Global Entrepreneurship Week Israel was celebrated between November 13 and November 20, 2022, featuring thousands of participants.
Global Entrepreneurship Network Israel operates in entrepreneurial communities with entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders, consultants, and investors. Its flagship activity, Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), has assimilated into the local ecosystem, growing stronger each year. GEW aims to raise awareness of the beneficial power of entrepreneurship, and its ability to bring about change. In Israel, we place emphasis on activities in the social periphery, especially in assisting minority entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship Week activities take place across the country.
Entrepreneurship Week is evolving, with new partnerships across cultures and borders. For the past seven years, Entrepreneurship Week has opened the trade (Bell Ceremony) at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Over the past five years, Entrepreneurship Week has been held with the support of the United States Embassy in Israel, adopted by dozens of organizations that either hold activities of their own or participate in the diverse activities of Entrepreneurship Week.
GEW launched on the trading floor of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange with the participation of local and international representatives. We heard the stories of doers from five countries, sharing their spirit of entrepreneurship, the idea that there is no limit to the human imagination.
In 2022, we are facing challenges across the border. Environmental destruction; climate changes; a financial crisis; and turbulence hurting some of the leading democracies worldwide. These challenges require action and proactiveness in protecting our world, its present, and future. Each and every one of us can be part of this change: to join and support, to lead and enroll others, and to repair.
Entrepreneurship means optimism, ownership, and self-determination. It goes across barriers and cultures. We are looking to the next generation of entrepreneurs to be part of making our world a better place.
Guests to ring the bell included:
- Mr. Thomas R. Nides, U.S. Ambassador to Israel
- Ms. Ayla Matalon, Global Entrepreneurship Network Israel Chair
- Ms. Reem Jasim, Intrapreneur, Economics, and Entrepreneurship Researcher
- Mr. Armando Vitri, Entrepreneur and Investor, CEO of Neubloc. Partner in the investment body 'Ameritege Technology Partners'
- Mr. Yatin Thakur, Repeat Entrepreneur, Social Entrepreneur, and Investor
- Ms. Nora Nseir Manassa, CEO, Co-Founder, and Development Manager, Nurami Medical
- Mr. Tomohiro Takei, Founder, and CEO of Makoto (consulting group), Founder Makoto Capital (Spurcle). Associate Professor at Tohoku University
Two high school students representing two entrepreneurship programs were also in attendance:
- Emil Ziada, a student at Apple Seeds Program
- Daria Leshem, a student at Young Entrepreneurs Program
Entrepreneurship Roundtables
Students from mixed backgrounds - Jewish, Arabic, Orthodox, and others from entrepreneurship programs focused on the social periphery and STEM programs.
Entrepreneurial Challenges
Four women entrepreneurs/investors on stage shared their experience and insights about:
• What are the main challenges we face when establishing a company?
• Where did we fail, and how did we recover?
• When did we understand the importance of our business strategy?
• To what extent did things in the field fulfill the forecasts?
• What are the main differences between the establishment of a company and its vesting stage?
• How did we cope, and what did we learn from all of this?
Roots
This was an inspiring event at Shimon Peres High Tech and Arts High School. Ms. Reem Jasim, GEW guest of Bahrain, an intrapreneur and women entrepreneurship researcher, met students at Shimon Peres Hi-Tech and Arts High School in Tel Aviv, part of the Amal Group. Reem spoke about her educational paths and possible options for students who are interested in entrepreneurship. Reem described her experience as a high school student and emphasized the importance of maintaining a unique voice as an individual and thinking outside the box.
'Entrepreneurship on Tap'
Launched 13 years ago, 'Entrepreneurship on Tap' has held meetings in bars in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beer Sheva, and Jerusalem, as well as Ashkelon, Dimona, Nazareth, and kibbutzim in the north. 'Entrepreneurship on Tap' is open to everybody, providing a chance for young people to meet successful entrepreneurs at eye level, and learn about the entrepreneurial journey, challenges, successes, and failure.
Current Trends in Funding, Israel and Worldwide
This event provided a fascinating glimpse into the field of high-tech financing. Representatives from Japan, India, the USA, and Israel were on one stage talking about current trends in financing in Israel and around the world. This event was presented in partnership with Yazamiyot organization.
Academic, Industry, and VC Perspectives on the state of AI
This discussion covered the implications of recent advances and some predictions for the near future.
Speakers included:
- Academic: Dr. Yehudit Aperstein, Ph.D., Afeka Tel Aviv Academic College of Engineering
- Industry: Mr. Armando Viteri, Neubloc
- VC: Mr. Yorai Fainmesser, Disruptive AI Venture Capital
- Moderator: Ms. Ayla Matalon, Chair Global Entrepreneurship Network Israel
- Entrepreneurs: Ariella Charny, Albo Climate; Hen Toledano, HT BioImaging (HTVet); and Hilla Ben-Hamo Arbel, Ph.D.; MeNow! Ltd.
The Ecosystem Summit
Ms. Ayla Matalon, Ecosystem Builder, Investor, and Chair of Global Entrepreneurship Network Israel hosted a discussion about: 'Underrepresented Founders and Diversity in our Ecosystem' with Ms. Hilla Ovil-Brenner, Mr. Rabea Zioud and Mr. Konstantinos Georgoulias.
Entrepreneurial Mixer
Entrepreneurial Mixer of Jewish and Arab entrepreneurs. Ms. Reem Jasim, GEW guest of Bahrain, an intrapreneur and women entrepreneurship researcher, met Israeli women entrepreneurs at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv.
GEW Israel Special Offer
We offered a special bonus to our entrepreneur community by providing legal consultations in partnership with Pearl Cohen Law Firm.
We had three international events:
• Dr. Elad Yeshno, Tohoku University (Japan) Tech Transfer event
• Delegation of businesswomen to the United Arab Emirates
• "Sustainable finance and entrepreneurship Erasmus IFI" by Tel-Hai College.
Many more events were performed by our partners: academic institutions, social organizations, municipalities, and more. A highlight partner is Maof – The Israeli agency for small and medium businesses that perform dozens of events across Israel every year.
