"Last year the industry had a big party - now there is a hangover and bills need to be paid"

"In times of crisis, the best startups grow and they will continue to grow, both in 2024 and 2025, after the recession will hopefully end. However, for late stage startups it will be more difficult. 2022 was the beginning, and 2023 - so say the experts - will be even more difficult," said Sivan Shamri Dahan, Managing Partner at Qumra Capital.

Shamri Dahan was speaking at a panel of industry experts moderated by Noa Gadot from CTech, which took place on Wednesday as part of the Roadshow event by Poalim Hi-Tech and Calcalist. The panel also included Irit Kahan, Partner and head of DTCP Israel, Adi Hoorvitch Lavi, VP Growth & Investments at Poalim Hi-Tech, and Adi Gozes, Partner at Entrée Capital. The topics discussed included the changes in the market, as well as some unique issues regarding diversity and inclusion.

When asked about the changes affecting the parameters to which funds are evaluating their investments, Hoorvitch Lavi, replied: "In terms of the areas of investment, there are new areas such as quantum computing, climatetech and spacetech that are of interest to investors today." In terms of the nature and structure of the startups, according to Hoorvitch Lavi, investors will continue to look for good teams, because the composition of the team in early-stage startups is still the most important thing.

Adi Gozes, Partner at Entrée Capital, noted: "In the growth stage, investors are more oriented towards good business, and it is the same in early stages. We have our thesis which is based on a good team, big market opportunities, right timing, and differentiated tech, and that hasn't changed. Obviously, as the company grows, we are now looking for efficiency metrics."

The fact that the four representatives in the panel were women raised the question of how important gender diversity is in the industry and what they are doing to promote it.

Irit Kahan, Partner, Head of DTCP Israel, replied with enthusiasm: “One way is to create an ecosystem and network for female founders in the industry. Sivan and myself are managing a program called Women's Founders Forum, which takes 10-15 female CEO founders and provides them with content, mentoring, connections, and a framework for their acceleration and empowerment."

You can watch the full panel in the video above.