The Israeli-American dual ecosystem empowering Israeli tech

"The bridge between our two special countries holds enormous opportunities that allow growth and development to take place," said Maya Eisen-Zafrir, CEO of LeumiTech, at Calcalist and Bank Leumi’s Mind the Tech New York conference.

Eisen-Zafrir opened her remarks with a personal angle: "Being here today in New York at the conference dedicated to Israeli high-tech is more important than ever, and for me, it is also more emotional than ever. The connection between Israel and the US has personal meaning for me; it has always been a part of my identity. I grew up in Jerusalem to an American mother from Cleveland, Ohio, and my childhood was imbued with American culture, discipline, and values... for better or for worse, this led to the understanding from a young age that being bi-national was an opportunity."

This led her to call the connection between the two countries a "shared ecosystem": "The largest market in the world, built on the principles of a free market, entrepreneurship, and economic growth that led to the creation of unprecedented capital and the tech giants, meets the densest nation in terms of the number of initiatives and entrepreneurs that carve its path in the world market and is naturally inclined towards the American one. This connection is one plus one which equals three.

"The Israeli tech ecosystem saw the United States as the main target market from day one. Israeli tech is concentrated almost exclusively in the U.S., and this often leads to Israeli entrepreneurs relocating to the U.S., where they become an integral part of the American economy. The American market, on the other hand, benefits from the diversity that Israeli entrepreneurs bring to the American economy. Israelis are known for their ability to adapt and initiate, and they bring new perspectives and face different problems under extreme conditions just as we see these days. This shared ecosystem has proven to be extremely successful and profitable for both nations, and Nvidia, Mellanox, Palo Alto, and Cisco are just a few of the examples."

Eisen-Zafrir addressed the investors in the audience: "Look at the Israeli entrepreneurs. Five months into the most extreme times we've experienced, and yet Israeli tech continues to provide the goods. The reservists are back to work, and they're hungrier than ever."

Regarding LeumiTech's work, she said: "We decided to expand our collaboration with Valley Bank, thus creating a stronger connection between the Israeli and American ecosystems and serving as a platform for entrepreneurs to promote international economic growth.

"Our big goal this year is to return to normality and face one of the biggest challenges in the world. We approach this goal with respect, but also with a large dose of optimism. The conviction and faith that are in this room and in the shared ecosystem have the power not despite but because of everything that is happening around us."

You can watch the full remarks in the video above.