Insights from Israel's LinkedIn Top Voice on VC and Startups

Welcome to The Startup Nation Review, a curated newsletter where I will share insights from thought leaders, news, and opportunities around Israel, the Startup Nation. Every week you’ll receive timely analysis from off-the-beaten-path, an aggregation of this week's top headlines, and selected opportunities to further engage with the Startup Nation.

"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert."

-David Ben-Gurion

We live in a world overwhelmed by experts. The LinkedIn community is not immune to what seems to be a world sliding towards a place where the time-tested practice of building expertise is considered out of date. I am the first one to seek the advice of experts (and coaches) but also understand that it's difficult to find the signal through the noise, especially today.

Which is why it's important to interview a real authority like Sarah Nadav on innovation, the COVID-19 economy, and of course Israeli tech. Sarah is a Senior Strategist, Behavioral Economist, Member of the World Economic Forum Expert Network, and one of LinkedIn’s Top Voice on Venture Capital and Startups. She's a serial entrepreneur who consults companies, NGOs and government organizations and is the CEO of Rapid Economic Innovation.

What is the most interesting thing you're working on these days? How is COVID-19 factoring into that?

The most interesting thing that I am working on today is helping companies build road maps to survive this crisis but also to rapidly innovate. It is a fascinating time when existing businesses have no choice but to move, change, innovate, and execute very rapidly.

What is something you learned about yourself during this pandemic? 

In my work as a Behavioral Economist, I've spent a lot of time trying to understand other people's behavior. In particular, my domain expertise in decision making during a financial crisis. What I've found, is that I fall into the same traps, and go through the same experiences that I have been documenting, observing, and helping others to deal with. Nobody is immune.  

Do you see any new or surprising verticals or markets appearing which may have not been relevant in the past?

I think that hyper-local markets are going to be extremely relevant. Getting small, local businesses online as fast as possible will help communities and individuals survive this crisis. I believe that up until now, foot traffic was enough to sustain businesses but that's not possible anymore. In addition - while Amazon makes it easy to order a wide range of products, people still value keeping roots in their own community. Especially when it can offer a service that is unique to people in that area.

What does Intel's acquisition of Moovit mean for the Israeli ecosystem during these days?

It's a big win - and an easy comparison to when Google bought Waze. Israelis used to sell too early and too cheap, so I believe it shows the maturity of Israeli entrepreneurs to build bigger companies.

What is something that you believe that most people in the innovation/tech space would disagree with you on? 

Marketing and sales teams are being let go and I think that is a big mistake. Those teams usually have their finger on the pulse of what is happening with consumers, and without the input of real-world demand, I believe that many tech companies are going to either spin their wheels or take their products in the wrong direction.

How data, analytics, and technology are helping us fight COVID-19: Not without it's share of controversy.

Israel caught in the middle of growing US-China tensions - analysis: Israeli tech is going to have make some difficult choices.

Israel Innovation Authority Doubling Down on Strapped Tech Startups: They're looking to save the day... not sure if this is a good idea.

Israeli experts propose radical post-corona exit strategy: What the future may hold.

This AI Tool Is Putting On Scrubs to Fight Covid-19: If anything, this pandemic has revealed the extent to which we rely on data.

This week's snapshot of what happened in the LinkedIn community

Ibex Investors Talent Table: Ibex Investors is a US-based investment firm with offices in Denver, New York, and Tel Aviv. They invest in public and private companies in the US, Israel, and globally. If you are looking for a job or want to be on their radar for future opportunities, they want to help. Add your info here so they can keep you in mind for openings at their portfolio companies across their global strategies and funds, and feel free to email them if you have any questions: [email protected]

PayPal: Are you a Cloud DevOps Engineer that has experience with Big Data processing? Come join their team at PayPal Israel, and you'll be in charge of laying the foundations for migrating 300PB+ Hadoop clusters to the Cloud. Open positions below:

Senior Cloud Infrastructure Engineer

Cloud Data Infrastructure Engineer

Cloud Data Infrastructure Engineer

T?ap Mobile: They transform great ideas to elegant software by harnessing state of the art technologies. Their design and tech empower their clients with new capabilities that were only available to professionals on desktop. Opportunities below:

Backend Developer

Senior Android Developer

Senior iOS Developer

Sales Development Representative

TechAviv: Many exceptionally talented people are out of a job because of COVID-19. They'd like to help them find new careers at TechAviv currently hiring. They've put up a free TechAviv Job Board here for top talent and TechAviv startups to find each other. TechAviv founders - if your startup is currently hiring, please post your openings at here and search posted resumes.

TikTok: Their Tel Aviv office looking for Sales and Partnership managers to join their team Must have 2+ years’ experience with Gaming & Apps User Acquisition Sales focusing the roles listed below. Apply via LinkedIn or send your CV - [email protected]

Agency Sales - collaborate w/paid UA agencies globally

Direct Sales - collaborate w/direct app developers

SMB's Sales - collaborate w/longtail and SMB's

COVID-19 and Increasing Cyberattacks: They welcome you to join them for their third webinar on the topic "COVID-19 and Increasing Cyber attacks - Understanding the Various Vectors of Increasing Cyber Threats", a part of their webinar series on 'Political Risks and the COVID-19 Pandemic'. The topic will look into exploring the growing cyber threats to and from state and non-state actors in this crucial time. Thursday, May 14, 09:00 AM. Register here.

Leveraging Technology to Thrive in the New Normal: Join SOSA and Startup Nation Central as they discuss how and why the COVID crisis has in fact spurred digital transformation forward, and is now a top priority for companies worldwide. May 14th at 9:30am ET. RSVP here.

Sustainable Development Goals in the COVID-19 Era: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation: Join the Permanent Missions of Israel, Ghana, Mexico, Singapore, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Barbados, Japan, Rwanda and Kenya to the United Nations, as well as the Office of the Special Advisor to the Secretary-General working on Digital Cooperation, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, for a digital conference on Sustainable Development Goals in the COVID-19 Era: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation. Thursday, May 14, 10:00 AM. Register here.

DLD Sync | Sir Martin Sorrell and Yossi Vardi: Join them for an interactive conversation with Sir Martin Sorrell and DLD co-Chairman Yossi Vardi on how they are adapting to the new reality, including: digital transformation acceleration for consumers, media and enterprise, inequality and the rise of populism, and the US/China conflict The session takes place on Thursday, 14th May at 11.00 am (EDT). Register here.

Starburst Tel Aviv Virtual Roundtable: The panel will focus on how the New Space movement has transformed into a thriving economy and the emerging technologies we are likely to see over the next decade. Confirmed panelists include Ran Livne (Director General, The Ramon Foundation), Daniel Sayag (Head of Sales - Israel, Airbus Defence and Space), Paul Kamoun (CMO & BDO, SpacePharma), Ofer Lapid (Faculty Member & Trustee at ISU, Senior Advisor for the ULTRASAT Program) and Kfir Damari (Co-Founder & VP, SpaceIL)! May 14th at 11AM ET. Register here.

The Bottle Opener - How Startups Can Engage with The Coca-Cola Company: Join them for a series of global online events hosted by The Coca-Cola Company’s ETA (External Technology Acquisition by Global R&D) and The Builders. Each session will feature a Coca-Cola executive from a different field that will answer the most frequently asked questions submitted by the participating startups upon registration. Thu, May 14, 11:00 AM EST. Register here.

Cybersecurity and Insecurity: The New World of COVID-19: As organizations increasingly move their business processes online, threats to data and privacy have exploded. Experts from some of the leading cyber-security companies in the world explore the challenges for organizations protecting themselves and their clients from attack. This is an essential webinar for CISOs, and anyone interested in the state of the art and what’s next. May 14, 2020 12:00 PM. Register here.

The SG Bridge (San Francisco, Tel Aviv, London) and Virtual Business Networking with Eugene Fooksman: For the first time they joined forces with their friends at Startup Grind London and invited member of the founding team at WhatsApp, Eugene Fooksman. Eugene kindly agreed to join them and share the early story of WhatsApp with selected group of entrepreneurs from the Startup Grind networking in London and Tel Aviv. As a big bonus, Eugene will join them for virtual business networking. Thu, May 14, 1:00 PM (EST). Tickets here.

Empowerment By Fashion: 'Fashion-Nation' was used to describe Israel many years before it became known as ‘Start-Up Nation.’ Fashion-Nation taught them how to empower people through fashion. Join them for a live webinar to learn about the history of fashion in Israel and how fashion became one of Israel's leading industries. May 17, 12:00 PM. Register here.

Corporate Strategy & Startup Partnerships after COVID-19: As we enter the post-Corona world, many corporations are rethinking how to best connect to their customers and partners through innovation. I'm excited to invite you to their next Axis Webinar on corporate strategy - how do startups fit into the bigger picture of innovation? Join them on Monday, May 18th at 9 AM EST. Register here.

Hacking the Hackers: They invite you to join the Cybersecurity Collaborative and the Global Cyber Center by SOSA for an exploration of the hacker’s mindset with Fred Mastrippolito, President and CEO of Polito, Inc. This webinar moderated by Chuck Brooks, Ambassador, the Cybersecurity Collaborative, will assess common challenges companies face (even cybersecurity ones) and will provide unique insight into ways companies can adapt their defenses to account for the way hackers think. May 18, 11:00 AM in Eastern Time. Register here.

Zoom-side Chat with Avner Mendelson & Dan Senor: Join them to hear Dan Senor, author of Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle and Avner Mendelson, CEO of Bank Leumi. These Hebrew University alumni will discuss lessons learned from Israeli start-ups that apply to today's COVID-19 challenges. There will be an opportunity for Q&A. May 18, 12:00 PM EST. Register here.

EcoMotion 2020: EcoMotion 2020 Virtual Startup Exhibition is THE place to listen to talks of experts in the smart mobility sector, learn about the world's leading companies in the field, and much more. The EcoMotion Main Event will be on May 19th and will have side events throughout the week 18-21st May! Tickets here.

Get to Know the Palestinian High Tech Community: Breaking the Impasse (BTI) is pleased to invite you to an on-line meeting with leading outsourcing firms from the Palestinian tech community and the Israelis companies working together with them. Learn about the tremendous opportunity available to Israeli companies looking to outsource development and the benefits in terms of accessibility, time and costs that can come from working with Palestinian developers. The meeting will be held on May 19, from 11:00. Register here.

How Innovation Thrives in Challenging Times: Join the Arizona Israel Technology Alliance to hear from Consul General Newman who will provide a unique overview of Israel’s coronavirus response, and, he will cover how Israel is focusing on technological solutions to mitigate this global crisis. The conversation will also broaden to address larger questions about the global economic outcomes of the pandemic and the trends we may see on technology collaboration in prominent sectors such as Aerospace and Defense, Water Technology and more. Tue, May 19, 1:00 PM ET. Register here.

The State of NYC Seed: Speakers: Hadley Harris, Eniac, Melody Koh, Nextview, Micah Rosenbloom, Founder Collective, Graham Brown, Lerer Hippeau, Eliot Durbin, Boldstart,Moderated by Shai Goldman, SVB. New York focused but relevant for the Israeli tech community. May 19, 01:00 PM in Eastern Time. Register here.

Cutting Costs By Harnessing The Power Of Innovation: Generate significant cost reductions for your organization. They know how to harness the power of entrepreneurship during these challenging times in ways that will generate significant cost savings for your business. May 19th 11:00 AM EST. Register here.

Automotive 4.0: Digitizing the Supply Chain Amid COVID-19: COVID-19 may cause permanent shifts in the supply chain and in the acceleration of Industry 4.0 technologies. Automotive 4.0: Digitizing the Supply Chain Amid COVID-19 is a digital event that will dive into digitization and automation in the post-COVID-19 era. The event will be held during EcoMotion Week 2020, on Wednesday, May 20, 7 AM EST. Register here.

Travel and Tourism Leadership Summit: Can the travel industry bounce back? Great virtual event by The Economist. They will be there with Itai Green and the rest of the Israel Travel Tech Startups Community, join them at 8 AM EST on May 20th! Register here.

Tracking and Contact Tracing in the Time of COVID-19: Join them via Zoom to sit in on a discussion about "Tracking and Contact Tracing in the Time of COVID-19: Approaches in the U.S. and Israel and Emerging Privacy Concerns" led by Dr. Thomas Unnasch, USF Health Professor, Dan Peleg, Founder and CEO of FIBA company GlobeKeeper. Wed, May 20, 12:00 PM. Register here.

Your Q1 Cybersecurity predictions - How will they change in 2020 and beyond: Featuring Erik Naugle (VP Cyber-security, Intuit), Hilik Kotler (CISO, FICO) and Tushar Kothari (CEO, Attivo Networks, Inc.) as they talk about the impact of COVID19 on the cyber-security industry. They will be providing perspectives from the customer, founder and investor mindset. May 20, 2020 01:00 PM in EST. Register here.

Startup Pitch Competition #2 - $1000 Cash Prize: Join Entre featuring their 2nd Startup Pitch Competition. Join Entre featuring their 2nd Startup Pitch Competition. 7 companies will pitch to a panel of investor judges and hundreds of entrepreneurs. $1000 Cash Prize & More will be presented to the winners of this Pitch Competition! New York based but Israeli startups should apply. Click here to apply in the form to pitch at the competition. Wed, May 20, 6:00 PM EDT. Register here.

There is no "New Normal"!: Disruption has become a fact of life...and while digital has enabled us to made aspects of our lock down easier to bear (and more difficult at the same time) and some are heralding the Tech Messiah to save us...human interaction and need has never been stronger or more valued. Thu, May 21, 10:00 AM EST. Register here.  

Mapping Big Data with Powerful AI: In today's world we are experiencing an explosion of information (both real and fake) while our attention span remains the same. Industry expert Yasha Neiman will explain how we can harness machine learning algorithms to bring order to the chaos - How can we crawl the internet and bring only the relevant content using AI. Thu, May 21, 12:00 PM EST. Register here.

Medical Innovation in the Startup Nation: Join Start-Up Nation Central and the Embassies of Israel in Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen for a webinar focused on the role of medical innovation and digital health in Israel, and hear from leading startups that are at the forefront of combating the coronavirus pandemic. Wednesday, May 27, 08:00 AM EST. Register here.

Call for wellness technology startups to apply for an investment of up to $200K by Welltech1: COVID-19 has taken a toll on humanity and has affected our lives and generated a lot of uncertainty. Wellness technology can improve the health and well being of the general population taking precaution and those under quarantine. Welltech1 believes in the importance of taking responsibility for our bodies, spirit, family, and community not only during the Coronavirus period but as a way of life. Apply here.

Entrepreneurs' Competition: The Merage 45+ invites entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to a unique program with a 100K$ grant for the leading startup. In the last couple of years, we have seen an increasing number of entrepreneurs over the age of 45, with rich backgrounds from leading companies, taking the next step in their career and turn to the startups arena. While women are founding innovative startups more than ever before, yet only 10% of investor money worldwide goes to women-founded startups. Last day to submit: May 20, 2020. Apply here.

Calling all Industry 4.0 startups: The Israeli I4 community is invited to remotely participate in the recently launched Michigan Industry 4.0 Accelerator, the first of its kind in the US. The accelerator crowd-sources the world’s best Industry 4.0 technologies to participate and partner with Michigan-based manufacturing firms. This opportunity is brought to you by Start-Up Nation Central, Centrepolis Accelerator, and MIBA. Application deadline is May 29. For more information click here.

8200 IMPACT: Founded by 8200 alumni in 2013, 8200 IMPACT is the first acceleration program in Israel for social technology (social impact) startups, that aim to solve significant social problems through technology in a wide spectrum of fields. This non-profit program was launched in order to harness the human capital of 8200 alumni for the benefit of society.The application season for 8200 Impact is extended until June 30th. Apply here.

International Health-Tech Pilot Program: The Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) and selected foreign hospitals jointly open the International Health-Tech Pilot Program. Interested Israeli companies are invited to submit applications to pilot, test, adapt and optimize impact healthcare-related technologies, services, and devices in a clinical environment at selected first-class hospitals around the world. Deadline for Submission 07/02. Apply here.