146: The Politics of The Israeli Tech Sector - Yoel Israel
Episode description
Israel is an entrepreneurial powerhouse and a hotbed for pioneering technologies, profitable business opportunities, and high investment returns. For these reasons, it is no surprise that the world's leading multinational companies have all chosen Israel: Microsoft, Motorola, Google, Apple (three R&D centres), Facebook, Berkshire-Hathaway, Intel, HP, Siemens, GE, IBM, Philips, Lucent, AOL, Cisco, Applied Materials, IBM, J&J, EMC, and Toshiba are just some of the names in a long list of over 200 MNCs who realized that Israel is their ideal investment opportunity
Furthermore, many multinational corporates such as Tata, Kodak, Citi bank, and many others have established innovation HQs in Israel.
So how does Israel manage to stay on top of technology in a variety of sectors? Moreover, what makes it so unique that so many international players come and seek the next innovation here?
To find out, we hear from Yoel Israel an Israeli-American tech entrepreneur who has been at the forefront of the Israeli marketing ecosystem.
He founded WadiDigital, Israel's leading technology marketing agency, and Cyfluencer, a cybersecurity influencer & distribution platform as well as Israel Unfiltered a social platform that highlights the culture and the people of Israel, to the English-speaking world.
Yoel's extensive background in marketing and technology is matched only by his passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. He has been able to establish himself as a leader in the industry, both through building WadiDigital and founding Cyfluencer.
Today, Yoel lives in the Haifa District of Israel with his wife and two daughters. Shalom Yoel.
Hear from Yoel about:
A FEW QUESTIONS TO PREPARE FOR:- How did Israel become the self-proclaimed tech start-up capital of the world? It must be more than just government support?
- In 2016 alone, Israeli start-ups raised a record $4.8 billion from investors, while high-tech and start-up companies were sold for $10.02 billion through acquisitions or IPO's. Israel is also home to the highest number of engineers per capita and has the world's 2nd highest R&D expenditure as percent of GDP (4.3%). Has the pandemic and factors like wars and inflationary pressures in the USA for example dampened this in 2022?
- One recent article I read says “Israel’s tech ecosystem is strong and vibrant, but areas of vulnerability could pose challenges to the industry and possibly to the wider Israeli economy” – this was warned the outgoing executive director of tech-focused organization Start-Up Nation Central (SNC), Wendy Singer. What do you think of this perspective and how can that be overcome?
- Take away: What is your final takeaway message for us on The Politics of the Israeli Tech Sector?
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