OpenAI Expands Israeli Footprint with Key Startup Leadership Hires
OpenAI is expanding its presence in Israel by hiring former AWS executive and Yess AI co-founder Ido Perlson, joining Moti Hadas to target local startups and compete with Anthropic.
Artificial intelligence giant OpenAI is strengthening its ties with the Israeli tech ecosystem by appointing Ido Perlson, a former AWS sales executive and co-founder of Yess AI, to its team. Perlson joins Moti Hadas, who was recently named OpenAI's initial Go-To-Market (GTM) lead in Israel, signaling the formation of a targeted commercial footprint in the startup nation.
Strategic Expansion and Market Competition
OpenAI's strategy is clear: capture significant market share against its direct competitor Anthropic by establishing early connections with startups and digital-native companies. The firm aims to encourage local ventures to integrate its advanced models, such as ChatGPT and Codex, directly into their products and enterprise operations. This newly formed role encompasses end-to-end support, ranging from client acquisition to technical and business assistance in product development.
Perlson shared the news on LinkedIn, bringing the perspective of an entrepreneur who recently experienced a successful exit. Following his appointment, he wrote: "I am joining OpenAI to help build their startup business in Israel. After years of working with founders at AWS, three years ago I moved to the other side of the table and became one myself."
Entrepreneurial Experience and Local Presence
He added that alongside his co-founders, Jonathan Bergman, Matan Zuta, David Feldstein, and the team at Yess AI, which was acquired by Amdocs earlier this year, they built a technology company from scratch. "Now I am crossing the table again, this time to OpenAI, bringing a very different perspective on what it actually takes to build a startup. I will be based in Tel Aviv as part of OpenAI's first startup team recruiting in Israel, joining the broader EMEA organization led by Trisha Truth."
Perlson concluded: "In Israel, there is no shortage of ambitious founders, bold investors, and big ideas. OpenAI brings the power. Let us see how far we can take this together! And for the first time, my three daughters under the age of six actually understand where dad works: 'ChatGPT'."
Despite these developments, sources close to the company told The Marker that OpenAI does not plan to open a formal office in Israel in the near future. Instead, the tech giant will hire local management and support the domestic ecosystem through a small, dedicated team operating locally.
