“Wiz’s $32B deal showed Tel Aviv startups can deliver massive exits”
The historic Google deal is fueling a surge of job applicants, investor enthusiasm, and startup ambition across Israel’s tech scene.
The aftershocks of the largest exit in Israeli history—the $32 billion acquisition of Wiz by Google—are already reshaping the local labor market. In addition to the company’s founders becoming billionaires, 1,800 employees received a collective $1 billion in retention bonuses—amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars per person. That rapid enrichment has reignited the imagination of entrepreneurs, investors, and tech workers. Suddenly, a massive Israeli exit no longer feels like a fantasy. For many, the path to it clearly runs through a startup.
“Since the announcement of the deal, we’ve seen a surge in applications from candidates both in Israel and abroad,” says Gal Tanchelson, SVP of Human Resources at cybersecurity unicorn Orca Security, which has raised $640 million to date and is considered Wiz’s main competitor.
“Anyone working in HR within startups is familiar with the ‘tsunami effect,’ where a wave of applicants hits following a major announcement—such as a funding round. The magnitude of this deal created an impact that has lasted for weeks,” she adds. According to Tanchelson, candidates are asking not only when Orca expects an exit, but also whether Wiz’s sale to one of the cloud giants will affect Orca’s trajectory.
This heightened interest is helping startups attract candidates who might previously have ignored their job postings. Tanchelson calls it the "Wiz Effect," describing it as a positive trend: “We’re meeting excellent candidates we might otherwise have missed.”
At Salt Security, another cybersecurity unicorn that has raised over $271 million, the effect is even more pronounced. “Wiz’s exit validated the idea that similar teams in Tel Aviv are capable of producing a massive exit,” says Ahuvy Mrad, VP of HR at Salt. “The sense that the dream is within reach is palpable. Candidates ask whether a secondary sale is planned, how many rounds we foresee before an exit, and what our long-term trajectory looks like. Many know that Assaf Rappaport [Wiz CEO and co-founder] is also an investor in Salt and played a role in introducing our co-founders.”
But this wave of interest comes with challenges. Recruiters must filter out those who are motivated purely by the prospect of a windfall. “We don’t want the conversation to revolve solely around exits,” Mrad says. “We’re still focused on growth and delivering value to some of the world’s largest organizations. Wiz’s exit was the result of years of focus and hard work. That’s what we look for in candidates too.”
The surge in startup enthusiasm isn’t limited to cybersecurity. “There’s a noticeable increase in interest in startups, especially those that are growing or in the public eye—like Wiz,” says Liat BenTora Shushan, Head of Career Development at AllJobs. “After a period marked by war and economic uncertainty, in which many preferred stable employers—corporations or defense companies—we’re seeing a shift. Success stories like this restore optimism and drive people to seek both challenge and meaning. That said, employment stability still matters, and many are looking for a balance between innovation and security.”
Biotech is also feeling the ripple effect. Immunai, which has raised $295 million, has seen a rise in candidate inquiries. “There’s a sense that people are actively looking for unicorns now,” says Chava Rothenberg, Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Immunai. “We’ve noticed more questions about financial strategy—timing of funding rounds, plans for IPO or M&A, who’s on the board. Some candidates were advised to ask these questions—it’s not necessarily coming from them organically.”
Still, Rothenberg says, candidates are drawn in by purpose. “Once the conversation shifts to the role and the impact we’re having—accelerating cancer drug development through AI—the sense of meaning kicks in. That’s what ultimately resonates.”
What to know about startup equity: lessons from the Wiz deal
The Wiz acquisition has also sharpened employee awareness around equity and stock options. According to Moran Chamsi, managing partner at the secondary fund Amplefields, understanding your equity package can be more important than the salary itself.
“Awareness around options has definitely risen,” he says. “But many employees still don’t fully grasp the fine print.”
Here are key factors candidates should consider when evaluating stock options:
1. It's not the quantity—it’s the percentage
Receiving 20,000 options may sound impressive, but it only matters in relation to the total number of company shares. If the company has 200 million shares outstanding, that’s just 0.01%. More senior positions—and earlier-stage startups—typically justify a higher percentage stake.
2. Type of options and tax treatment
In Israel, there is a difference between options under the capital gains 102 track that enjoy reduced or zero tax. Others may be taxed as regular income. Ask whether your options qualify and which trust company holds them.
3. Vesting schedule
Most options vest over time—often four years, with a one-year cliff. That means you receive 25% of your options only after completing one year, and the rest quarterly or annually thereafter. Leaving early could mean walking away from most of your grant.
4. Exit or IPO provisions
Check if your options include acceleration clauses in the event of an acquisition, allowing you to exercise them earlier and benefit from the sale.
5. Exercise price
This is the price you’ll pay to convert an option into a share. If the exercise price is $50 and the current share value is $60, you’re “in the money.” But if the company’s value falls, your options may become worthless.
6. What happens if you leave?
You typically have a limited window—often 90 days—to exercise vested options after departure. If you don’t act, they may expire.
7. Is there a secondary market?
Some companies allow employees to sell shares or options to secondary funds before an IPO or acquisition. That can be a meaningful source of liquidity, even without an exit.
