1 MAY 2024 · This week, on Inside Israeli Innovation, host Maayan Hoffman delves into climate technology, talking with two industry leaders about whether the country's advancements could play a pivotal role in combating global warming and saving the planet. Guy Cherni, co-founder and managing partner of Climate First, and Karina Rubinstein, Venture Partner at the InNegev technology incubator, explore why Israel is so far behind in meeting its climate change goals and the potential of its technology to help bridge the gap. A report released in March by the state comptroller raised a red flag on Israel's alarming lack of progress in addressing the country's climate crisis. Comptroller Matanyahu Englman and his team highlighted the government's failure to  - reduce greenhouse gas emissions,  - take preventive measures against global temperature rise,  - adopt climate change risk management policies,  - address economic and financial concerns, and  - establish a suitable framework for tackling climate issues. So, why should you care about Israel's growing climate tech innovation? Cherni and Rubinstein share insights. Finally, Hoffman synchs with Israeli tech and marketing enthusiast Yoel Israel, the founder of IsraelTech. He talks about how social media is changing the way the tech community communicates and the role his team hopes to play in the transformation.

24 APR 2024 · In this week’s episode of Inside Israeli Innovation, Maayan Hoffman kicks off the show with a conversation with RealEye Co-Founder and CEO Kevin Cohen, who delves into its cutting-edge technology to detect, identify, and rapidly extract threats, vulnerabilities, fraudulent activity, distinctive personas, and suspicious activities in the areas of law enforcement, intelligence, law enforcement, military ane cross-border activity. Can this Tel Aviv-based intelligence and security venture stop terrorists before they attack? Then, we talk to two Israeli-founded insurance technology companies that are revolutionizing the industry in the United States. Next Insurance is a standout insurtech company founded in 2016 by Guy Goldstein, Alon Huri, and Nissim Tapiro. It has over 500,000 clients and coverage for more than 1,300 types of businesses. We talked with Tapiro.  Healthee is a pioneering startup transforming how employees engage with their medical benefits. The company recently secured an impressive $32 million in Series A funding. We talked to co-founder and CEO Guy Benjamin. Finally, the flagship programs of the 8200 Alumni Association combine forces and launch a new cycle amid the Gaza war. Hear from Adi Nechemia, Managing Director at 8200 For Startups by EISP, and Leehe Friedman, Managing Director of 8200 Impact,

17 APR 2024 · In this week’s episode of Inside Israeli Innovation, Maayan Hoffman takes listeners all over the innovation landscape. We start with a conversation with Michael Fertik, managing director and founder of Heroic Ventures, who shares his insights on investing in Israel during the Gaza war. We discuss the challenges and opportunities of investing in Israeli startups during geopolitical tensions. Fertik highlights the resilience of the Israeli high-tech industry despite adversity but does note a decline in new Israeli startups and startup investments in Israel. However, Fertik says that despite warnings, risks and rockets, he remains “bullish” on Israel’s economy and encourages others to invest, too.  We then talk to Cplus, a company that has developed a new type of dynamic textile capable of responding to environmental and physiological cues. We don’t want to give it all away, but your clothing might one day know more about how you feel than you do. We also speak to Optimove, a company specializing in personalized marketing using artificial intelligence and big data. The company’s CEO, Pini Yakuel, talks about how to effectively market to existing clients, especially during times of crisis.  Then, we wrap up with a conversation with Ari Ben Dror, vice president of sustainability and operations at the Good Food Institute Israel, about the growing food technology landscape in the Jewish state. 

10 APR 2024 · This week on Inside Israeli Innovation, Maayan Hoffman explores the latest trends in cybersecurity in Israel against the backdrop of Cybertech Global Tel Aviv. Then, she talks to an organization helping small businesses navigate crises and build economic resilience. Finally, she dives into an interview with an Israeli company aiding financial institutions with communication compliance for transparency and investor protection.  Cyber Industry Despite facing a funding challenge, the cyber sector, as revealed in a study by Cybertech Global and IVC, continues to lead Israel's high-tech industry. The report disclosed that cyber exits in 2023 reached an impressive $7.1 billion. However, funding for cyber companies experienced a dip to $2.38 billion, the lowest in five years. Ogen: Transformative Impact Sagi Balasha, the CEO of Ogen, a social lending enterprise, shares heartwarming stories of how the organization's interest-free or low-interest loans have transformed the lives of low- and middle-income Israelis. These loans have not only aided in their recovery but also paved the way for their prosperity. The organization has set an ambitious $100 million goal for its Emergency War Relief Fund to assist 250,000 Israelis, including farmers, reserve soldiers, and small businesses. Shield: Compliance Monitoring Regulations require financial institutions to monitor employee communication for legal and ethical compliance. Shield is using artificial intelligence and natural language processing to analyze human communication and detect anomalies or policy violations. And, according to its founder, Shiran Weitzman, this is only the beginning. He predicts a future where companies must monitor employee communications beyond financial compliance, including sexual harassment and bullying. How do employees feel about this? Tune in to find out.

3 APR 2024 · In this week's episode of Inside Israeli Innovation, join Maayan Hoffman as she delves into the world of artificial intelligence with two insightful guests. First up is Oded Vainas, the director of Data, AI, and Core Engineering at EverC, who shares expertise on using AI to identify high-risk merchants selling counterfeit products online. Discover the innovative strategies and technologies driving this crucial aspect of e-commerce security. In addition, Atad Peled, partner at Red Dot Capital Partners, joins the conversation to explore AI's broader impact on business and society. Peled discusses Israel's capabilities and challenges in AI alongside its applications across the high-tech industry. Peled also brings a unique perspective as a former professional tennis player, linking sports lessons to self-improvement and investing.

31 MAR 2024 · In the latest episode of Inside Israeli Innovation, we delve into groundbreaking Israeli technology that could prevent road accidents. Join Maayan Hoffman and Jonathan Matus, founder and CEO of Fairmatic, as they explore how technology is reshaping the insurance industry, focusing on risk assessment, driver safety, and promoting safe driving practices. Matus highlights the potential of using insurance incentives to enhance road safety.  Plus, get insight into the recent navigation disturbances affecting over 1,500 Eastern European aircraft, featuring excerpts from an interview with former head of the National Cyber Directorate, Yigal Unna. 

20 MAR 2024 · Join us this week on Inside Israeli Innovation as Maayan Hoffman and special guest Noa Srebrnik, CEO of CitrusX, tackle the world of artificial intelligence (AI). Gain valuable insight into responsible AI development and execution.  Then, in honor of Women’s Month, discover how Srebrnik overcame gender bias in tech and her insights on creating a more inclusive workplace.  Also on this episode:  - Nvidia debuts its Blackwell graphics processing unit at its annual event in California, which is based on Israeli technology. - Itai Margalit, area vice president for Salesforce Israel, tells Inside Israeli Innovation why AI “could be dangerous.”

13 MAR 2024 · In the latest episode of Inside Israeli Innovation, we dive into the dynamic intersection of cloud security, artificial intelligence, and global cybersecurity trends.  Host Maayan Hoffman sits down with Gil Geron, CEO of Orca Security, who sheds light on the evolving cloud landscape in Israel and globally. Learn about the geopolitical shifts influencing data localization trends. From rising tensions to ensuring data sovereignty, Geron says nations worldwide are redefining their approaches to data management.  Geron dissects governments' escalating use of technology, which brings heightened cybersecurity risks. He says the stakes are high, as cyber-attacks can have severe financial and life-threatening consequences.  Tune in to Inside Israeli Innovation to explore the ever-evolving cloud landscape.

6 MAR 2024 · In this week’s episode of Inside Israeli Innovation, join Maayan Hoffman, Deputy CEO of Strategy and Innovation for the Jerusalem Post, Aviv Canaani, VP of Marketing and Sales at Datarails, and Lisa Bennett, CMO at Kaltura, as they delve into the challenges of maintaining business continuity amidst geopolitical tensions and conflicts. Discover how these industry leaders navigated the complexities of relocating and adapting to new circumstances while emphasizing the crucial balance between delivering results and caring for employees. Later in the episode, the group explores the dynamic nature of marketing in the tech industry. They share insights on how marketing strategies have evolved in response to technological advancements, market changes, and the growing need for innovation. Tune in to get a glimpse into the spirit driving Israeli tech forward.

28 FEB 2024 · In this week's episode of Inside Israeli Innovation, Maayan Hoffman and Alon Leibovich, managing director at Intel Ignite, dive into what it's like to develop a startup during a crisis. Leibovich shares his journey from being the founder and CEO of a startup serving 50 Fortune 500 clients to facing a sudden lawsuit by Facebook. Learn how he built a "work cabinet" of trusted advisors – legal people, crisis managers and community experts – to tackle the ongoing challenges. Discover Leibovich's insights on navigating crises like the Gaza War, emphasizing clear vision, narrative control, and positive stakeholder communication. And even in times of peace, entrepreneurs face significant stress. Leibovich offers practical advice on stress management, from therapy and exercise to meditation and breathing exercises. Tune in for an episode packed with resilience-building strategies and real-world experiences.