The Tel Aviv-Silicon Valley Corridor

Welcome to The Startup Nation Review, a curated newsletter where I 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, perspectives from fresh voices from the ecosystem, and selected opportunities to further engage with the Startup Nation.

Welcome to the beginning of summer and The Startup Nation Review. The NY-Israel Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit whose board I sit on is hosting it’s very first webinar pitch event next week. It is also taking place on my birthday, so no pressure, but you should join ;) The meeting will cover some of the exciting innovations taking place in Jerusalem to help fight COVID-19. Four Jerusalem companies will pitch their latest developments in the fight against COVID-19. Monday June 29th, 10:45am EST. Register here.

Politically this was a tough week for the global Israeli tech community as the White House decided to expand the restriction of work visas, impacting highly skilled tech workers from relocating to the US. According to this Calcalist article however some professionals are seeing this as a blessing in disguise. We will see how this plays out, but if anything, this will only accelerate the WFH trend that is breaking down borders.

On a positive note, Microsoft's acquisition of CyberX this week was another win for the ecosystem. So, it was a pleasure to chat with Gil Ben-Artzy who was an investor in CyberX and understands what it takes for an Israeli startup to succeed in the US market. Gil is the Founding Partner of UpWest, the only Seed fund that is purposefully designed to help Israeli startups break into the US market. Headquartered in Silicon Valley and operating since 2012, UpWest was the first investor in "unicorn" SentineOne, and its portfolio companies have raised well over $1B in follow-on funding from top US VCs. To support its mission, UpWest has built the largest community of Israeli founders in the US spread across Silicon Valley, New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, and Houston.  

What are you working on these days?

The UpWest team is heads down on both supporting its portfolio companies as well as evaluating new investment opportunities. On the former, we're working closely with our founders to help realign their business to existing market conditions and help extend their runway, as needed. On the latter, we're continuously talking to emerging startups across various domains, even in today's reality.  

How is COVID-19 factoring into what you're working on? And if so, how? 

For the first two months after COVID-19 broke in the US, we allocated an increased amount of time to our existing portfolio -- especially via 1:1s and online group sessions on shared topics of interest. In parallel, we established a bi-weekly online session for Israeli founders -- in partnership with Google for Startups -- where we covered topics such as seed funding & B2B go-to-market during the pandemic. Finally, we're continuing to evaluate new investment opportunities, leveraging the cross-border presence of our fund in both Israel and the US.  

What is a short synopsis of how you see the tech sector in the US and in Israel in the next 6-12 months? Any new industries you see emerging? 

My guess is that the tech sector will continue to show resilience relative to most of the other sectors, though some reduction in workforce is to be expected. Though I'm not sure if new industries will emerge, certain tech domains are likely to experience tailwinds, such as cloud adoption, digital healthcare and remote work, to name a few.  

What is something you've learned about yourself (or your initiative) during the pandemic?

The know-how of operating split teams we were able to help our portfolio companies develop has helped them work remotely more effectively. Both the UpWest team and our portfolio companies operate in a split model in Israel and the US from Day One, thus having an "embedded DNA" has proven itself during these times. 

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

I'm not sure I'm unique in believing in the importance of needing to be closer to the US market. However, I believe that playing mostly offense by looking to expand and continuing to seek out US customers, rather than playing only defense by looking internally to focus on the product and protecting your customer base, is something that we challenge our founders to think about on an ongoing basis. In previous downturns, some of the strongest companies were able to expand their market share rather than staying still.  

The Israeli tech AI landscape, too many startups to fit on one page!

UpWest Job Board: Companies you'll love to work for. Jobs here.

AppsFlyer: They are looking for a data-driven, self-motivated and creative individual with strong analytical and operational experience. In this highly cross-functional role, you will be the "source of truth" for answers, new findings, and next steps based on critical operational data, related to sales strategy and performance trends. You will build and enhance processes, design and measure metrics to enhance overall productivity, and ultimately help scale the Sales Team performance. Apply here.

Coralogix: They are on the hunt for some killer DevOps Engineers, Backend Developers, and Customer Success Engineers in both Tel Aviv and San Francisco. Apply here.

Operations Manager: Looking for the right leader to join them and head their operations and client experience team in Los Angeles. Their client is growing and is upgrading their operations system. This is an opportunity to lead the process improvements, support the Branch team with the timely launch of new products, be responsible for operations of ACH, RDC, account analysis, business online banking and merchant relationships. You'll prepare Regulatory, Branch, and Head Office reports as requested in addition to other duties and responsibilities. Apply here.

Soapy: Soapy's team is growing! They're looking for a sales manager who wants to grow with them and help create a safer, more hygienic world. All the details are right here.

SQream: SQream has raised $39.4 million in our latest financing round, And YES – THEY ARE HIRING. If you love deep tech and cloud innovation and want to join their winning team, see all opportunities here.

Via: Head of Litigation and Regulatory Compliance. Via’s Head of Litigation and Regulatory Compliance will manage all litigation, regulatory work connected to Via’s consumer, SaaS and TaaS services, global compliance across jurisdictions where they operate, communications with regulators, and any investigations that may arise. You’ll manage an all-star team, report directly to the General Counsel, and be a trusted advisor to the CEO and Via’s executive team on strategic issues of the highest importance to the Company. Apply here.

They're growing the Jerusalem-based Via team tasked with building the future of transportation and they're looking for engineers who share our commitment to affordable, sustainable, efficient public mobility! Help them find their next QA Engineer here.

BeeHero: Have you always known that you were meant to work on something important Have you been WAITING to use your skills in Product to accomplish something profound?Does solving world hunger, saving bees, and waking up with a feeling of duty to your fellow humankind sound appealing? Apply here.

Global-e: Marketing: Market Insights Analyst. They are seeking a Market Insights Analyst to join their growing team. Demonstrate and maintain in-depth knowledge of the business success drivers, industry trends and the competitive marketplace, and communicate research findings, as a report and/or presentation, in an accessible way. Apply here.

Israel Economic Missions to The USA: The Government of Israel Economic Mission to The West Coast is looking for a new Innovation and Strategic Partnerships manager for an open position in San Francisco. With its unique access to Silicon Valley, the San Francisco office places an emphasis on working with early to growth stage tech companies from Israel on their US market entry. As a member of their Innovation team, you will play a key role in supporting US-based companies in achieving their innovation and business goals while supporting Israeli companies in their efforts to enter the US market. Apply here.

Israel VC & Startup Job Board: Are you looking for a job in VC or startups in Israel, or are an HR manager looking for top talent? Feel free to join this new Telegram group where VCs and startups from around the country post job openings and resumes from talented individuals in the Israeli hi-tech ecosystem. This is one of the many industry/topic specific groups, in addition to the Israel Venture Capital Forum. Join here.

Fyber: Content Marketing Manager. Fyber is looking for a Content Marketing Manager to join their Marketing team in the company’s headquarters in Israel. This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in building Fyber’s brand, positioning and narrative, and help drive the company’s strategy through content creation for a wide range of purposes. The scope of this role is broad and includes creating and amplifying different types of content across various channels. The Content Marketing Manager will be a part of the global Marketing team and collaborate closely with different stakeholders from across the company. Apply here.

Mindup: An early-stage startup is looking for a co-founder to lead the management and business development of a groundbreaking digital trainer for parents and children with autism. Bring your passion to a great venture. Send your resume to [email protected]

Reposify: Sales Development Representative. * Native English Speaker is a MUST. They are looking for a talented hunter for new leads development and qualification for the US and EMEA markets. This role involves researching companies and contacts, driving inbound and outbound campaigns, and qualifying each opportunity before sending it to their sales executives. You will be responsible for growing the lead pipeline, managing multiple prospects and conducting discovery conversations with their potential clients. Apply here.

VP - Venture Tech Lending: An opening in Los Angeles for a VP Venture Tech Lender who speaks Hebrew and is well ensconced in the Venture Tech Lending ecosystem in California. Pivotal in building the bank’s brand presence in the LA Israeli-related tech ecosystem. Identifying main centers of influence and establishing partnerships to promote the bank’s brand and business. Source prospects, establish, develop, and maintain new customer relationships with Israeli-related technology and venture lending market. Are you entrepreneurial, speak Hebrew and know the VC players in California? Apply here.

Israel and the Future of Artificial Intelligence: The State of Israel has seen two revolutions within the technology sphere. In the 80’s, a high tech revolution paved the way for the Start Up Nation, while in the last decade, Israel has been characterized by a powerful cyber revolution. As the following revolution is expected to revolve around Artificial Intelligence, the Prime Minister has appointed Prof. Maj. Gen. (ret.) Isaac Ben Israel to lead a task force to prepare a national AI plan. Jun 25, 11:00 AM in Eastern Time. Register here.

Powering the Next Gen Digital Companion: Join them for an in depth discussion about the technology that powers the Next Gen Digital Companion for medication management.. Takeaways Include: How digital drug companions break through barriers in the medication adherence journey - What a difference deploying personalized interventions ‘just-in-time’ can make. Jun 25, 11:00 AM in Eastern Time. Register here.

From Compassion to Activism: Animal Rights During the Pandemic: Join The Consulate General in New York, Freedom Farm, Shamyim and Jewish Veg for a webinar on the topic of- From Compassion to Activism: Animal Rights During the Pandemic. Thursday, June 25th, 12:00PM EST. Register here.

How to Raise VC Funding in Times of Uncertainty: The last few months have been hard due to the COVID pandemic and lockdown, and for many of us, particularly from an economic point of view. But they want to focus on how to make it possible, how and what to do so that funding becomes easier in these times and those to come. That’s why they are inviting both sides of the equation to one table - both startups & VCs are invited to share their views, attitudes & knowledge. US focused but relevant for Israeli founders. Thursday, June 25th, EDT, 12 PM. Register here.

ICSI - Israel's Conference for Startups & Investors: Interested in the newest trends and adaptations in Israel's high-tech industry? Want to see the next unicorn before they become a billion-dollar company? Join ICSI - Israel’s Conference for Startups and Investors. June 28th, 4pm/10am EST. CityZone, Building 2, Dvora HaNevi'a St. 121, Tel Aviv-Yafo.The conference is Free - Registration is required here.

StartUPitch 2020 Competition: Five entrepreneurs will get the opportunity to take the (Zoom) stage and pitch their startup to a panel of investors- the competition Judges and the winner will be awarded a package of prizes courtesy of SAGENT Israel and its partners. June 29th, 2020 at 10 AM EST. Register here.

Non-Dilutive Grants and Investments Relevant for Wellness Tech Startups: Join Welltech1, Shomrat Shurtz, Senior Director of Business Development at Israel Innovation Authority, and Ruth Friedel, director of planning unit at the international collaboration division in Israel Innovation Authority, for a talk about Non-dilutive grants and investments and more information about the Health-Tech Pilot Program. Mon, June 29, 8:00 AM EST. For registration click here.

WOMEN IN TECH NATIONAL SUMMIT: Join women in tech from all across the country and Israel. National Women in Tech with Jocelyn Goldfein, Effie Epstein and Emily Melton. This event is in English and is for Women in Tech only. Tuesday, June 30 1:30PM EST. Register here.

Tech Leadership in Times of Uncertainty: The recent few months have impacted tech companies of all sizes, from seed to post-IPO. Within these companies, tech leaders have had to readjust their processes and practices to work more effectively, and align with their companies' changing priorities. Which new technologies do these leaders look for and prioritize? How do they handle scaling / downsizing / process challenges while their employees are working remotely? Jul 1, 12:00 PM in Eastern Time. Register here.

CICC IL-US Homeland Security Funding Opportunity Webinar: The California Israel Chamber of Commerce (CICC), BIRD Foundation and the Israel Consulate to the Northwest invite you to a webinar where we discuss BIRD HLS 2020 Call for Proposals and discuss U.S.-Israel Homeland Security Cooperation, in general. Wednesday, July 1, 2020 from 1:00 PM EST. Register here.

Remote work - The security aspect: See what these Israeli cybersecurity for remote work have to offer: Silverfort, BioCatch, Polyrize, Levl, Ctera. Find how US, European and Israeli startups help corporations today in different areas of innovation. Jul 8, 11:30 AM in Eastern Time. Register here.

Cybersecurity for the Healthcare Sector: Healthcare institutions have never been more vital. Hospitals have successfully improved operational efficiency and patient well-being with technologies like IoT, Deep Learning, Big Data and AI. However, rapid technology adoption, outdated legacy systems and the human risk factor, make all health organizations vulnerable to cyber breaches.This session will be an all-encompassing event for healthcare, highlighting hospitals, pharma, R&D and insurance and will feature presentations on the  new cyber challenges. 16 July, 2020 | 10:00 EST. Register here.

Microsoft Inspire: The partner event of the year goes digital. Join your global partner community for countless opportunities to extend your expertise in innovation, leadership, and partnership as the new Microsoft Inspire digital experience kicks off. Register now at no cost for our global digital event, July 21–22, here.

The NexTerra Challenge: Terra Ventures is happy to launch The NexTerra Challenge competition! Compete for your chance to win $1,000,000 Investment & a $50,000 prize package! This sis for startups working on scalable solutions that address critical environmental, health, and societal challenges aligned with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Application deadline: 30 June. For applications & details click here.

The US Israel Bi-national Agricultural R&D Fund: Call for proposals for the next round of funding in 2021. BARD projects focus on increasing agricultural productivity, particularly in hot and arid climates, and emphasize plant and animal health, food quality and safety, and environmental issues. BARD also supports international workshops, and offers fellowships for postdoctoral research, senior research scientists and graduate students. Apply here.

Yashir Challenge: If you are an entrepreneur with innovative thinking and outstanding ideas, we invite you to take up our challenge: Direct Insurance, Start-Up Nation Central, Viola and Moneta, are looking for teams with PoC-ready products that will help us make insurance better. Click here.

Call for Startups Autonomous Maritime Autonomous Systems Challenge: thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tkMS) and Atlas Elektronik (a maritime technology company of tkMS) are looking for innovative technologies and solutions in the area of maritime unmanned and autonomous systems. Apply for the opportunity to pilot your solution with one of the world's market leaders in naval systems! Apply here.

WeWork Consumer Labs: An equity-free incubator that aims to build an environment, community and program that empowers entrepreneurs to invent the future of the consumer experience. They're building an end-to-end global platform for consumer products and retail innovation. Apply here.

Starta’s Batch 10: They are currently accepting applications for entrants into their upcoming Batch 10. They will make sure that, even in these turbulent times, you will have the proper guidance & tools for navigating the American market. They also offer flexible online & offline participation, which means that whatever your personal circumstances are, you will be able to follow the program properly. Post-graduation, top-performing companies may be eligible for follow-on investment from Starta Ventures. Register here by July 1st.

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, focused on engaging millennials, Gen Z, and tech professionals through written content and social.