Most Promising Startups - 2025
From independent creation to financial independence
Then came my daughter’s comment: “This guy and his videos taught me much more than you.” I thought to myself: Wow—imagine how far he could have gone if he’d had the ability to instantly adapt and distribute his content to French, German, or Brazilian audiences with the click of a button. And that’s how my seventh venture was born—Linguana.
“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” — Mark Twain.
It all started with a car ride with my daughter, who asked to watch a video by The Food Theorists exploring whether someone could survive for decades inside a locked supermarket. The presenter explained how, through smart prioritization, recycling, and even indoor food cultivation, a person could potentially survive for up to 50 years. I was amazed—not only by the idea itself but also by the way this unknown creator had captivated me, my daughter, and over 21 million other viewers using only authentic content, a home camera, stock images, and impressive storytelling. Even more surprising was that a modest investment—mainly creativity and a few hundred dollars—had generated tens of thousands in returns.
Then came my daughter’s comment: “This guy and his videos taught me much more than you.” I thought to myself: Wow—imagine how far he could have gone if he’d had the ability to instantly adapt and distribute his content to French, German, or Brazilian audiences with the click of a button.
And that’s how my seventh venture was born—Linguana. I launched it with partners to spotlight the unexpected rise of digital content creation by “ordinary” people—a phenomenon I’ve fallen in love with, for all the right reasons.
The Rise of Niche Content
Most of us have been creating digital content—photos, videos—for a long time. Initially, it was just a way to share with friends or stand out a little. Getting likes and comments is fun, a small applause from people we may not even know. But beyond ego, it’s a powerful way to express oneself. The world is curious and appreciates authenticity. Today, content that would never have made it to commercial TV is thriving online. When content is high-quality, authentic, and presented well, the algorithm knows how to find the right audience. And, yes—it can be profitable. Independence, indeed.
Talented teachers who used to impact just a classroom can now reach the world. A well-prepared lesson on YouTube becomes timeless and appreciated globally—whether it’s linear algebra, Kabbalah, guided meditation, traditional remedies, or how to prepare a Polish chicken.
Technology, scalable business models, and billions of viewers with evolving habits have opened the door to a new path—one that bypasses the traditional study-job-retirement pipeline. It’s not without competition, trolls, and mistakes, but it offers real opportunity—especially for professionals with experience or an interesting life story. Many of today’s breakout creators are in their 40s or 50s and doing exceptionally well.
Here are just a few Israeli creators doing exactly that:
Aline Shevkis, founder of Israel with Aline, is a new immigrant from Brazil who shares her visits to Christian holy sites—in Portuguese. Her audience in Brazil has grown dramatically, and she is now a YouTube success.
Yaron Weisman, a graduate of IDF Unit 8200, offers communication-focused advice for the dating world. His videos support online courses that attract thousands.
ICM Garage films engaging auto repair tutorials. The staff’s energy and authenticity make mechanics both approachable and entertaining.
Nir Eidelman teaches sales strategy in Hebrew—often while walking down the street with an old-school headset. He also runs a closed community for aspiring salespeople.
Oren Cahanovitc of travelingisrael explains the Israeli-Arab conflict in depth, with references and sources. In peacetime, his videos boost awareness for the tours he offers.
Micah Toll, a mechanical engineer and recent U.S. immigrant, reviews electric bikes and quirky tech gadgets—both standard and unusual.
Ran Levi, writer and engineer, hosts the popular podcast Making History, which merges science and storytelling. He even exited with it as a business.
And of course, Nuseir Yassin, better known as Nas Daily. This charismatic Israeli Arab from Arraba has been producing daily videos on religion, economics, and culture for years, attracting tens of millions of followers. His content reminds us—literally, via the shirt he wears—that “the battery will run out one day.”
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Why a Startup Again?
Maybe it’s karma, or maybe it’s being from a small, embattled country—but like my previous ventures (Borderfree, now part of Global-e, and Payoneer), Linguana also aims to break down borders.
Most of the world can’t access or understand digital content in its original language. Translating with human teams is expensive and inefficient. But AI, especially when trained on deep language datasets, now makes it possible to translate at scale—so well that viewers can’t tell the difference from a studio production.
Building such a platform and creating value for creators, users, and investors isn’t easy. The technological challenges are greater than I initially thought. Like in many areas of AI, there’s a huge gap between “almost works” and “actually works.” Bridging that gap—culturally and linguistically—is where the hard work is.
Startup life is risky. The stats are scary. But if we listen carefully to the market and remain agile, I believe we can succeed. Working with a passionate, talented, and driven team—without bureaucracy or politics—is a privilege. I honestly tried, but I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time.
Yuval Tal is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Linguana.
