Desert Groundhog's Day

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.

And winter drags on... now is the time to be gritty, as globally we're still in the thick of the pandemic and continuing fight with an increasingly successful vaccination effort.

I'll be submitting a survey on how I can better improve this newsletter experience for you readers... so be on the lookout. My number one goal is to make sure I am providing you as much as value as possible around the Startup Nation.

My first piece in Thrive Global: 5 Stress Management Tips During COVID for High-Agency Types

MIA February Mixer: Who is joining our upcoming Upstream Israeli Tech Mixer today? The mixers are a lot of fun, you’ll hear and engage with our guest speaker, VC Yaron Carni, founder of Maverick Ventures Israel, and meet a number of good people active in the Israeli tech space all under half an hour. Thurs Feb 4th- 7pm IST/12pm EST. Register here.

Hiring inTulsa: Join inTulsa and Atento Capital for a webinar to learn how you can hire highly skilled remote workers for your growing startup or company in Tulsa. The inTulsa Talent team will answer all your questions on how you can succeed in 2021. Thu, February 11, 9:00 AM EST/8:00 CST/16:00 IDT. Register here.

What You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture Hardcover by Ben Horowitz: This as good a time as any to launch a new endeavor, and this book was not what I expected after reading the author’s excellent The Hard Things about Hard Things. The latter is required reading for anyone looking to build a tech company (or any company for that matter), while this book was a historical analysis on (leadership) and how to create an effective and positive culture.

As an investor, the author (and his partner, Marc Andreessen) have been vocal about product driven companies (and founders) as driving their investment thesis so it’s interesting he would tackle the subject of culture. Examples include the hyper growth of companies like Uber (with what was billed as a bro-culture), that even with a toxic win-at-all-costs culture the product and execution drove the company’s success. The author is not saying that you can’t succeed with a toxic culture; the question is what would you rather be remembered for? Creating a toxic but effective culture, or making a profound positive impact on people’s lives who worked with you?

I like this VC content and how he uses examples from history. This book reminds me of Peter Thiel’s Zero to One with its philosophical tone, and the author uses not just examples of tech companies like Uber and Netflix but obscure historical figures as well. Technology might change, people don’t. And this is reflected in the culture we build, so best to learn from other’s examples (and mistakes) instead of making our own when going through the process of creating a culture.

Key Takeaways:

Be the change you want to create: Action precedes everything, and culture is created by the behaviors of the leader of an organization. It really is action, not words.

Build on the past: We like to think that our situations are so unique, as if the challenges haven’t been faced by others with less (and under more adverse conditions) then us. Why understanding history is so important.

Leadership is being vulnerable: If there was one concept that I took away from this book it was that there was no two ways about it, you have put yourself out there as a leader. Also, admitting your flaws makes you relatable.

A nice and comprehensive infographic on the state of Israeli tech.

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.

Satellite: In just 8 weeks, you’ll land a sales job at a world-class tech company, working remotely from Tulsa. If you’ve got grit and enthusiasm, they can help you land a great job. The talent revolution is happening outside of Silicon Valley and NYC. The Satellite program is partnered with future-thinking cities across America, starting with Tulsa, Oklahoma. Apply here.

TU-Team8 Cyber Fellows: The University of Tulsa & Team8 Cyber Fellows initiative is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to earn a Ph.D. degree while redefining research and development across cyber, data science and machine learning. This unique and highly competitive initiative brings together premiere cyber education from TU’s College of Engineering & Natural Sciences with Team8’s company-building experience and ecosystem to identify real-world industry challenges and transfer cutting-edge research into cutting-edge startups. Apply here.

Sapphire Ventures: Are you looking for a job in a fast-growing startup? Now you can find almost nearly 3,000 open roles at Sapphire's 60+ portfolio companies here.

Apiiro: Industry-first Code Risk Platform™. A 360° view of security and compliance risks, from design to production, across applications, infrastructure, developers’ knowledge, and business impact. Are you obsessed with innovation, engineering excellence and customers? Opportunities here.

AppsFlyer: CONTENT WRITER (NATIVE ENGLISH). Eager to make a difference with your words, ideas, creativity and insight? This career-making opportunity in one of Israel’s leading unicorns will present incredible opportunities for the right candidate. If you have a passion for content and technology, and are both highly creative and analytical, this one’s for you! Apply here.

Binah.ai: They are looking for a team player windows developer to join the team: Windows developer with 4+ years experience. Proficiency in C# and .NET Core, WPF/UWP, WinAPI and multi-threading. Proficiency in interoperability. True O.O. and design principles are a must. Perfect understanding of Windows OS (besides this urgent position, they have more open position in their website). Apply here.

Chakratec: Chakratec has developed a unique kinetic energy storage technology, which enables unlimited high power charge and discharge cycles. They offer kinetic power boosters, high power chargers and fully managed charging services for electric vehicles. Opportunities here.

CYBERGYM: Cybersecurity Training Mentor. CYBERGYM is growing and they are on the lookout for a Senior Cybersecurity Expert to fill the role of White Team Mentor at CYBERGYM Israel Training Arena! Apply here.

Cyberwrite: Are you full of energy, curious, creative, and ready for a role in a fast-paced, SaaS-based, cybersecurity startup? If so, Cyberwirte, a global pioneer in third-party cyber risk management is looking for you to help us grow our Sales Development team. The SDR is often our customer’s first experience with Cyberwrite so you need to be able to make a great first impression to earn the right to qualify our leads and identify what the appropriate next steps should be. Apply here.

EcoMotion Community: They are looking for a local and a global mobility leader in Israel. Also reopening the implementation activity of smart mobility in Israel and looking for a manager to rebuild and lead it. You can learn more by contacting them here.

ZenCity: Content Writer. Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv. Zencity is growing their marketing team and they're looking for a content writer! If you're a wordsmith who believes in the power of language in changing the world- this one's for you! Apply here.

IDB Bank: They are looking for an organized Marketing Coordinator to join their team. The ideal candidate will manage all marketing projects from concept to implementation, handle approvals and revisions, analyze results and report them to the team. This role will also require the candidate to write compelling content for client communications, digital advertising, corporate collateral material, and create promotional events, with the primary goal of increasing their client base and loyalty. Apply here.

NFX: Head of Public Relations & Social Media - Reinventing VC. They are NFX, the largest seed venture fund in the world and one of the fastest growing brands in tech. Their mission is to build the next-gen VC firm. Now they're looking to expand their PR and social media presence.  But, they're not looking to hire just anyone... This is an unusual job that requires a unique background. They believe in people who are self-driven and ambitious. If you're the best person in the world for this, you'll find your way to them. Apply here.

Oktopost: One thing we've enjoyed pretty much during the Oktopost journey is watching their super talented team do what they do. And now they're hiring for some pretty big roles! Insanely talented people, take a look here.

Salto: Content Marketing Manager. Hot off the press! A new opening in their team, this time for a content marketer role. This is a great opportunity to join a young startup on the rise and play a pivotal role in the shaping of its brand, positioning and narrative. Apply here.

Via: They are looking for good people that will build this thing with them. They are especially looking for:

Product managers

Data analysts

Product designers

Head of design studio

Apply here.

Volta Solar: Come work in a growing RENEWABLE ENERGY company. Volta Solar is looking for a Business Development Representative! For more details, click here.

WSC Sports: Business Development - Sports Betting (New York). They're on the search for a passionate quarterback to help them execute our gaming and betting innovation. Help them spread the word. This is a unique opportunity to join one of the leading sports tech companies in the world and impact the way fans interact with live sport. Apply here.

MIA February Mixer: Who is joining our upcoming Upstream Israeli Tech Mixer today? The mixers are a lot of fun, you’ll hear and engage with our guest speaker, VC Yaron Carni, founder of Maverick Ventures Israel, and meet a number of good people active in the Israeli tech space all under half an hour. Thurs Feb 4th- 7pm IST/12pm EST. Register here.

The Israel Summit: The Israel Summit is an international movement dedicated to shifting the conversation surrounding Israel on college campuses across the globe. They accomplish this through high-impact conferences targeted towards the unaffected, unaffiliated students on campus. Through their world-class speakers and career and special opportunities fairs, they seek to broaden all students’ horizons on the Jewish State of Israel. February 7-11. Register here.

The EDGEXperience 2021: Virtual Experience for Young Professionals: Be a part of their community of young professionals, ages 22-42, who are passionate about Israel and seek extraordinary networking opportunities and professional development. As a member, you will get access to high-level executive courses and local events all year long. Feb 8-12th. Register here.

How I Raised My Money: Proptech Zone is excited to host 4 special guests: 2 Proptech Founders - and their Investors! Double Fireside chat: Founders and their Investors! Join them for a unique chance to hear the personal insights and experiences of Startup Founders and the VCs that believed in them & invested in their seed round. Tuesday, February 9th / 10am EST / 5pm Israel. Register here.

Hiring inTulsa: Join inTulsa and Atento Capital for a webinar to learn how you can hire highly skilled remote workers for your growing startup or company in Tulsa. The inTulsa Talent team will answer all your questions on how you can succeed in 2021. Thu, February 11, 9:00 AM EST/8:00 CST/16:00 IDT. Register here.

Virtual RSM Tech Connection: Join RSM and Silicon Valley Bank for RSM’s Tech Connection event to hear from tech industry leaders from both coasts about the state of the markets going into 2021. Prominent venture capitalists and chief financial officers plan to discuss top trends highlighted in the latest Silicon Valley Bank State of the Markets report, including evolving capital markets, the public market boom, exit trends and more. Thursday, Feb. 11, 2 p.m. EST | 1 p.m. CST. Register here.

Everything Israeli companies should know about global hiring: Almost all Israeli startups are considering global expansion. You get to this point when you need to move your business outside of Israel, and you are trying to figure out how you might proceed. One of the most important aspects is the human capital aspect. Monday, February 15, 10:00 AM. Register here.

AI WEEK 2021: Combining technological leadership, applied AI and cutting-edge research, AI Week will highlight the way in which AI technology is revolutionizing business strategy, policy and future development. In November 2019, the first ever AI Week took place at Tel Aviv University, welcoming over 3,000 attendees to a week filled with workshops and lectures. Feb. 22-24. Register here.

ZORA Impact Founders Series: Wasteless: Read on below for news on their latest innovations, recognitions, awards, and tackling of milestones across both R&D and Biz Dev.  As always, they are proud to have the opportunity to back these incredible teams, to be building Israel’s leading impact tech portfolio, and to have a fantastic group of values-aligned investors along with them.  Tuesday, February 23rd, 9:00 PT / 12:00 ET / 19:00 IL. Register here.

DLD ALL STARS: Their DLD21 motto “What The World Needs Now …” is your call to action! Join them and our inspirational speakers from 15 years of DLD history on February 21-23, 2021, 4:00 - 8:00 pm CET daily. Ursula von der Leyen,Oliver Zipse, Ben Horowitz, Scott Galloway, Reid Hoffman, Kara Swisher, Esther D. Register here.

Cybersecurity Expert Panel: With recent attacks it is clear that there are challenges in detecting and preventing attackers from circumventing interior security controls, harvesting credentials, and moving laterally to achieve their objectives. Organizations need to assume compromise and extend their security methodology with Active Defense techniques. They will be joined by former NSA Director, Former Israeli 8200 Unit Commander, and Microsoft Corporate VP of Security, Compliance, and Identity to discuss these challenges and nation-state attacks. Wednesday, February 24th, 11 AM EST/8 AM PST. Register here.

Axis Tel Aviv 2021: Axis Tel Aviv is Axis Innovation's flagship innovation conference and is going virtual for 2021. Organized for the past 7 years and recognized as one of Israel's most effective startup events for dealmaking, Axis Tel Aviv is a unique opportunity to meet, learn, and network with global investors and corporations and leading Israeli tech startups. Wed, March 17. Register here.

NEXUS:ISRAEL Dealmakers Summit: Combining the dealmaking power of Landmark Ventures with the cutting edge innovation ecosystem around the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a new partnership has formed in 2021 to co-host NEXUS:ISRAEL Dealmakers Summit. This year’s event will convene a meticulously curated gathering of Funders, Founders, Researchers, Corporate Executives, and Thought Leaders from across the globe for two days of relationship-building, inside access to the technology of the future, unparalleled dealmaking opportunities set against a best-in-class virtual event backdrop. March 23-24. Register here.

Tech7 Magnet Accelerator: Raise your Seed Round with Tech7 Magnet Accelerator‏. Startups have to keep growing fast. They're looking for the 10% who can do it , and make them skyrocket!! They are looking for early stage startups that possess the magic blend of an amazing idea and the right attitude for success and they surround them with the best setting for 3 months of pure value: Office space. Advisory board. VC's. Pro mentors. Zero Equity Are you the 10%? Apply for the accelerator here.

InsurLab Germany Accelerator: For insurtech startups. Program benefits include: Equity-free program. Build a network of corporate clients and work towards pilot projects/cooperation with Germany’s top insurance companies. Individual mentoring and VIP access to C-level insurance managers, VCs, and angels. Platform to grow and develop in the German Market, including various pitch opportunities and media exposure. Up to 60,000 euro worth of cloud credits, consultancy services as well as training and workshops by industry experts. 3,000 euros as financial support for early-stage startups (“start” track). Apply by March 8th here.

Jonathan ‘Yoni’ Frenkel heads Partnerships at 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.