Vered Horesh

How to #Lead in Times of Crisis? Three Key Lessons from GNAM Week at Technion, #Israel This week, I had the privilege of participating in #GNAMWeek at Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, where the central theme was "Leading in Times of #Crisis." The experience was truly enriching and #inspiring. Here, I want to share three valuable lessons from some of the distinguished speakers: Prof. Dan Shechtman (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 2011): Shechtman emphasized the importance of #education as a key tool, even in facing the resistance he encountered from the scientific community with his discoveries. Moran Samuel (Paralympic Champion, Paris 2024): Moran gave us #powerful #advice to maintain a #mindset of positive action. She reminded us that in the face of adversity, the key is not just to talk, but to move into action, even if it means taking small steps forward. Dan Ariely (Behavioral Economics & Best-Selling Author): Ariely highlighted that #ethics is something we work on daily, a habit that must be exercised constantly. To lead effectively, we need to cultivate ethics with the same discipline and consistency we apply to caring for our health. Additionally, I want to extend special thanks to the team at the #MBA program of Technion - Israel Institute of Technology and MBA UC, who made this experience truly transformative. At the end of this week, one of the biggest takeaways is that #leading in times of crisis is not just a matter of #strategy, but of #humanity. Effective #leaders are those who manage to combine agile #decision-making with an empathetic and adaptive approach, understanding that crises are #opportunities to transform and #grow.

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WhatsApp Business and ChatGPT: A Dynamic Duo Transforming Customer Communication! 🌟 I'm thrilled to share an insightful new blog post from Commbox that delves into the revolutionary integration of WhatsApp Business and ChatGPT. This dynamic duo will transform customer service across industries, offering unparalleled efficiency and personalisation. In today's digital-first world, businesses must leverage cutting-edge technology to meet the high expectations of modern consumers. The integration of WhatsApp Business with ChatGPT is not just a technological upgrade; it's a paradigm shift in how we engage and support our customers. From healthcare to retail and education to municipal services, this powerful combination enhances customer interactions like never before. Explore the future implications of AI in customer communications and learn how to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead. Take advantage of this must-read post that uncovers the potential of AI-driven customer service! Read the full blog 🔗https://bit.ly/3wVntfb #CustomerService #AI #WhatsAppBusiness #ChatGPT #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #CustomerExperience #FutureOfWork #Commbox CommBox

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In today’s fast-paced and uncertain environment, accessing top tech talent often means expanding internationally. At COMMIT Offshore, with 200+ team members across four global centers, I’ve found that thriving in global hiring depends on two main factors: 🔑 Cultural Compatibility: Embracing cultural diversity is key. For instance, Israel’s direct style can differ greatly from the more reserved approach of Ukrainian, Armenian professionals. 🤝 Emphasis on Soft Skills: Technical expertise is critical, but it’s the adaptability, communication, and teamwork skills that truly bind a team. Identifying and understanding personality types can transform team dynamics: 🔍 The Analyst – Detail-oriented, thorough, and structured. Perfect for roles that need data-driven decisions and precision. ✅ The Task-Oriented – Mission-focused, efficient, and punctual. Ideal for tasks with tight deadlines and clear objectives. 🎤 The Promoter – Charismatic and engaging, they light up the room. Great fit for Sales and Marketing! 🤝 The Supporter – Calm, empathetic, and reliable. Perfect for roles in care-giving and customer support. Creating successful international teams goes beyond recruitment—it's about building a shared culture that resonates globally. Read the full article 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dXVPZ4nd #GlobalTalent #RemoteTeams #TechHiring #ITOutstaffing #ITSolutions #OutstaffSolutions #ITOutsourcing #StaffAugmentation #TeamAugmentation

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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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Change is at the heart of our business.   For 25 years, throughout innovation waves and economic cycles, Viola Ventures stayed committed to its vision of building global category leaders out of Israel.   In line with this, we continue to implement strategic plans to ensure continuity and adapt to the challenges and opportunities in the next 25 years.   Today we announce that Viola Ventures' next fund (the seventh) will be led by GPs Zvika Orron and Omry Ben David, together with Viola co-founder Shlomo Dovrat, who will continue as a General Partner in the seventh fund to complete the transition.   More on this at CTech by Calcalist piece below

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🚀 Exciting Announcement! 🎙️ I'm thrilled to share that I was recently interviewed for the first episode of a new podcast series by "People & Computers," hosted by the insightful yehudak konfortes; As one of the few Israeli experts in AI standardization and its integration with local regulation, I have been spearheading Israel's efforts globally since 2017. In this inaugural episode, we delve into critical discussions on the international AI arms race, focusing particularly on the regulatory elements where AI standardization plays a pivotal role in global-local dynamics. We explore the regulatory landscape intertwined with AI advancements, offering a unique perspective on how nations are navigating this complex terrain. As Head of Delegation to both SC42 (International AI Standards) and JTC21 (EU AI ACT Standards), as well as a Contributor to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (US) and Standards Council of Canada (SCC) (Canada), I hope to add value by bringing a fresh and unique perspective. 🎧 Tune in to the podcast on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/duhjdvxb While my podcast under ISRAI.AI (link in comments) is in English and geared towards a professional audience, the "People & Computers" series is in Hebrew and aimed at the general public. Hope you enjoy this short episode and, as always, be in touch and let me know your thoughts! Join us as we unpack the dynamic and ever-evolving world of AI! #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Podcast #AIStandardization #InternationalRelations #TechRegulation #SC42 #PeopleAndComputers European Commission ISO - International Organization for Standardization IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)

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YL Ventures is thrilled to partner again with Seattle-based Eran Barak having led the $11 million #seed round of his new #startup MIND! YL Ventures also seeded Eran's last #venture Hexadite, which was acquired by Microsoft. Together with cofounders Itai Schwartz and Hod Bin Noon, and CRO Tyson Hempel (former CRO of exited YL Ventures portfolio company Medigate), Eran is launching today the first-ever platform to put Data Loss Prevention (#DLP) on autopilot! Other investors in the round included #cybersecurity luminaries from CrowdStrike, Adobe, ADT and FireEye, Inc. MIND is a new breed of DLP that leverages #AI and smart #automation to instantly and comprehensively identify, detect, and prevent #data leaks. With the capacity to monitor billions of data events 24/7 in #realtime, MIND is a DLP solution completely reimagined for today's complexity, already ripping & replacing painful legacy solutions at enterprises across America. Read more here: https://mind.io/ And in Reuters: https://lnkd.in/gRhBEkbV

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I’m humbled to be recognized as a Champion by RUNI Ventures, alongside an inspiring group of fellow RUNI alumni who made their mark in the tech world, founding & leading exceptional tech companies! In case you haven’t heard, Reichman University launched RUNI Ventures, a pre-seed VC focused on supporting early-stage founders. It’s an awesome, founders-first platform designed to fuel growth and connection with exclusive resources. Tomer Salvi, Gilad Kapelushnik, and I founded Segoma before this amazing initiative came to fruition, but if you're looking for a Founders-First VC that fosters growth, connection, and exclusive resources, you should definitely check them out! Here’s to championing big ideas, bold moves, and a brighter future! #IamAChampion Hila Rom 🎗 Tomer Golan Romi Oppenheim Yossi Maaravi

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I was happy to share my thoughts on what 2025 has in store for Israeli tech and venture, published on Calcalist כלכליסט today. If I could summarise 2024 in one word, it would indeed be "Resilience". And for the record, despite the headline, I do believe that the new administration in the US is generally good news for tech and venture, including Israeli startups. I've also mentioned 3 investments we made which are still in stealth... Link to the article in the first comment 👇

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Over this past year, we’ve learned anew the strength that we have as a nation. And if you’ve read recent headlines regarding funding rounds and exits of Israeli startups, you will see a clear demonstration of resilience in action. According to a recent report by Startup Nation Central, the Israel tech ecosystem has recently completed: - 220 private investment rounds - An estimated $3.1 billion raised - $3.7 billion in M&A transactions - 20 new venture capital funds were established, raising $1.7 billion And it’s not just internal optimism. A recent poll conducted by the global accounting company Ernst & Young showed that about 60% of multinational companies expressed confidence in the Israeli tech industry. Some might say that what happens in Israel is simply miraculous. I say that it’s because of the resilience, grit, determination, creativity, innovation and perseverance of our people. And Google Cloud Israel is proud to support our hi-tech community, from early stage to enterprise and everyone in the middle. 76 years and counting… Israeli tech continues to deliver No Matter What. https://lnkd.in/dbpvwcuW. #GoogleCloud #CloudForIsrael #StartupNation #Resilience #NoMatterWhat

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The Entrepreneurship Lab 🧪 @ Reichman University – GMBA 17 is about to begin! A new cohort of the GMBA program at Reichman University is kicking off, marking the start of an exciting journey filled with new ideas, solutions to real market problems, and entrepreneurs eager to make an impact. This is the time to dive into the most critical phase of the entrepreneurial process – identifying the problem and validating the real market need. When we talk about ideation, it’s all about generating creative ideas rooted in a deep understanding of existing problems and needs. But how do you know if your idea is the right one? By having conversations with your potential clients. 💡 Why is this important? Talking to people who experience the problem allows you to: 🔷 Truly understand the pain they feel. 🔷 Validate that the problem is real and significant. 🔷 Identify patterns and insights that will help you refine your solution. This is not the time to arrive with a fully baked solution; it’s the time to truly listen. Ask questions, uncover their pain points, and let their feedback guide you toward the right direction. 📢 Pro tip: Start by speaking with as many people as possible who could be your potential customers. Explore, dig deeper, and challenge yourself to ask the questions you might not have thought of before. Good luck, 17! There’s no doubt you’re on the path to creating something extraordinary. 🚀 Oren Zuckerman Laly (David) Scherf🎗️ Edik Mitelman 😎 - happy to be on this journey with you

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🚀 Ready for 30 minutes of tech, startups, fintech, and Neema? Check out our CTO, Yuval Giveon, on the "30 Minutes or Less" podcast on Calcalist כלכליסט with Aviv Frenkel. Hear how Neema - Better Than a Bank is solving real people's pains and shaking up global money movement. 🎧 Listen on Calcalist: https://lnkd.in/eZbFniRG 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eKhNH6if #fintech #payments #crossborderpayments CTech by Calcalist

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Another milestone in the journey of the Israeli #LegalTech company Darrow - who was chosen as one of the best and promising companies in #Israel - companies which are changing the world. Click for the full elaboration - in a nutshell - #Darrow consists today a team of 110+ people in Tel Aviv and New York, working with 50+ #lawfirms (mainly in the US).

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Four months into my new journey, and I’m proud to support 💙💚Women in Tech®Israel 💙 💚 curate their annual summit. This year, we’re shining a spotlight on #Femtech - a rapidly growing and disruptive sector projected to reach $117 billion by 2029. Join us at the summit, where you’ll connect with bold innovators, hear from industry leaders, and be inspired by change-makers—all while being surrounded by a supportive network dedicated to empowering #womenintech. So, what’s in it for you? Come discover why health, opportunity, and prosperity aren’t just women’s issues — they’re essential for building a better society and a thriving economy. 👉 Are you in? Stay tuned for the upcoming registration link... 💙 Interested in partnering with us? Email: [email protected] #WomenInTech #WITFemTechSummit2024 #womenintech #womenintechisrael #witIsrael #IsraeliTechDelivers

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In H1 498 VC funds made 752 investments in Israeli hi-tech industry. I do not know what about you, but I'm impressed, especially considering the war and everything else going around. The vast majority of investors I speak with agree that this is a very good time to invest in Israeli start-ups. For more analytics and data, read the full H1/2024 IVC – Gornitzky – KPMG Investors Report.

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📢 Hi-Tech Leaders Urge Support Amid Uncertainty In a recent Jerusalem Post article, our Managing Partner Shay M. shared his optimism about Israeli tech resilience: 💬 “I anticipate a quick recovery and increased growth of Israeli startups. Companies have adapted to ‘war routine,’ continuing to function, grow, and innovate.” He adds: 💬 “Israel’s entrepreneurial DNA, community support, and resources provide a strong foundation for long-term success.” At Merlin Ventures, we’re proud to support Israel’s Startup Nation as it continues to adapt and thrive. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/dBRnUw5Y #Innovation #StartupNation #Resilience #MerlinVentures #Entrepreneurship #Cybersecurity #TechLeadership #IsraelTech Seth Spergel | Almog G. | Tav Spector-Levi | Julie Arndorfer | Becky Riji | Aya Shaharabani | Shir Boiko Rimon | Nilly Sagie

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The Israeli high-tech sector is strong and will emerge even stronger after the crisis. Institutional investors in Israel must, however, invest more to help the industry. Over the past decade, the high-tech market has proven to be highly profitable, evidenced by numerous mergers and acquisitions. High-tech must be a significant component of investment portfolios. Our role is to revitalize the market. Without the support of institutional investors, it will be challenging to attract foreign investors. Yesterday, I was privileged to speak on the Alternative Investments panel moderated by Roee Bergman from Calcalist כלכליסט at the Future Investments 2024 conference by Calcalist and Migdal Group. I want to extend my gratitude to my fellow panelists: Keren Kalifa, CEO of G City Israel; Amir Hessel, Founding Partner of Arbel Fund; Dr. Navot Bar, CEO of Keystone Reit; and Mor Assia, Co-Founder and Partner at iAngels, for an inspiring discussion. #HighTech #Investment #Israel #InstitutionalInvestors #Innovation

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"Staying under the radar for an extended period has definitely become common recently, not only in Israel but globally," he explains. "The idea is not to reveal a company immediately after a Seed round but to wait, allowing things to mature before unveiling the company after two or even more rounds. This way, the funding amounts accumulate, and the numbers become more significant." "However, maintaining a low profile isn’t just about timing. This approach is convenient for companies for various other reasons, which came up in conversations with key figures in the industry. Many cited the need for secrecy to reduce pressure on entrepreneurs during the early stages of building a startup, as well as to avoid revealing technology that isn’t yet mature. Another major factor is the shift in the labor market: companies no longer need to compete aggressively for talent and, therefore, aren’t pressured to enter a hiring race. Some also mentioned a more relaxed approach among funds and investors. During the boom years, many suffered from FOMO (fear of missing out) and were quick to invest and announce investments to avoid being left out. Today, they are evaluating opportunities more carefully. One person even noted a subtle competition among entrepreneurs who served together in secret military units, each seeing who can stay under the radar the longest. And beyond these industry-specific reasons, the general atmosphere in Israel has led many to avoid flaunting their successes."

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