Female Tech Leaders Discuss Investments, Startups, and Market Resilience in Tel Aviv
Leading female venture capitalists and financial executives gathered at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to discuss high-tech investments, risk management, and the resilience of the Israeli startup ecosystem amid global and technological shifts.
At the Next Generation Women Investors Conference hosted by Globes in collaboration with Harel Insurance, Bank Leumi, and Strauss at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, leading figures gathered for a panel titled "Think Like an Investor." Moderated by Bat Sheva Moshe, partner at A12 Fund and head of the Israeli market at Kaltura, the discussion featured Ruth (Simcha) Forman, managing partner at Viola Ventures; Elior Zitelny, deputy CEO of Phoenix ESOP; and Sapir Harush, head of Israeli operations at Third Point Ventures.
The executives discussed the local high-tech industry, shared tips for women investors, and explained why they remain optimistic about Israel's economic future. Moshe opened the panel by noting that tech investments remain relatively inaccessible to the wider public, who have limited exposure despite participating through pension portfolios and capital markets.
Forman addressed access to venture capital, explaining that private equity and VC funds typically cater to accredited investors. Zitelny focused on employee stock options, advising professionals entering the startup ecosystem to thoroughly evaluate a company's team, market presence, and runway rather than just focusing on the quantity of options offered.
Navigating Risk and AI Disruption in Venture Capital
Turning to early-stage investments, Moshe asked how investors evaluate startups amid intense competition and rapid advancements by companies like Anthropic and OpenAI. Harush noted that public markets are increasingly influenced by private tech giants, creating high uncertainty alongside unprecedented opportunities to build.
The first rule in venture capital is to remain optimistic and perhaps a bit naive. That is ultimately the magic. This is a great time to build, but uncertainty is exceptionally high compared to the past, said Sapir Harush.
Forman emphasized that evaluating company culture, management teams, and financial backing is crucial during periods of rapid volatility. When discussing investment losses, Harush rejected the term "gambling," describing venture capital instead as calculated risk based on rigorous data analysis.
Foreign Investment and Resilience in the Israeli Market
Discussing foreign sentiment toward Israel, Harush highlighted the perspective of Dan Loeb, who visited the country following the outbreak of the war in Gaza and expressed strong confidence in Israeli talent and resilience.
Forman offered a balanced view on the current geopolitical climate, acknowledging the external challenges faced by Israel globally while praising the exceptional creativity, intelligence, and mutual solidarity of Israeli entrepreneurs that continue to drive the high-tech sector forward.
