Inside Israeli Innovation Jerusalem Post Podcasts

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,

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.”