Benny Arbel

Adam Fisher partner Bessemer Venture Partners has some of the biggest exits in Israel Wix, Fiverr, Mellanox, and has invested in some of the best companies. So I was super curious what are the practice reps that he does or did to become the best. And it's a combo of skill & luck. Link to the full episode in the comments.

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Founders’ Corner: Trusting Instincts, Making the Move, and Finding Your Investors’ ‘X Factor’. On my recent visit to Tel Aviv, I caught up with Maor Levran at the Slice | Global Equity office. Maor is the CEO and co-founder of Slice, a company R-Squared Ventures is proud to be Seed investors in. Their global equity compliance platform empowers finance and legal teams to manage equity awards across multiple countries, monitoring and flagging compliance risks according to local laws and regulations. I asked Maor to share some insights and advice from his journey so far. Trusting your instincts. Reflecting on his early days, Maor says, “I wish I had known how important it is to trust my instincts. Sometimes, you just have to go with your gut, especially when hiring the right people to join this crazy journey.” Co-founder trust. He’s grateful for the trust he has in his co-founder, Yoel Amir “I trust him 100%, with my eyes closed.” Personal observation, he’s right :) Moving to the US. If he could do one thing differently, he’d have relocated to the US sooner. Breaking into a market where your customers, partners, competitors, and investors reside thousands of miles away adds extra hurdles to an already challenging task. As Maor says, “I would have relocated sooner. I’m now making the move to New York.” Advice for first-time founders. Connect with peers: “Share your concerns, stress, and ideas with founders at your stage and those with more experience. Being a founder is challenging and often requires sacrificing a lot. Seek advice, it really helps!” Working with investors. Maor advises finding each investor’s unique “X factor”: “Find it and embrace it.” Maor and team Slice, your commitment, passion, teamwork, and execution are inspiring. Thankful to be a partner in your journey, and excited to see you and the company continue to grow and make a lasting impact.

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Tel-aviv has improved its position among the top startup ecosystems worldwide according to Startup Genome's 2024 report (https://lnkd.in/dN3aUa_h). What a powerful evidence of Israeli startup and innovation environment's resilience and the unshaken trust of the global investor community. The Israeli high-tech sector remains to be the engine of the nation’s economy, accounting for 18% of GDP, 48% of exports, and 11% of workforce. At Tachles VC we are proud we can back the next generation of cyber, cloud and infrastructure AI Israeli-born start-ups. Karel Tušek, Sivan Kanev, Boris Chovnik, Robin Bienfait

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IVC Data and Insights report on the Israeli venture market for Q1-Q3 2024 reveals: - $7.4 billion invested in Israeli startups, surpassing the entire 2023 total of $6.9 billion. - $13 billion generated from exits, a 26% increase from 2023's $10.4 billion. - 23% surge in foreign investments year-over-year. - 67% of capital sourced from global investors, with 33% from Israeli funds. - $2.7 billion secured by early-stage startups, the second-highest figure in Israeli startup ecosystem history (after 2022's record). These figures demonstrate investors' confidence in the long-term sustainability of the Israeli startup ecosystem. Trust received, challenge accepted. We're building the future, brick by brick.

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BlinqIO, a startup founded by Israeli entrepreneurs Tal Barmeir and Guy Arieli, has raised $5 million in a Seed funding round. The funding was led by Flint Capital and included investments from Inovia Capital Precede Fund I, TAL Ventures, and SeedIL. BlinqIO has developed autonomous human-like virtual testers operated by AI, providing companies with an infinite pool of testers that can be integrated into the development process. This allows companies to allocate higher value work to their human workforce. The platform leverages generative AI and Large Language Models (LLM) to enhance its operations, with the AI test engineer being able to comprehend requirements and autonomously create and maintain test automation code. The funding will enable BlinqIO to establish new offices in the U.S. and expand its workforce. Impact on the generative AI industry: Positive. BlinqIO's platform, which combines generative AI and Large Language Models, offers a solution to remove bottlenecks in test automation and provide developers with instant feedback. This advancement in autonomous software testing can greatly enhance efficiency and productivity in the software development industry. Question for discussion: How do you think the integration of human-like virtual testers into the development process will impact the software development industry? #AItesting #SoftwareDevelopment #Automation

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Want to be part of the Web3 ecosystem? Do you see yourself as one of the next 100 Israeli Web3 startups? At Entrée Capital, we work with founders and invest at every stage to help bring your startup from zero to one. If you're an Israeli building something big, feel free to message me here or on Telegram (@TomerNiv). #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi #startups #vc

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As we close out 2024, we’re reflecting on a year that pushed Israeli tech to its limits—and once again, we rose to the challenge. At F2, our portfolio companies hit major milestones, with several securing significant growth rounds (shoutout to Faye, Astrix Security and justt). We also welcomed a wave of new founders who are applying AI to tackle untapped opportunities in overlooked markets. 2025 will be all about focus. For our founders, that means honing go-to-market strategies — doubling down on what works and cutting what doesn’t. For the founders we’re looking to back, it’s about breaking through the noise, outpacing incumbents and bringing bold vision to underserved markets. We're more optimistic than ever and if this is what you’re looking to build, let’s talk :) Check out our full 2024 recap here: https://lnkd.in/d-qUZGT3 F2 Venture Capital

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Recently I was at an event at Google, and they were ranking the top technological-ecosystems in the world. Tel Aviv was number 3. Even after the last year, we have demonstrated an incredible commitment to our ideas, our development, and yes — our dreams. One of the most beautiful aspects to me about Dreemz is how it’s part of this larger picture of Israeli-Tech-sector resilience. By putting our companies, and our visions, out there in these unprecedented times, it helps define companies like Dreemz as part of the very fabric of innovation and perseverance that defines Israeli-tech. We’re not just promoting one vision — we’re trying to foster a culture of optimism and collaboration, even when many peoples’ instincts try and get them to behave more cautiously. I believe that actively showcasing Dreemz’s progress, success, and adaptability, demonstrates that the broader Israeli-tech sector is strong, and unified. And our commitment to reaching our goals and engaging with our user base and investors becomes even more crucial, as part of this larger backdrop. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to be part of the fabric of what keeps us thriving, dreaming, and growing. And knowing that supporting companies like Dreemz is part of the way that we can support Israel. #israel #startup #dreemz #dreams #resilience #strength

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East Jerusalem based medtech accelerator JINNOVATE launches with 14 Arab-Israeli led portfolio companies https://lnkd.in/d35gczUz Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem Techlinic Mahmoud Khweis Israel Innovation Authority רשות החדשנות USAID ARC Innovation Takwin VC Ezadeen Alsaad Jafar Mahfouz Muawyah Akash ISRAEL21c — Good News From Israel

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NextLeap Ventures 2024 Year in Review: Building Tomorrow's Innovation Today   As we close another remarkable year at Next Leap Ventures, I'm energized by the transformative progress in the Israeli high-tech ecosystem. 2024 saw unprecedented advances in AI, climate tech, mobility, infrastructure and digital health - areas where early-stage investments are catalyzing real-world impact. Investments and exits in Israel grew substantially compared to the previous year, despite the geopolitical challenges we are facing.  Israel continues to be a hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurship, attracting many investors who are looking for great financial returns.   Despite market volatility and the difficult situation in Israel, we maintained the mantra of “Israeli tech delivers, no matter what” as well as our thesis-driven approach: * Backing exceptional founders who combine technical excellence with clear paths to scalable impact, leveraging deep technology for a sustainable strategic advantage. * Providing intimate and extensive support and guidance to our portfolio companies, helping them grow their business and increase their valuation. Our portfolio companies have shown remarkable resilience, with several achieving significant milestones in customer acquisition, revenue growth, and technological breakthroughs.   Key highlights of our achievements this year: * Our portfolio companies raised additional funds, and we participated in 14 follow-on rounds * Our investor community expanded, as we merged with the Neome Women Investors * Our AI/ML portfolio companies have developed solutions now used by Fortune 500 enterprises * Our climate tech investments are driving measurable carbon reduction across industries * Our digital health startups are expanding healthcare access through innovative platforms * Our portfolio companies were selected for the Innovation Dream team of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation * Our bio-convergence companies received funding from top-tier VC from the Silicon Valley   Looking ahead to 2025, we remain committed to our core mission: partnering with visionary entrepreneurs who are building disruptive companies, addressing global challenges.   To our founders, limited partners, co-investors, and the broader startup community - thank you for your partnership. Your trust and collaboration make our work meaningful and impactful.   Here's to another year of turning bold visions into reality. Wishing everyone a prosperous and innovative 2025. On a personal note - the Israeli hostages are in our hearts and minds and we wish for their safe return home. We look forward to the end of the war and the growth and prosperity that would follow.   Connect with us at [email protected] to explore how we can support your entrepreneurial journey or give you access to deep tech investments in Israel.   NextLeap Ventures Yoav Hochberg Ronny Korner Ido Lapidot Yosi Govezensky Dan Cohen Ram Caspi Richard Schank Ofri M. Oded Agam

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Founders’ Corner: The Power of Focus, Hiring for Hunger, and Tackling Problems Early Meet Israel Krush co-founder and CEO of Hyro, a digital health SaaS company R-Squared Ventures is proud to be an investor in. Hyro bridges gaps between patient expectations and workforce capacity with AI-powered digital assistants, automating tasks like appointment management and prescription refills. To date, Hyro has raised $50 million and partnered with some of the largest health networks in the US. I met with Israel in NYC recently and asked him to share insights from his journey as a founder. The power of focus. Reflecting on the early days, Israel shared, “We started by serving multiple industries. I wish we’d focused on one customer segment instead of trying to build a ‘holistic platform.’ By narrowing our focus, we could deeply understand one segment, reach product-market fit faster, and drive revenue growth.” Hiring for hunger. Israel prioritized “hungry” talent. “Especially early on, hunger beats experience. We’ve had people grow with Hyro all the way to C-level. It’s about finding agile, self-driven team members who can adapt and thrive.” Addressing small problems early. One key lesson: don’t ignore recurring issues, no matter how small. “If a problem keeps repeating itself, tackle it before it grows, because it will. This includes acting quickly on culture or skill misfits, and having tough conversations around product and GTM direction.” Advice for first-time founders. Connecting with founders who’ve faced similar challenges: “Seek advice from experienced founders who genuinely want to help, not those looking for financial gain. Their perspective can help you avoid pitfalls.” Choosing investment partners you connect with deeply. Israel stresses the importance of a personal connection: “Winning or losing is up to you and your team, but choose investors you’d want by your side during the lows. You need someone you trust for genuine feedback through tough times. That’s your right partner.” To Israel and the Hyro team, thankful to be part of your journey. Your determination, drive and execution are truly motivating. Glad you moved to NYC to tackle your market from within, and excited to see Hyro’s continued trajectory in transforming digital health! #foundertips #startup #vc #venturecapital #entrepreneur #founder

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You chance to launch a product during an event from Scalehub! Maximize awareness in tech community Get real feedback from other founders and experienced executives

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Fundraising is the number one focus for Israeli #founders. In taking feedback from my recent survey, https://lnkd.in/efvpYYCT, fundraising seems to be what most founders are focused on this quarter. The beginning of 2024 has been much more active on the #VC side, and the market seems to have stabilized. This is good news for many CEOs who have delayed #fundraising to the point where they have more to show… and where the timing feels more “right”. Yet, navigating the world of fundraising for early-stage Israeli startups in today's economic climate is a challenging endeavor. Rounds take longer to close. #Investors look for more data points. Relationship-building between founders and investors is a real thing again. Here are some points to keep in mind as you get ready to raise your next round: Get your story right - Seriously. I see many founders creating complicated decks and diving into unnecessary details. Make it simple... investors are flooded with decks, emails, texts, and phone calls. Getting the story right, and grabbing their attention is a good place to start, no matter the stage of the company. Leverage your network - The importance of a strong network cannot be overstated, especially now. Reach out to your current investors, advisors, and strong connections for advice, warm intros, and potential funding opportunities. Many of them cannot just open doors, but follow-up with their contacts after the connection is made. Backchanneling is one of the most underestimated elements of fundraising. Do your research - Don’t just ask for an intro to fund X, Y, or Z. Which partner in the firm is most interested in your space? How many investments have they made in the past 12 months? Does the fund have fresh capital or is it towards the end of their investment period? These are all important things to know before asking for an intro or meeting with VCs. Resilience is paramount - Fundraising can be a long and difficult process, but resilience and adaptability are key. Keep refining your pitch and keep your eye on the ball. Eventually, a lot of it is about consistency, and not giving up.  Remember, fundraising is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay positive, stay focused, stay connected, and keep your energies high. As we’re deep into Q2, many funds are looking for interesting opportunities and startups to invest in. We, at 97212 Ventures, are extremely active so feel free to reach out if you’re at the pre-seed or seed stage. #venturecapital #startups #nyctech

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Assaf Rappaport, Yinon C., Ami Luttwak and Roy R., we are proud of you! 🤗 💪 We typically don't post exits by founders who are also 8200 graduates. It's partly due to modesty and partly because it's become a recurring Israeli success story. Our focus is on empowering Israeli society through our incredible alumni network. Wiz's remarkable achievement, if finalized soon, is definitely an exception. It reminds us that the tech scene is a space for fulfilling dreams and building a stronger Israel. It also underscores the importance of equal access to the high-tech industry for ALL Israelis. That's exactly what drives our educational programs Aharai TECH | TECH אחריי and TechLift 8200, our professional training initiatives, and the 8200 For Startups platform with its ideation, acceleration, and early-growth programs that are open to every Israeli and not just ex-8200s. This also underscores the enduring value of the 8200 Unit as a cornerstone of the "Startup Nation." It reinforces the immense power and responsibility we, 8200 alumni, hold to continue leading the Israeli tech scene alongside the amazing talent from all walks of Israeli society. Israel tech delivers. Period.🇮🇱 #israeliinnovators #startupnation 🇮🇱#8200alumni Screen shot from CTech by Calcalist

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Avery E. Schwartz from Greenfield Partners breaks down the VC teamwork behind successful startups and why expertise at each stage is crucial. Watch our video for insider tips! ➡️ 🎤 Hostel by Yoel Israel

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Is the Israeli business community truly ready for high-achieving Haredi professionals to take leadership roles in the tech ecosystem? We are, as Safra-Tech’s mission is to integrate Haredi professionals into the tech ecosystem, with a focus on #entrepreneurship and #startups We're not merely asking how we can slot Haredi workers into low-level roles… we're asking a far more ambitious question: How can we make Haredi society a key stakeholder in the tech ecosystem? It’s not about individual Haredi employees entering the tech world… it’s about a shift in Israeli society’s perspective, becoming key influencers and decision-makers, and having the ability to progress, to secure better jobs, and to make a real impact This is a wake-up call, not just for Haredi society, but also for the wider Israeli business community. As an example, the current #VC scene (which drives tech) in Israel is centralized, steeped in a Tel Aviv culture that brings with it its own mindset and politics To effect real change, we need to alter the landscape itself Aside from giving it lip service, does Israeli society truly want integration? Is the business sector ready for Haredi professionals to become C-level executives, managers, and policy influencers? If the answer is no, then we need to ask ourselves why… Why are we content with Haredi employees occupying low-level roles, but not decision-making positions? To catalyze progress, we need outside investors who understand the need for change, who are willing to provide the financial backing necessary to make this vision a reality. This cannot be left to the same players who have dominated the scene so far. They are too dependent on the status quo, and too concerned with their own well-being… Let's work to make Haredi society an integral part of the tech ecosystem at all levels If you’re interested in joining us in reshaping the tech ecosystem, reach out to me directly to learn more! #startupnation #venturecapital #thoughtleadership

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Huge move for the future of AI in Israel. The incredible founders of Aporia - Liran Hason and Alon Gubkin - have built one of the greatest AI teams in Israel. Today we celebrate their success and announce its acquisition by Coralogix (link in the first comment). Quick recap - Aleph's portfolio company Coralogix is a data infrastructure company in the observability field. They offer a real-time streaming analytics pipeline for logs, metrics, tracing and security. This move will help them expand into AI observability - a critical new market. But there's more to the story. Coralogix is going to invest tens of millions of dollars into a dedicated AI research center in #Israel. While everyone is talking about the importance of AI excellence in Israel, it's people like Ariel Assaraf and Yoni Farin who actually deliver. Well done friends! Congratulations team Aporia, welcome home!

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⚡ We're delighted to announce that Ze'ev Rozov, former COO of HiBob, has joined Eight Roads as a Venture Partner to support our portfolio across Europe & Israel 💫 Ze'ev brings a stellar track record of scaling companies and extensive experience as both an entrepreneur and operator 🙌 💬 Our Managing Partner Davor Hebel recently sat down with Ze'ev to discuss building businesses, international expansion, and his journey at HiBob. Read more below ⬇️ 🔹𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗶𝗕𝗼𝗯? "A key growth driver as we scaled from $100M ARR and beyond was building an effective partnership ecosystem." This included a comprehensive partnership strategy - encompassing tech, integrations, and channel partners that enabled HiBob to accelerate growth and scale sustainably. 🔹 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗠&𝗔, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝘁? M&A can be an incredibly powerful tool if used strategically, Ze'ev explains. It's crucial to have a clear strategy and understand exactly what you aim to achieve - whether it's accelerating growth, entering a new market, or acquiring technology to shorten time-to-market. But don't fall in love with a deal to the point you can't walk away. Integration capability is crucial. For companies embarking on their first deals, the disruption can be significant, so it's essential to ensure you're equipped for seamless execution. 🔹𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝘁? According to Ze'ev, thinking about international markets from day one is crucial. He notes that for most valuable US tech companies, nearly 50% of their revenue comes from outside the US. However, discipline is critical. Ze'ev advises having a clear and prioritized expansion plan that accounts for market-specific nuances such as regulatory requirements, local infrastructure, and product adjustments. "Be clear about your value proposition and understand what's required to scale effectively in a new market". Welcome to the team, Ze'ev – we're thrilled to have you with us 🎉 #VentureCapital #Team #Scaleup

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