Israeltech

Mossad 101’s first season was made on a shoestring. Sharon Gelbaum-Shpan saw that budget math up close at Reshet, and now she sees it in every Israeli startup.Tech companies run on cloud platforms and AI, yet many founders still get their financials as a spreadsheet weeks after the month closes. Sharon Gelbaum-Shpan, Partner and CMO, and Yafit Keret, CPA, CFO, and CEO of ERB Proximo, are building a hybrid CFO model that pairs experienced finance leaders with CashHero, the firm’s financial platform.They join Yoel Israel to explain how AI is changing the CFO role, why Israel’s monthly bookkeeping rule helps startups manage runway, what Israeli TV budgets reveal about building lean, and how a 15-minute break turned a vendor meeting into a merger. They also share how they judge whether a founder can be trusted, and the early warning signs that a relationship won’t last.Hosted by Yoel Israel---00:00 - The Evolution of the Modern CFO01:12 - ERB Proximo & Tech in Startup Finance04:43 - What is a Hybrid CFO?07:02 - Moving Past Excel: The Strategic CFO10:50 - Startup CFO vs. Enterprise CFO14:10 - Israeli Reporting vs. US Bureaucracy18:05 - The Fauda Effect: Winning on Tight Budgets24:22 - The ERB & Proximo Merger Story32:20 - Raising Capital & Pitching Investors in the AI Era33:27 - Investor Due Diligence & Partnership Red Flags---Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible!IsraelTech is proud to partner with Deel, the global all-in-one HR and payroll platform for teams in 150+ countries.To support the show, please go check out our partner Deel at: https://www.deel.com/israeltechyt/This episode is also supported by Rhydlwood, an online learning environment where early-stage founders build the business side of their company alongside the product. Learn more at https://rhydlwood.comIsraelTech is also proud to partner with Wadi Digital. Wadi drives growth for B2B tech, cybersecurity, and SaaS companies with expert-led performance marketing, turning strategy into real results. Check them out at https://wadidigital.com/---Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9-4044-458e-8b61-3bf45783da65Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feedX (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTechLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/israeltechhqFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsraelTechHQInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/israeltechHQ/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@israeltechHQSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1RJk3kRvsumMNfwZ2Follow Yoel on your fav social media feedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoeltisrael/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoeltisrael/X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/YoelTIsraelFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/yoeltisrael

In December 2025, Israel recognized Somaliland, a Muslim democracy in the Horn of Africa that has governed itself since 1991. For many Israelis, it was the first time they had heard of the country.Ahmed Abdlahi joins Yoel Israel to explain who Somalilanders are, how the country reclaimed its independence, and why it chose Israel as a partner. They cover the Berbera port, Turkey’s opposition, Somaliland’s relationships with Ethiopia, the UAE, and Taiwan, and the chances of US recognition. Ahmed also shares where he sees opportunities for Israeli tech, from drip irrigation and agricultural drones to data centers, fintech, and healthcare.Hosted by Yoel Israel---00:00 - Introduction & guest welcome02:02 - What is Somaliland? Culture & clan structure05:08 - Colonial history & independence in 196008:08 - Reclaiming independence in 1991 & Somalia collapse11:01 - Religion, democracy, & relations with Israel17:16 - Natural resources & economic strategic value18:40 - Defense, security ties, & regional diplomacy24:08 - Regional dynamics: Ethiopia, UAE, & Taiwan31:08 - Tech opportunities: Agritech, fintech, & data centers42:08 - Outro & closing thoughts---Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible!IsraelTech is proud to partner with Deel, the global all-in-one HR and payroll platform for teams in 150+ countries.To support the show, please go check out our partner Deel at: https://www.deel.com/israeltechyt/This episode is also supported by Rhydlwood, an online learning environment where early-stage founders build the business side of their company alongside the product. Learn more at https://rhydlwood.comIsraelTech is also proud to partner with Wadi Digital. Wadi drives growth for B2B tech, cybersecurity, and SaaS companies with expert-led performance marketing, turning strategy into real results. Check them out at https://wadidigital.com/---Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9-4044-458e-8b61-3bf45783da65Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feedX (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTechLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/israeltechhqFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsraelTechHQInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/israeltechHQ/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@israeltechHQSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1RJk3kRvsumMNfwZ2Follow Yoel on your fav social media feedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoeltisrael/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoeltisrael/X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/YoelTIsraelFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/yoeltisrael

Tom Granot started writing code when he was 12. Today he barely writes it at all. He spends his time helping deep tech founders figure out how to sell what their engineers built, and making YouTube videos about it.Tom, Founder of Syntax GTM, started as an engineer, built marketing from scratch at an early-stage deep tech startup, and now advises technical founders on go-to-market. He has strong opinions about Israel's B2B marketing scene, and he shares most of them here. Founders spend months selling a message they never tested. Marketers spread themselves across too many channels. And Israel, for all its engineering talent, still has no reliable way to train people who can sell deep tech, which is why so many startups hire an American marketer as soon as they close an A.Yoel and Tom also get into why Americans write better copy, how Israelis and Americans use AI differently, and Tom's theory that WhatsApp groups help explain why Israel is one of the heaviest per capita users of Claude.---Timestamps00:00 Preview03:20 How Syntax GTM started by accident13:10 Why go-to-market is backwards for deep tech16:20 Tom's problem with Israeli B2B marketing18:20 Why startups import US marketers after a Series A27:40 The best founders choose their VCs33:30 Why Americans write better marketing copy34:30 How Israelis and Americans use AI differently38:00 A Talpiot for go-to-market42:40 Why Israelis use Claude so much---Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible!IsraelTech is proud to partner with Deel, the global all-in-one HR and payroll platform for teams in 150+ countries.To support the show, please go check out our partner Deel at: https://www.deel.com/israeltechyt/This episode is also supported by Rhydlwood, an online learning environment where early-stage founders build the business side of their company alongside the product. Learn more at https://rhydlwood.comIsraelTech is also proud to partner with Wadi Digital. Wadi drives growth for B2B tech, cybersecurity, and SaaS companies with expert-led performance marketing, turning strategy into real results. Check them out at https://wadidigital.com/---Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9...Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feedX (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTechLinkedIn: / israel-tech Facebook: / israeltech48 Instagram: / israeltech48 TikTok: / israeltech48 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R...Follow Yoel on your fav social media feedInstagram: / yoeltisrael LinkedIn: / yoeltisrael X (Twitter): / yoeltisrael Facebook: / yoeltisrael

Some of the most profitable mobile games in the world were built in Israel, but the industry behind them is rarely mentioned when people talk about Israeli tech.Dan Bouzaglo, Founder & CEO of Snooze, is building his own and getting people talking. He is turning a solo game format into multiplayer, because he thinks that is where mobile gaming still has room to grow.Dan also hosts a Hebrew-language podcast for young founders, and he brought a lot from those conversations. He talks with Yoel about how online casinos and Forex shaped Israel's gaming industry, why Israeli tech found its footing in B2B, and why he pays attention when a founder says "I have to" instead of "I want to."Hosted by Yoel Israel---00:00 - Introduction & Welcome Dan Bouzaglo05:19 - Israeli Directness vs. American Communication07:16 - Dan's Journey: From Adversity to Game Dev08:46 - The Hidden Empire: Israel's Mobile Gaming Industry10:12 - Why Israeli Tech Excels at Monetization13:32 - How AI is Reshaping Game Development16:40 - The Psychology of PvP & Social Mechanics22:58 - Why Israel Focused on B2B Over B2C30:25 - Founder Psychology: What Drives Tech Entrepreneurs?36:52 - Building Snooze & The Future of Israeli Gaming---Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible!IsraelTech is proud to partner with Rhydlwood. Rhydlwood is an exclusive online business hub designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, focused on providing clarity, decision-making support, and sustainable growth.Check them out at Rhydlwood.comIsraelTech is also proud to partner with Deel, the global all-in-one HR and payroll platform for teams in 150+ countries.To support the show, please go check out our partner Deel at: https://www.deel.com/israeltechFinally, we’re proud to partner with Wadi Digital, Israel’s leading tech marketing agency.Learn more at WadiDigital.com---Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9... variableFollow IsraelTech on your fav social media feedX (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTechLinkedIn: / israel-techFacebook: / israeltechHQInstagram: / israeltechHQTikTok: / israeltechHQSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R...Follow Yoel on your fav social media:Instagram: / yoeltisraelLinkedIn: / yoeltisraelX [Twitter]: / yoeltisraelFacebook: / yoeltisrael

Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Eat before you go. Leave the backpack at home. Keep conversations to about seven minutes.Helena Baker, Founder of the English Speaking Network, has spent years running networking events in Israel, and she knows what separates people who leave with real connections from those who leave with nothing. In this episode of IsraelTech, she joins Yoel Israel to break down how to reach out on LinkedIn, what to ask for after a first meeting, and how Israeli founders can network their way to going global.We Discuss:Outreach: Writing LinkedIn messages that people want to answerThe Ask: Requesting introductions instead of jobs or clientsIn the Room: How to show up with confidence, even while job huntingGoing Abroad: Using your Israeli story to open doors in the USKnowing When to Stop: Why Helena closes what isn't workingIf networking hasn't been working for you, start here.Hosted by Yoel Israel---00:00 - Introduction & Highlights01:00 - Welcome & Introducing Helena Baker01:37 - Why Helena Founded ESN03:20 - How to Network as a New Immigrant09:26 - The Shift to Large-Scale & Mega Tech Events14:35 - Moving Upmarket: Partnering with C-Suite Leaders20:25 - The Power of Saying "No" and Curating Attendees23:44 - The Exact Formula for LinkedIn Outreach25:04 - The Biggest Networking Mistakes to Avoid41:51 - What's Next for ESN & Going Global---Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible!IsraelTech is proud to partner with Rhydlwood. Rhydlwood is an exclusive online business hub designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, focused on providing clarity, decision-making support, and sustainable growth.Check them out at Rhydlwood.comIsraelTech is also proud to partner with Deel, the global all-in-one HR and payroll platform for teams in 150+ countries. To support the show, please go check out our partner Deel at: https://www.deel.com/israeltechFinally, we’re proud to partner with Wadi Digital, Israel’s leading tech marketing agency.Learn more at WadiDigital.com---Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9... variableFollow IsraelTech on your fav social media feedX (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTechLinkedIn: / israel-tech Facebook: / israeltechHQ Instagram: / israeltechHQ TikTok: / israeltechHQSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R...Follow Yoel on your fav social media:Instagram: / yoeltisrael LinkedIn: / yoeltisrael X [Twitter]: / yoeltisrael Facebook: / yoeltisrael