Does the Startup-Nation Brand Need… A Rebrand? - with Dan Senor

Does the Startup-Nation Brand Need… A Rebrand? - with Dan Senor

A note from Yael and Yonatan: Based on listener feedback, we're moving from a weekly news roundup to monthly, in-depth conversations with the business leaders, investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs shaping Israel's economic future. For our first episode in the new format, Yonatan Adiri and Yael Wissner Levy are joined by Dan Senor, host of Call Me Back and co-author of Start-Up Nation which revolutionized the world’s respect for Israel. Nearly two decades after the book's publication, Israel's tech sector is stronger than ever, yet the country's global brand faces unprecedented challenges. What does this mean for Israel’s reputation, innovation and the world’s reliance on it?  Purchase Dan’s books, Start-up Nation [https://www.amazon.com/Start-up-Nation-Israels-Economic-Miracle/dp/0446541478/ref=sr_1_2?crid=22P40VTA0QNEV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QJU21V1IT3GlafTqX2mn6wmNIMlnNYw23XXsoElHoPsbUCHsqAyIzC5ogxDeibp0hAEf_CncZcaPKCtJNVEk9B_OXB0v3Irzc4qxq65-nx0fO1W97s1eZJjoM4TWoIZO-zofhFrbpvGwHiKhkH0E8JLlMZ71o2phcHEH7CJwSRvrGRv2THnaOqR94sK_uj4DVCCyLPviQth9VuWm55zCgnu9PGVntf1hOcXvh0duPFk.Ni75fUDBMWv1qSeoETPgR_h-Pq0hIV8WjeTa6IVRw3U&dib_tag=se&keywords=dan+senor&qid=1781625193&sprefix=dan+seno%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-2] and The Genius of Israel [https://www.amazon.com/Genius-Israel-Small-Nation-Teach/dp/1982115769/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22P40VTA0QNEV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QJU21V1IT3GlafTqX2mn6wmNIMlnNYw23XXsoElHoPsbUCHsqAyIzC5ogxDeibp0hAEf_CncZcaPKCtJNVEk9B_OXB0v3Irzc4qxq65-nx0fO1W97s1eZJjoM4TWoIZO-zofhFrbpvGwHiKhkH0E8JLlMZ71o2phcHEH7CJwSRvrGRv2THnaOqR94sK_uj4DVCCyLPviQth9VuWm55zCgnu9PGVntf1hOcXvh0duPFk.Ni75fUDBMWv1qSeoETPgR_h-Pq0hIV8WjeTa6IVRw3U&dib_tag=se&keywords=dan+senor&qid=1781625193&sprefix=dan+seno%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-1]. In this episode: - How Start-Up Nation changed Israel's image - Israel's brand crisis after October 7 - Why global investors keep doubling down on Israel - Does Israel need a new audience? - The rise of defense tech - AI, brain drain, and Israel's next challenge - Does the “start-up nation” reputation still apply? - How would Dan characterize Israel’s brand now?  More Ark Media: * Subscribe to Inside Call me Back [https://inside.arkmedia.org/] * Explore Israel Votes [https://arkmedia.org/votes/] * Listen to Call me Back [https://lnk.to/LRJWdo] * Listen to Ark News Daily [https://lnk.to/AgKi7D] * Listen to For Heaven's Sake [https://lnk.to/rfGlrA] * Watch What's Your Number? on YouTube [http://youtube.com/@wyn.podcast] * Newsletters | Ark Media [https://mailchi.mp/arkmedia/subscribe-to-our-newsletter] | Amit Segal [https://arkmedia.org/amitsegal/] | Nadav Eyal [https://nadave.substack.com/] * Instagram | Ark Media [https://instagram.com/arkmediaorg] |  * X | Yonatan [https://x.com/yonatanadiri] | Yael [https://x.com/yaelwiss?s=11] | Dan [https://x.com/dansenor] * Get in touch [whatsyournumber@arkmedia.org] LEGAL DISCLAIMER This podcast offers general business and economic information and is not a comprehensive summary for investment decisions. It does not recommend or solicit any investment strategy or security.  CREDITS Hosts - YONATAN ADIRI & YAEL WISSNER-LEVY Interim Executive Producer - BETH PEARLMAN Production Manager - BRITTANY COHEN Community Manager - AVA WEINER Sound and Video editing - MARTIN HUERGO Music - MIDNIGHT GENERATION [https://www.youtube.com/@midnightgeneration2668]

How did Pakistan become The Peacemaker?

📈 Our WYNDEX (What’s Your Number Index) update for today: The WYNDEX had another strong week, rising 5.11% and widening its year-to-date lead over both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ. Lemonade led the pack with an 11.1% gain, followed by JFrog, SentinelOne, Monday.com, and Check Point, all up more than 5%. But beneath the green, Yonatan and Yael warn that the same forces lifting some stocks, AI efficiency, layoffs, and stronger margins, may be creating real pressure in Israel’s tech labor market. 🔎 Our Long Play today: Yonatan and Yael unpack why Pakistan has suddenly taken center stage in the negotiations to end the war in Iran. They review how Pakistan became the only Muslim-majority state to develop a nuclear bomb, using classified information smuggled by a Pakistani U.N. scientist. With ties to Iran, and Saudi Arabia and China, Pakistan is playing a pivotal peacemaker role, but questions remain if this is a one-off moment, or a sign Pakistan is a new diplomatic player, and also if a new order means Israel can extend its economic and political relevance east beyond the Gulf region. In this episode: - Numbers of the Week - The WYNDEX - Big Short #1: Wix layoffs and the AI pressure on Israeli tech - Big Short #2: Israel’s billion-dollar AI infrastructure bet - Long Play: Why Pakistan suddenly matters to Israel - Words of the Week Find us on: YouTube [http://youtube.com/@wyn.podcast] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/arkmediaorg] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ark-media1] Yael on X [https://x.com/yaelwiss?s=11] Yonatan on X [https://x.com/yonatanadiri] Write to us here [whatsyournumber@arkmedia.org] New episodes drop on Wednesdays LEGAL DISCLAIMER This podcast offers general business and economic information and is not a comprehensive summary for investment decisions. It does not recommend or solicit any investment strategy or security.  CREDITS: Hosts - YONATAN ADIRI & YAEL WISSNER-LEVY Interim Executive Producer - BETH PEARLMAN Production Manager - BRITTANY COHEN Community Manager - AVA WEINER Sound and Video editing - MARTIN HUERGO Music - MIDNIGHT GENERATION [https://www.youtube.com/@midnightgeneration2668]

Last Dance for US Aid to Israel?

📈 Our WYNDEX (What’s Your Number Index) update for today: The WYNDEX jumped 8.93% this week and is now up 16.7% year-to-date, beating both the S&P and NASDAQ. Palo Alto Networks and Nova led the gains, as investors rewarded AI infrastructure and cyber strength. But Wix’s 34% drop showed the other side of the AI trade: Wall Street is punishing companies and software it fears AI could jeopardize.  🔎 Our Long Play today: Yonatan and Yael unpack whether the next U.S. military aid deal with Israel could be the last. Unlike in the 1980s, now the amount of aid is a small share of Israel’s economy and a tiny line item for Washington. The bigger questions are: How can Israel move from an aid-based relationship to a strategic partnership built around defense, technology, infrastructure, and shared security interests? And how do the two countries retain and improve a special relationship through investment, business and cultural ties. In this episode: 00:56 - Numbers of the Week 04:20 - The WYNDEX 09:03 - Big Short #1: AI21 Labs and the brutal AI efficiency wave 11:58 - Big Short #2: Taiwan’s Silicon Dome and what Israel should learn 15:23 - Long Play: Is this the last U.S. aid deal for Israel? 32:31 - Words of the Week Find us on: YouTube [http://youtube.com/@wyn.podcast] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/arkmediaorg] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ark-media1] Yael on X [https://x.com/yaelwiss?s=11] Yonatan on X [https://x.com/yonatanadiri] Write to us here [whatsyournumber@arkmedia.org] New episodes drop on Wednesdays LEGAL DISCLAIMER This podcast offers general business and economic information and is not a comprehensive summary for investment decisions. It does not recommend or solicit any investment strategy or security.  CREDITS: Hosts - YONATAN ADIRI & YAEL WISSNER-LEVY Interim Executive Producer - BETH PEARLMAN Production Manager - BRITTANY COHEN Community Manager - AVA WEINER Sound and Video editing - MARTIN HUERGO Music - MIDNIGHT GENERATION [https://www.youtube.com/@midnightgeneration2668]

Israel's place in the AI race - with Ariel Sobelman

📈 Our WYNDEX (What’s Your Number Index) update for today: The WYNDEX rose 2.95% this week and is now up more than 10% year-to-date, continuing its strong run and outperforming both the S&P and NASDAQ. Most of the index finished in the green, led by Tower Semiconductor and Fiverr, as investors rewarded AI positioning, semiconductor strength, and renewed confidence in Israeli tech. But Check Point’s sharp drop stood out, raising questions about whether Wall Street is sending a company-specific message or pointing to broader pressure in Israeli cyber. 🔎 Our Long Play today: Dr. Ariel Sobelman, senior advisor to the head of Israel’s National Artificial Intelligence Agency, joins Yonatan and Yael to explain where Israel fits in the global AI race. He argues that AI leadership is no longer just about startups or applications, but about infrastructure: data centers, semiconductors, and energy. For Israel, the opportunity is to become a trusted AI and technology outpost and testing ground for the U.S. and its allies, powered by its dense mix of R&D, chip talent, manufacturing know-how, and security alignment.  In this episode: 00:09 - Numbers of the Week 03:08 - The WYNDEX 07:29 - Big Short #1: Israel’s data center real estate rush 09:51 - Big Short #2: The drone interceptor challenge 12:20 - Long Play: Israel’s place in the US-China AI race 32:16 - Words of the Week Find us on: YouTube [http://youtube.com/@wyn.podcast] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/arkmediaorg] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ark-media1] Yael on X [https://x.com/yaelwiss?s=11] Yonatan on X [https://x.com/yonatanadiri] Write to us here [whatsyournumber@arkmedia.org] New episodes drop on Wednesdays LEGAL DISCLAIMER This podcast offers general business and economic information and is not a comprehensive summary for investment decisions. It does not recommend or solicit any investment strategy or security.  CREDITS: Hosts - YONATAN ADIRI & YAEL WISSNER-LEVY Interim Executive Producer - BETH PEARLMAN Production Manager - BRITTANY COHEN Community Manager - AVA WEINER Sound and Video editing - MARTIN HUERGO Music - MIDNIGHT GENERATION [https://www.youtube.com/@midnightgeneration2668]

Israeli Entrepreneurs: Wired for Pressure - with Rakefet Russak-Aminoach

Our WYNDEX (What’s Your Number Index) update for today: The WYNdex rose 1.1%, outperforming the S&P but trailing a strong Nasdaq. Markets are cautious ahead of major tech earnings and geopolitical uncertainty around Iran. Standouts include Mobileye (+10% on strong earnings), SolarEdge (+25% on energy demand tailwinds), and Wix (+5.4%). No major losers; the index is up ~10% year-to-date.  🔎 Our Long Play today: Rakefet Russak-Aminoach, Managing Partner at Team8, a global venture fund and BNY board member, highlights Israeli entrepreneur and tech resilience even during war, driven by military-honed adaptability, technical talent, and a risk-taking mindset. She describes Team8’s hands-on unique investment and build model and her shift from banking to fintech. She gives her perspective on AI as both a threat and opportunity. In this episode: 00:00 – Numbers of the Week  03:50 – The WYNDEX  06:05 – Big Short #1: Increased Kazakhstan-Israel cooperation  10:00 – Big Short #2: New US pact protecting Malacca Strait 13:00 – Long Play:  Israeli entrepreneur and tech resilience even during war 36:50 – Words of the Week