IsraelTech

Most people think venture capital is about spotting big ideas. It’s not. In this conversation with @ArielSterman, Partner at @BessemerVP, the focus shifts to something much more practical. How founders actually think, how quickly they can adapt when things don’t work, and why the ability to iterate matters more than having a perfect vision from day one. We also get into a bigger question: Is Israel actually behind in AI, or is it just playing a different role in the ecosystem? From mentorship and early-stage decision making to vertical AI and where things are heading next, this is a grounded look at how top investors evaluate companies before anyone else is paying attention. Hosted by @YoelTIsrael

🌐 🇮🇱 This week in IsraelTech 1. @Tesla Enables Free Supercharging Across Israel During Ongoing Crisis Tesla is supporting Israeli drivers by offering free access to its nationwide Supercharger network during a period of heightened security tensions. Led by @elonmusk, the company is extending practical support through its charging infrastructure across Israel and the broader region. The policy applies across 25 stations nationwide and extends to additional sites across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. 2. @Ravencloudinc Raises $20M Seed To Reinvent Runtime Application Security For The AI Era Raven is building a new category of application security, focused on stopping exploits in real time from within the application itself, without relying on signatures or CVEs. Founded by Roi Abitboul, Guy Franco, and Omer Yair, the team is drawing on deep cybersecurity experience to tackle one of the industry’s most urgent gaps. Funding led by @NorwestVP, with participation from Elron Ventures, RedSeed, @upwestvc, and @SentinelOne. 3. Native Secures $31M Series A To Simplify Multi-Cloud Security Control Native provides a platform that enables enterprises to design and enforce security architecture seamlessly across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud. Led by CEO Amit Megiddo alongside CPO Gal Ordo and CTO Eyal Faingold, the company is rapidly scaling its approach to unified cloud security. Funding led by Ballistic Ventures, with participation from @generalcatalyst, @ylventures, and @MerlinVentures. 4. @Kaltura Acquires @pathfactory To Accelerate Its Agentic Digital Experience Vision Kaltura is evolving beyond video into a full AI-powered digital experience platform, combining content, intelligence, and conversational capabilities. Under the leadership of CEO @ron_yekutiel, the company continues to expand its platform with strategic acquisitions, including PathFactory, to power more personalized, AI-driven user journeys. The $22M acquisition strengthens Kaltura’s position in the emerging agentic AI landscape. The weekly roundup is brought to you by @deel, the global all-in-one HR and payroll platform for teams in 150+ countries. Follow IsraelTech for all the latest updates.

I had a blast joining @YoelTIsrael on the @IsraelTech podcast for a deep dive into the state of the Israeli ecosystem - yes, we're still here!🚀 We packed a ton into less than an hour: 🤖 Debunking the myth that Israel is lagging in the AI revolution 👨‍🏫 The notion of VC as a true apprenticeship (@BessemerVP) + the fundamentals of authenticity 🇮🇱 The major advantage of Israeli directness & honesty in the earliest stages of a startup 👀 Why I'm focused on AI & Data Infrastructure, and how Israeli startups have a second chance at #Vertical Markets

Listen on your fav audio platform: Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fro… Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3VwQnu…

Most people think venture capital is about spotting big ideas. It’s not. In this conversation with @ArielSterman, Partner at @BessemerVP, the focus shifts to something much more practical. How founders actually think, how quickly they can adapt when things don’t work, and why the ability to iterate matters more than having a perfect vision from day one. We also get into a bigger question: Is Israel actually behind in AI, or is it just playing a different role in the ecosystem? From mentorship and early-stage decision making to vertical AI and where things are heading next, this is a grounded look at how top investors evaluate companies before anyone else is paying attention. Hosted by @YoelTIsrael

@mikeeisenberg Olim "get it". They are the happiest of people and have the most to contribute.

These people moved to Israel because it is safer!!! It is also because there is incredible opportunity and love of life! Come home. The future is bright 🇮🇱

What happens when a global recording artist is also a self taught technologist? In this episode of IsraelTech, Yoel Israel sits down with global artist @nissimblack to explore the intersection of music, technology, AI, media, and spirituality. Before becoming an internationally known artist, Nissim grew up watching computers being built in his home and experimenting with music production equipment as a kid. That early exposure shaped the way he approaches creativity and technology today. They discuss how podcasting and music production rely on many of the same tools, how AI is already transforming the music industry, and why independent creators now have more power than traditional media. The conversation also dives into deeper questions about morality, media narratives, and why technology itself is not the real risk. The real question is how people choose to use it. This episode covers everything from AI generated music to the future of media platforms and why storytelling still matters more than ever. Hosted by @YoelTIsrael

At @Cybertech_Globl, we spoke with Alon Podhurst, CEO of DriveU Auto, about one of the most practical applications of autonomy: cargo ports. DriveU Auto builds retrofit kits that convert existing terminal tractors into autonomous vehicles. Instead of replacing fleets, ports can upgrade the machines they already operate. In many terminals, dozens of tractors move containers back and forth all day. It is repetitive work that requires large teams of drivers working across shifts. By automating these vehicles, ports can reduce operational costs while increasing efficiency and throughput. Alon explains why ports are such a strong fit for automation, how retrofitting older vehicles works, and what the transition could mean for the workforce. As global shipping volumes continue to grow, automation may become essential for keeping cargo moving. Hosted by @YoelTIsrael

🌐🇮🇱 Today in IsraelTech: @StageOneVC has closed its fifth fund, raising $165 million to invest in Israel’s next generation of enterprise and AI infrastructure startups. The new fund continues the firm’s long-standing strategy of partnering with founders at the earliest stages and backing teams building the foundational technologies behind major shifts in enterprise computing. Fund V will focus on companies developing AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, physical AI systems, agentic orchestration platforms, and vertical AI solutions. With this new fund, StageOne’s total assets under management now exceed $650 million. Over the past 25 years, the firm has built a track record of supporting companies that later became major players in enterprise technology, including Coralogix, Silverfort, Qwak (acquired by JFrog), Epsagon, Avanan, Apprente, Traffix, and Guardium. The fund is led by the StageOne team, including managing partners Yuval Cohen and @Slovoman, as the firm continues its focus on helping Israeli founders build globally significant enterprise technology companies.

Watch the full interview - youtu.be/6zbD9HjE5Pg?si…

Security teams are not short on alerts. They are buried under them. When we spoke with Sharon Isaaci, Co-Founder and CEO of Tonic, he explained the core challenge. Security tools generate millions of findings, and more than 90% of them turn out to be noise or false positives. Yet many teams still rely on generic severity scores that label everything as high or critical. The real question is context. Is the asset actually critical? Is the vulnerability exploitable? Is the system even reachable? Without that context, teams spend huge amounts of time jumping between tools, spreadsheets, and conversations just to figure out what matters. Sharon Isaaci and the team at Tonic are focused on helping security teams cut through that noise and prioritize the small number of findings that actually reduce risk. Hosted by @YoelTIsrael Link to the full interview in the comments 👇

Did you know we are also on your fav audio platform? Listen now! Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/21If4q… Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how…

Travel booking seems simple until you start adding everything you actually need. Meals. Luggage. Car seats. Extra drivers. Parking. Kitchens. What begins as the “cheapest option” often becomes something very different once those details are included. At @Cybertech_Globl, we spoke with Omer Brandis, founder of Upfront Rentals, about why travel planning still takes so much time and how his company is approaching it with a different search model. Instead of starting with price and filtering later, Upfront Rentals begins with all the requirements upfront, then surfaces options that actually match the trip being planned. The platform also tracks price changes and alerts travelers when better options appear. It is a reminder that some of the most interesting Israeli startups are not only in cybersecurity or defense. Many are tackling everyday problems that millions of people deal with every time they travel. Hosted by @YoelTIsrael

Some tech is mission-critical in Israel, but not a priority elsewhere. Lital Leshem of Protego breaks down how she separates “must have” from “nice to have”, and why global validation is a requirement, not a bonus. What do you think? Hosted by @YoelTIsrael

Watch the full interview with Aviv - youtu.be/Rm92hfTeQXY

What if ONE person could control a swarm of drones? Aviv Shapira from @XTEND_XR explains how multiple drones can run under one operating system, execute complex moves. Yes! Even through a window and how AI is changing what’s possible with ethics and human control staying in the loop. Hosted by @YoelTIsrael.

Happy Purim and stay safe, עם ישראל חי!

🌐 🇮🇱 This Week in IsraelTech: 1.@gambit_security Emerges From Stealth With $61M To Redefine Cyber Resilience Tel Aviv–based Gambit Security, co-founded by Alon Gromakov (CEO), @SaarElias (CPO), and May Kogan (CTO), stepped out of stealth with a $61 million early funding round, unveiling an AI-powered cyber resilience platform built to keep enterprises operational during attacks, system failures, and major disruptions. As AI-driven threats accelerate, Gambit focuses on continuous resilience and rapid recovery - addressing a global market where ransomware readiness remains critically low. Funding from Spark Capital, @kleinerperkins, and @Cyberstarts1. 2. @GuiddeCo Secures $50M Series B To Train Both Humans And AI Agents On Enterprise Software Guidde raised $50 million as it expands its platform designed to train enterprise teams - and now AI agents - to operate complex software environments. With 4,500+ customers and three consecutive years of 3x revenue growth, the company founded by @yoavei and @dansahar is becoming a key enabler of practical AI adoption inside global organizations. Funding led by PSG, with participation from @mondaydotcom, @NorwestVP, @EntreeCap, @QualcommVenture, and Inkberry Ventures. 3. Nimble Raises $47M To Power AI Agents With Trusted Live Web Data Nimble is building the infrastructure layer that allows AI agents to search, verify, and structure real-time web data at enterprise scale - transforming the open web into reliable operational intelligence. With this $47 million Series B, Co-Founder & CEO Uri Knorovich and the Nimble team are accelerating their mission to eliminate “we don’t know” from enterprise decision-making, powering Fortune 500 companies and AI-native startups alike with real-time web truth. Funding led by Norwest, with participation from @databricks and existing investors. 4. FutureFirst Launches $50M Vertical AI Fund Targeting Faster Exits New VC fund FutureFirst, founded by Hila Rom and Tammy Mahn, is raising $50 million to invest in Seed-stage Vertical AI startups focused on deep, industry-specific solutions. With roughly half the capital already committed and initial investments underway, the fund is targeting strong mid-sized exits within a few years. Anchor support comes from Brooks Keret, alongside senior U.S. finance and healthcare investors. Initial checks are expected to be around $1.5 million per company. The weekly roundup is brought to you by @deel , the global all-in-one HR and payroll platform for teams in 150+ countries. 💡 Follow IsraelTech for the latest breakthroughs, funding rounds, and partnerships driving Israel’s innovation ecosystem forward.

You can also listen on audio: Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4MRbJr… Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fro…

Security teams are drowning in alerts. What if the real breach happens while you are busy fixing the wrong one? In this episode of IsraelTech, we sit down with Sharon Isaaci, Co-Founder and CEO of Tonic Security, to discuss the growing gap between cyber detection and real risk reduction. Sharon previously served as Chief Intelligence Officer and CISO of the IDF Home Front Command, where he was responsible for intelligence and information security during national emergencies. After transitioning to the private sector, he saw a recurring pattern: breaches often stemmed from vulnerabilities that were already detected but never addressed in time. Tonic Security was built to tackle that exact problem. We cover: * Why most security findings are false positives * The challenge of prioritization in modern cybersecurity * How AI is changing exposure management * The tension between responsibility and authority inside security teams * Building a startup during wartime * Why resilience is essential for founders Hosted by @YoelTIsrael