Mind the Tech NY
"It is often only in hindsight that we realize how a chance encounter changed the course of our lives"
Ira Robbins, CEO of Valley Bank, was speaking at the Innovation @ NASDAQ event, held as part of the Mind the Tech NY 2025 conference.
“As we open an event like this, it's hard for us to truly know which sparks will ignite conversations and which connections will be forged here tonight. But from my own experience, it's often only in hindsight that we realize how a chance encounter, a brief conversation, or an unexpected introduction changed the course of our lives and influenced us in a profound way,” said Ira Robbins, CEO of Valley Bank, in his opening remarks at the Innovation @ NASDAQ event, held as part of the Mind the Tech NY 2025 conference by Calcalist and Bank Leumi. “My hope is that this evening will be filled with such moments – moments that only a few years from now we will look back on and understand just how significant they were and how they shaped the future of each and every one of you.
The event, which took place on Monday at the Nasdaq offices in Manhattan, brought together leaders from the Israeli and American high-tech industries, investors, and senior entrepreneurs. According to Robbins, the goal of the meeting was to encourage meaningful dialogue and create connections that would drive joint innovation between the ecosystems of the two countries. Robbins emphasized Valley Bank's commitment to serving as a financial bridge between Israel and the United States: "We are proud to host Innovation @ NASDAQ and serve as a bridge between the Israeli and American high-tech industries. As someone who has been accompanying Israeli companies for years, we understand the importance of quality connections and mutual learning between different markets."
Ori Kaufman Gafter, Head of International & Tech Banking at Valley Bank, highlighted the importance of the event for Israeli startups: "Working with Israeli startups means not only understanding their financial needs, but also recognizing their unique business requirements. We know how crucial it is to create relevant networking opportunities that can open significant doors for business growth in the U.S. and around the world. This event provides the perfect platform for that."
Valley Bank, which merged Leumi USA's operations into it in 2022, has become a key player in helping Israeli startups seeking to expand into the U.S. market. Its advantage lies in the fact that, in addition to being a long-standing American financial institution with hundreds of branches across the U.S., it has Hebrew-speaking teams experienced in working with Israeli companies.
Neal Kapur, Managing Partner at Valley Ventures, discussed Israel's unique position in the global innovation arena at the event: "Israel has consistently proven itself as a global hub for technological innovation. The density of talent relative to market size is unparalleled, creating exceptional investment opportunities. At Valley Ventures, we recognize this potential and invest both directly and through leading Israeli funds like The Garage. But beyond capital, successful investing is also about supporting founders as they scale. For Israeli entrepreneurs, expanding to the U.S. comes with unique challenges, and as an American investor, part of my role is to help bridge that gap. Events like this foster the right conversations, build trust, and create the networks that drive long-term success."
One of the bank’s significant assets is Valley Ventures, the investment fund that has previously invested in Israeli funds and companies. The fund’s managers, who were present at the event, reinforced the bank’s ability not only to provide advanced banking solutions but also to closely accompany companies in their growth stages and create strategic connections between investors and startups.
Valley Bank has special expertise in the technology field, with dedicated teams in New York, Silicon Valley, and Israel, lending to young startups, established companies, and venture capitalists. The goals of the event included creating quality interactions between leading players in the industry, strengthening business ties between Israel and the U.S., and utilizing the bank's extensive network to promote new investments.
