Excel Talks

EP5 - Nati Meron (2015) X Guy Mizrahi (2020)

How do you build a career, raise a young family, and maintain sanity when everything feels like it’s peaking at once? In this episode of Excel Talks, we look back a decade with two alumni, host Guy Mizrahi (Excel ’15), a psychologist specializing in sports and performance, and guest Nati Miron (Excel ’15), Partner at OCI & Chairman of the Excel Israel Alumni organization. They get real about the "Exhaustion of Matter" (עייפות החומר) - that heavy feeling of trying to keep up a normal routine while living through constant, active pressure. Guy and Nati discuss why the secret to surviving the grind isn’t doing more, but having the grit to focus on just one mission and the wisdom to accept the sacrifices that come with it. By shifting from the trap of "moving goalposts" to prioritizing mental hygiene and deep human connections, they offer a roadmap for staying grounded and finding true well-being in an overwhelming world. This episode is a reminder that in high-pressure environments, mental hygiene, clarity of purpose, and human connection are not luxuries - they’re essentials.

EP4 - Erel Tenenbaum (2024) X Gilor Damari (2020)

Excel Talks EP4: In the new episode of Excel Talks, host Erel Tenenbaum(2024) sits down with Gilor Damari (2020), social entrepreneur and co-founder of RaaS, a venture transforming consumption habits in Israel and dramatically reducing the use of single use plastics. RaaS has already helped hundreds of organizations and events save over one million disposable items, powered by an innovative operational model: reusable cups and tableware, dedicated return stations, a full washing and sanitizing infrastructure, and clear impact reports that show exactly how much waste is avoided. In this conversation, Gilor shares how the idea was born, what happens behind the scenes of the single-use industry, and the unique challenges of building an impact-driven startup in Israel. Gilor also opens up about his personal story as a Nova survivor, and how that experience has shaped his sense of purpose and the meaning he finds in his work today.

EP3 - Omer Ran Cohen (2025) x Lisa Benzimra (2025)

In the new episode, Omer Ran Cohen and Lisa Benzimra - co-founders of TAPP, graduates of both the Zell Entrepreneurship Program and Excel - share the unique story behind their entrepreneurial journey. A fter less than six weeks of working together, they managed to secure funding while starting the Excel program. They openly discuss the fundraising process, the relationship they built as co-founders, the organizational culture and core values shaping their company, and, above all, their true passion: the willingness to give everything for one ultimate goal and build something bigger than themselves.

EP2 - Tom Corin (2024) x Adam Lazovski (2014)

In a special episode with Adam Lazovski, Founder and CEO of Dealigence, we dive into a question that’s shaking the world of entrepreneurship and investing: How is it possible that excellent founders fail to raise funds? Adam reveals the numbers behind the industry (95% of funds don’t meet the returns they promise), explains what “asymmetric risk” really means, and why most investment decisions are based on partial or even random information. He shares how they built a system that can detect revenues, team movements, and trends in real time without analysts and how even a one-percent shift can create “another Wix a year.” We also talked about critical decisions made on October 7th, the shift from VC to a Bootstrap mindset, and why “great human service” is making a comeback in the age of AI. A sharp, honest episode full of insights that every founder, investor, or student dreaming of starting something - must hear.

EP1 - Nir Hamou (2019) x Jonathan Harel (2018)

🚨 Introducing Excel Talks: The Excel Community Podcast Every impactful journey begins with a story - and today, we’re opening the door to many of them.We’re excited to launch Excel Talks, the ⁠Birthright Israel Excel⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/birthright-israel-excel/] Community’s new podcast created to spotlight the people behind the products, companies, and ideas shaping our network.Our first episode, recorded during the 2025 Excel Forum, brings together ⁠Nir Hamou⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nirhamou/] (’19) and ⁠Jonathan Harel⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-harel/] (’18) for a candid conversation about growth, risk-taking, and the unexpected turns that define a founder’s path. This episode covers: * How studying abroad in Spain expanded Jonathan’s perspective * The pivotal steps that led him through Excel Ventures * Why side projects aren’t “extra” - they’re catalysts for personal and professional development * The inside story of building ⁠Fine (acquired by HoneyBook)⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/finedotdev/] (⁠HoneyBook⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/honeybook/]) * And the lesson behind one unforgettable message:“Always open a suspicious email - what’s the worst that could happen?” 😅 Excel Talks is more than a podcast - it’s a space for real stories, honest conversations, and the insights that emerge when community members share their journeys.