Mind the Tech NY 2025
Mind the Tech NY 2025: Israeli innovation and global investors take center stage
Calcalist and Bank Leumi’s annual conference returns to New York for the seventh time, spotlighting high-tech resilience, investment opportunities, and the future of AI-driven entrepreneurship. Tech, VC, and business leaders will gather for panels, lectures, and networking events.
New opportunities and challenges facing the high-tech industry will take center stage at Mind the Tech New York 2025, the seventh annual conference organized by Calcalist and Bank Leumi, taking place on March 25-26 in New York. Under the theme Innovate, Deliver, Impact, senior executives, investors, and entrepreneurs from Israel and the United States will gather for discussions, professional panels, networking events, and roundtables. The event will explore the future of the industry, new investment opportunities, the strengthening of business ties between the two countries, and leading technological trends in what is shaping up to be a pivotal year.
“At Calcalist’s last conference in New York a year ago, I said that Israel’s 'stock' had taken and would continue to take painful hits, but we recommended against shorting it,” said Calcalist publisher Yoel Esteron. “Investing in Israel, especially now, is a smart investment that will bear wonderful fruit. In 2025, our recommendation is even stronger, as will be demonstrated and emphasized at the conference.”
Bank Leumi CEO Hanan Friedman added, “Despite the many challenges and the ongoing war, the past year has been one of the most successful for Israeli high-tech. One of the main reasons is the Israeli entrepreneurial spirit, which is characterized by the ability to quickly adapt to changing situations and push forward with new initiatives amid challenges. This year, we are coming to New York to showcase this unique spirit, which has also been shaped by entrepreneurs’ experiences on the battlefield, and to ensure it continues to grow.” Alongside Friedman, LeumiTech CEO Maya Eisen Zafrir will also participate in the conference.
The Mind the Tech NY 2025 conference will focus on the challenges facing Israeli high-tech and the dilemmas shaping the global technology sector. Topics will range from the recovery of Israel’s industry and economy and the road to an increasingly stable security situation to the rapid integration of AI into all aspects of life and shifting policies from the White House. The conference will highlight Israeli innovation as a key factor in strengthening economic resilience during times of crisis and will examine the intersection of artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and human capital.
This year, the conference will be structured around three main plenary sessions. The morning session, Innovate, will showcase the ten most promising Israeli growth companies, as selected in collaboration with Qumra Capital. Now in its sixth year, this initiative identifies companies with the potential to break barriers and take leading positions in their respective global markets.
The second plenary, Deliver, will feature lectures, discussions, and panels with top Israeli and American executives, entrepreneurs, financial professionals, and investors. Topics will include the biggest challenges facing high-tech, the impact of shifting political and economic landscapes, the industry’s most promising sectors, and AI’s transformative role across industries.
The final plenary, Impact, will focus on how technological innovation can contribute to a better global future and the role of responsible, ethical business leadership. This session, in collaboration with Yazamiyot, led by Hilla Ovil-Brenner, will highlight women shaping the future of technology. The winner of Yazamiyot’s annual competition will also be announced.
The second day of the conference will be dedicated to networking events, including a breakfast hosted by Israeli Mapped in NY, founded by Guy Franklin, bringing together entrepreneurs and investors. Additional meetings will be held for finance professionals, local investors, and senior members of the Jewish community, with support from Microsoft, Valley Bank, and Leumi. The conference will conclude with a closing cocktail event.
Once again this year, the conference delegation will include a select group of young startups, “The Dream Team,” chosen in collaboration with Showcase IL. Ahead of the trip, the selected entrepreneurs will participate in an intensive bootcamp designed to prepare them for the U.S. market. The workshop will include guidance from top experts in business strategy, investor pitching, marketing, and U.S. regulatory compliance. In New York, the entrepreneurs will be given direct access to industry leaders, senior investors, and strategic partners, as well as an exclusive roadshow featuring one-on-one meetings with decision-makers from VCs, private investors, and global corporations. Additionally, the companies will benefit from extensive media exposure, ongoing professional mentorship, and a powerful network that will accelerate their growth in the U.S. market.
Among the foreign investors participating in the conference’s main plenary session are representatives from some of the most significant and influential funds in the United States. Shaun Maguire, a partner at Sequoia Capital, is a strong supporter of Israel and at the forefront of investments in defense-tech, one of today’s hottest fields. Maguire’s mission is to identify and nurture transformative startups and to advance Sequoia’s vision of supporting companies that shape the future of technology.
Another prominent investor is David Haber, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, the VC giant that recently raised a $7.2 billion fund focused on AI-based and gaming startups. In his role at the firm, Haber supports innovative ventures and ensures that Andreessen Horowitz remains a leader in driving the next wave of global innovation.
Ira Robbins, CEO of Valley Bank, visited Israel in the past year and personally, along with Valley National, raised donations for organizations such as Magen David Adom and United Hatzalah, supported the high-tech emergency operations center, and participated in funding the Hostages and Missing Families Forum’s campaign in Times Square.
Ruben Falk, Head of Generative AI and Machine Learning for Capital Markets at AWS, Amazon’s cloud computing platform that provides cloud services to startups and tech companies, is responsible for bridging AI with finance. He leads the development of advanced machine learning solutions, shaping the future of capital markets, and empowering organizations to leverage generative AI for their needs.
Throughout the conference, experienced Israeli and American executives and entrepreneurs will share insights from their journeys to success. Udi Mokady, Chairman and Founder of CyberArk, leads the cybersecurity giant, which currently holds the highest market value among Israeli public high-tech companies at over $20 billion. To strengthen its position as a leader in identity management solutions for organizations, CyberArk acquired the U.S.-based company Venafi for $1.5 billion about a year ago. In early February of this year, it announced another strategic acquisition, purchasing the American company Zilla for $165 million.
Yaki Noyman, CEO of renewable energy company Doral, is currently overseeing a massive $1.6 billion investment by the company in Indiana. Noyman leads the company’s strategy, which focuses on growth driven by the increasing demand for energy from data centers and artificial intelligence, as well as the integration of local communities into the company’s projects.
Adi Tatarko, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Houzz, is considered one of the most successful Israeli entrepreneurs in the world, having revolutionized the home design industry with the platform she created. Under her leadership, Houzz has become the world’s leading platform for homeowners and professionals, redefining how we plan, design, and renovate spaces.
Meir Amiel, Chief Technology Officer of C360 Applications at Salesforce, is the highest-ranking Israeli at the American software and cloud services giant. Amiel serves as the technology lead for all company applications and spearheads the corporation’s strategy for understanding and shaping how AI transforms organizations and drives breakthroughs in customer experience.
Dean Leitersdorf, Co-Founder and CEO of Decart, leads one of the most intriguing and rapidly growing companies in the GenAI space. With its meteoric rise, Decart is at the forefront of groundbreaking developments in AI, shaping the future of technology. In a recent interview, Leitersdorf said, “What we are doing is building an AI empire, and we are not willing for Israel to be left behind.”
Adam Singolda, Founder and CEO of Taboola, was one of the first Israeli entrepreneurs to leverage AI for financial success. Taboola, the content recommendation giant he founded, is currently traded at a valuation of approximately $1.4 billion and employs around 2,000 people across 25 offices worldwide, including 700 in Israel.
Sanaz Yashar, Co-Founder and CEO of Zafran Security, established the startup alongside two colleagues who, like her, are alumni of elite IDF technology units. The company focuses on neutralizing cyber threats in organizations. Yashar was born in Iran and fled the country with her family after publishing an article critical of the regime in her school newspaper. Zafran Security raised over $70 million in 2024.
Steve Singh, Executive Chairman and CEO of Spotnana, is a veteran entrepreneur in the travel industry. After selling Concur, a business travel management platform, to SAP for approximately $8.3 billion, he now leads Spotnana, a company developing advanced technological solutions for corporate travel.
Zack Levine, VP and General Manager of Checkout Israel, chose to lead the company’s Israeli branch after years in senior management roles in the U.S. The Israeli office also serves as Checkout’s global R&D hub. The global payment solutions provider recently raised $1 billion in a funding round at a valuation of $40 billion.
Lital Leshem, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Protego Ventures, leads a newly established venture capital fund dedicated exclusively to investments in military-use technologies. The fund secured investment commitments of $70 million within just two weeks and is expected to close at $200 million. Leshem was one of the founders of the startup Carbyne and, in recent years, served as the representative of the American defense company Blackwater in the UAE even before the signing of the Abraham Accords.
Yael Grossman, Commander and Brigadier General of Lotem, the IDF’s Technology and Intelligence unit, is responsible for all communication systems and information security within the military. Her unit develops specialized software for the army’s operational systems, including the public alert system for rocket and missile attacks.
Ido Biger, EVP and Chief Information Officer at Delek US, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, oversees the company’s digital and technological operations. Delek US operates four refineries in the United States, dozens of terminals, hundreds of gas stations, a fleet of trucks, rail logistics, and is also involved in renewable energy technology development. Additionally, the company collaborates with the U.S. Department of Defense and the Israeli Ministry of Energy on cybersecurity initiatives.
Other senior executives from the finance and investment sectors participating in the conference include: John Caplan, CEO of Payoneer, Ori Kaufman Gafter, Head of International and Tech Banking at Valley Bank; Shira Eting, Partner at Vintage Investment Partners; Jenny Fielding, Managing Partner at Everywhere Ventures; Tali Miller, Partner at Avid Ventures; Tal Barnoach, General Partner at Disruptive VC; Yuichi Kimura from the investment arm of Japan’s telecom giant NTT; Daniel Shinar, Founder and Managing Partner at Claltech, and others.
The conference delegation will also include Moshe Lion, Mayor of Jerusalem, who aims to strengthen ties between Israel’s capital and New York, home to the world’s largest Jewish population. Gidi Mark, CEO of Taglit-Birthright, will also attend, representing the program that connects Jewish youth aged 18-26 from around the world to Israel to strengthen their Jewish identity and connection to the country. Additionally, Prof. Noa Eliakim-Raz, Head of the Returned Hostages Department at Beilinson Hospital, will participate. Her team provided medical care to the five female IDF spotters released from Hamas captivity after more than a year and three months.
A key focus of the conference will be the breakthrough of generative AI and its business applications. Discussions and presentations will also explore technology investment strategies, addressing how investors navigate rapid market shifts and identifying growth opportunities for Israeli and American companies. Special attention will be given to the role of women in the tech industry and the importance of diversity in driving innovation and shaping the future of the tech sector. Panels and meetings will highlight how the next generation of female entrepreneurs is reshaping the future and the necessity of diverse technological innovation as a tool for building a better world.
Alon Haimovich, GM of Microsoft Israel, will represent the company’s efforts in driving innovation and cutting-edge technology development, with a focus on the unique Israeli market. Sivan Shamri Dahan, Managing Partner at Qumra Capital, will represent the firm at an event showcasing the 10 most promising growth companies. KPMG’s delegation will include Julia Abramovich, Head of American Markets, as well as Dina Pasca-Raz, Partner and Head of Technology at KPMG Israel.
Other confirmed participants in the conference include Dina Ben Tal Ganancia, CEO of El Al; Gal Krubiner, Co-Founder and CEO of fintech company Pagaya; Avi Balashnikov, Chairman of the Israel Export Institute and Lauder Employment Centers; Leah Wapner, Secretary General of the Israeli Medical Association; and Nicole Priel, an Israeli investor.
Also attending are Dean Sysman, Co-Founder and CEO of Axonius; Yaki Gani, musician, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder of Stuff; Iya Magen, CEO of Talma Travel Solutions; Jessica Beck, Co-Founder and CEO of Alfred, a digital services platform for renters that recently raised $125 million; and Yotam Segev, Co-Founder and CEO of Cyera, the cybersecurity unicorn that doubled its valuation to $3 billion in just six months, among others.
