovation Club are uniting retailers and some of the world’s most Cutting Edge retail technology providers with their unique online speed networking event! Featuring intimate networking sessions with a number of leading ReTech providers, as well as a keynote speech from True.! Thurs April 29th. 12pm IDT. Register here.

Raising $55M in One Year while Breaking Diversity Barriers: This month is startup funding month at Startup Grind, and what a great opportunity it is to host our very own Derek Andersen, Co-Founder not only of Startup Grind, but also of the startup Bevy! Derek Anderson bootstrapped Startup Grind for 10 years and as of last year, he’s begun funding for Bevy. This talk is moderated by Lirone Glikman, Global Ambassador at Startup Grind and a Global Business Development Consultant. Thursday, Apr 29, 6:00 PM IDT. Register here.

What's in the Benchs for eSports: eSports is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, with a total audience of over 500M worldwide. Join their all-star panel for an informative discussion on the rising popularity of competitive gaming and eSports, breaking the stigma around gaming as a profession, and opportunities for tech adoption as new ways to add value. Apr 29, 7:00 PM IDT. Register here.

US Healthcare Market Playbook: 1 ticket per company. Detailed guidelines and check lists to structure your go-to-market strategy. FREE 1:1 tailored consultation sessions. Q&A with experienced entrepreneurs. Network with investors, service providers, mentors and potential clients. If someone comes from this newsletter, they will give a 20% discount on the current price - YNF20 is the promo code in the registration. Monday, May 3, at 8:00 AM PDT. Register here.

Desertech Meetup: They are very excited to invite you to their latest Desertech meetup. If you are curious about the latest trends in renewable energy in arid environments, make sure you don't miss this! Mon, May 10, 5:00 PM IDT. Register here.

Social Innovation Summit 2021: Social Innovation Summit is the ultimate platform for building partnerships, sharing best practices, and understanding global challenges and solutions among those who are committed to enabling more inclusive and equitable communities. This year’s expert lineup will reflect on the challenges of this past year as well as the opportunities for continued progress across critical themes like: COVID Response & Impact, Future of Work, Mental Health & Wellness, STEM Education, Tech for Good, Economic Mobility, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. June 8-10. Register here.

Israel Investment Forum 2021 in Tel Aviv: They are proud to announce the Israel Investment Summit, which will take place on June 22, 2021, at the EXPO Tel Aviv. This is the first in-person, physical event after the COVID19 breakout. The summit is designed to introduce Israeli companies who aim to increase their activities and introduce them to potential new business partners, such as VC private investors, family offices, fund managers, institutional investors and more. Learn more here.

CyberWeek Tel Aviv (in person + virtual): Cyber Week is a large annual international cybersecurity event, hosted each year at Tel Aviv University in Israel. Over the past nine years, Cyber Week has become internationally acclaimed as one of the top cybersecurity events in the world. Cyber Week offers a unique gathering of cybersecurity experts, industry leaders, startups, investors, academics, diplomats, and government officials. With more than 9,000 attendees from more than 80 countries, this conference offers a thought-provoking exchange of knowledge, methods, and ideas that you won’t want to miss. July 19-22. Learn more here.

2021 Bishulim Digital Innovation Challenge: For the first time in Israel - they at the global Nestlé, are collaborating with Osem-Nestlé in scouting for cutting edge technologies that would help us uplift Bishulim – one of the largest recipe websites in Israel – and help it become the leading ecosystem for cooking! Apply here.

Merage +45 program: The Merage +45 invites entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to a unique program with a $100K grant for the leading startups. Eligible candidates: Any startup from any field with a founder age 45 and over, or startup led by a woman (at any age) that holds above 50% of the shares. The last day to register- April 30th, 2021. Apply here. 

Tastetech by Sigma: Call Out for all Israeli startups within the Green tech field. All Israeli startups working on Circular Economy, Packaging, and Sustainable Transportation should apply. This is a unique opportunity to work with Tastech by Sigma, one of the biggest Mexican multinationals from the food industry (Sigma). Lots of advantages for startups are being offered! You have until April the 26th! To get more information and to apply, click here.

Jonathan ‘Yoni’ Frenkel heads Partnerships at Tulsa-based Atento Capital. He leads the effort to assist US and Israeli companies with hiring highly skilled remote workers in Tulsa. He can be reached on LinkedIn here.