Miami 2024"Women need role models and communities to succeed. Then we'll see more female entrepreneurs"
Miami 2024
"Women need role models and communities to succeed. Then we'll see more female entrepreneurs"
Hilla Ovil-Brenner, CEO and founder of the Yazamiyot organization, a platform for women entrepreneurs, was speaking at the Calcalist and Bank Leumi Miami conference. Maya Eisen Zafrir, CEO of LeumiTech: "My recommendation to young female entrepreneurs is to always be active and listen to your inner instinct. Don't stop and wait for approval from the surroundings."
"We are excited to promote female founders in Israel and worldwide and optimistic about building relationships with the Miami ecosystem," said Hilla Ovil-Brenner, CEO and founder of Yazamiyot, the largest community for women entrepreneurs in Israel, with approximately 8,000 members. Yazamiyot works to promote female entrepreneurship and increase the number of women in high-tech ventures. Speaking at the "Champions of Innovation" panel during the Calcalist and Bank Leumi Miami conference, Ovil-Brenner added, "Women need role models and communities to succeed. We believe this will move the needle, and we will begin to see many more female entrepreneurs leading startups."
The event was opened by Ayal Stern and Lior Halabi, founders of the Miami-Israel Collective, an organization that brings together high-tech entrepreneurs, managers, and investors from Israel and Miami to foster meaningful connections between the two innovative ecosystems.
Israeli Olympic medalist Peter Paltchik also participated in the event, discussing the parallels between judo, sports, business success, and high-tech. "I always saw myself as an entrepreneur," said Paltchik. "Over the years, judo became my focus, but you can’t make a living from judo alone. That’s why monetization is important. Medals look nice on the wall, but they need to translate into income. I had to think outside the box to make a living by building a business model leveraging my exposure, including connections with the high-tech community."
Paltchik explained how he turned his achievements into opportunities, such as delivering inspirational lectures, securing sponsorships, and even modeling. "When you win a medal, it’s like an exit in the high-tech world. You must think about branding and seizing new opportunities."
Among the panel participants was Inbar Haham, co-founder of INcapital Ventures, who emphasized the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. "To be successful, you need to get out of your comfort zone. That’s what works for me," she said. She also highlighted the strong technological ties between Israel and the U.S., adding, "Miami is now emerging as a tech hub, though it’s still in the early stages compared to San Francisco."
Noa Tamir, CEO of Calcalist, shared her philosophy for success: "There are three things you must remember every morning. First, believe in what you’re doing. Second, stay focused, especially during challenging times like war, when attention naturally shifts elsewhere. Third, be kind to others."
Maya Eisen Zafrir, CEO of LeumiTech, shared her personal experiences and advice for women entrepreneurs. "I believe women possess qualities like mental fortitude and multitasking that enable them to handle challenges effectively," she said. "My advice to young female entrepreneurs is to stay active and trust their instincts. Don’t wait for external approval."
Zafrir stressed the importance of exposing Israeli high-tech to global markets, particularly the U.S. "We’re thrilled to see so much appreciation and interest in Israeli entrepreneurship, especially in these times."
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Ayal Stern (left) and Lior Halabi (center), founders of the Miami_Israel Collective
(Photo: Orel Cohen)
Ifat Bechor, CEO of Unistream, an organization that educates youth in entrepreneurship, especially in Israel’s periphery, encouraged participants to take initiative. "It’s time to make a change, and you don’t have to be a founder to take the first step," she said, adding, "collaboration is always a good idea."
Ori Tamuz, CEO of DoorLoop, which he founded in 2019, shared his entrepreneurial journey. As a serial entrepreneur, Tamuz has founded three companies, managing his first two without raising external capital and selling them to private investment funds. His previous company, which developed software for law firms, was acquired by the Alpine Software Group (ASG), which also led DoorLoop’s previous funding round.
Having lived in Miami for 15 years, Tamuz praised the city’s development. "Miami was once considered the ‘Eilat of the USA,’ but it has grown tremendously. It provides startups with excellent exposure to the U.S. market," he said.
Tamuz highlighted Miami’s advantages, including its climate and affordability. "Our offices are just 100 meters from the beach. It’s an amazing city, and it’s much more enjoyable to live here than in many other places in the U.S. Miami allowed me to establish two startups at a fraction of the cost compared to New York or San Francisco."
When asked about Miami’s distance from major tech hubs like Palo Alto, Tamuz replied, "If you have a great business, you’ll be found anywhere. If I could start over, I’d launch everything here in Miami."
