We’re gathering global leaders in tech, finance, and entrepreneurship for a week-long deep dive into the forces reshaping our world.
Discount Tech NYC will highlight Israel’s evolving high-tech landscape, tackling local and global challenges and showcasing its role as a global innovation hub.
Join entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders from Israel, the US, and beyond to explore how innovation drives economic resilience, shapes industries, and builds the future. Connect with visionary founders, global VCs, and senior executives shaping the next wave of tech.
In light of the current global turbulence — Discount Tech and IDBNY are proud to announce a strategic delegation to NYC, focused on reinforcing the strength, resilience, and global partnerships of the Israeli startup ecosystem.
Israeli innovation has always thrived under pressure. However, the current climate presents new and growing challenges: access to capital, operational continuity, and geopolitical headwinds that impact startups’ ability to scale globally. NYC, as one of the most influential tech and investment hubs in the world, remains a critical ally for Israeli tech — now more than ever.
Each Accepted Startup Receives a Comprehensive Benefits Package, Including:
1. Free Attendance:
Up to 2 senior team members can attend the main conference events and exclusive roundtable sessions.
2. Delegation Inclusion:
Be part of the Discount Tech “Startup Team to NYC” delegation, featured on the website for increased visibility.
3. Documenting the Journey:
Documentation of the experience featured on partner LinkedIn channels.
4. B2B Matching Access:
B2B meetings with investors, corporates, and potential partners.
5. Pitch in Front of US Investors:
Opportunity to pitch in front of US based investors during the delegation event.
Moderator: Lisa Dolan - Managing Director - Link Ventures
Lucas Nelson - Partner at Lytical Ventures
Jenny Fielding - Co-Founder + Partner at Everywhere Ventures
Ben Shor - Consumer Technology at Point72 Ventures
Hadley Harris - Founding General Partner at ENIAC Ventures
Jesse Middleton - General Partner at Flybridge
Jason Shuman is a General Partner at Primary, where he leads investments across the built world, fintech, and marketplace sectors. He began his career as the founder of a direct-to-consumer footwear startup and has since operated on both sides of the table over the past eight years. Originally from Boston and a University of Miami graduate, Jason has been recognized as one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 in Venture Capital and named a Rising Star by Venture Capital Journal.
Alon leads RE Angels, a VC fund investing in early-stage real estate tech startups, backed by seasoned industry professionals. He previously co-founded DTI Holdings, managing ~$150M in multifamily and commercial assets, and was a Senior Investment Manager at McKinsey’s MIO Partners. Alon holds an MBA from Duke and a B.A. from the Technion, and served as an IDF Intelligence Officer.
Galia is a Partner at Team8, where she helps build and scale fintech startups. Previously, she spent six years at PayPal, leading business development across Africa, Israel, and Eastern Europe, and spearheaded key partnerships like the one with M-PESA. Galia began her career as a commercial lawyer and later led legal marketing efforts. She holds an MBA from IDC, an LL.B. from Tel Aviv University, and completed executive studies at Wharton.
Amanda is a GP at Founder Collective, backing bold pre-Seed and Seed founders across all sectors. She previously scaled a major African retail chain, advised consumer brands at Highland Capital, and launched beauty lines at L Brands. Amanda began her career at BCG and holds degrees from Wharton and Harvard Business School.
Lisa invests in early-stage companies leveraging AI, machine learning, and big data to drive innovation. With a background in predictive analytics and product leadership, she’s led investments in firms like Mercor, Trust & Will, and Canela Media. Previously, she founded Savile Row Society, held roles at JPMorgan and Amex, and holds an MBA from Columbia and a BA from Johns Hopkins.
Lucas is a founding Partner at Lytical Ventures, investing in early-stage companies in cybersecurity, data analytics, and AI. He’s the co-author of The Art of Software Security Testing and chaired DEF CON, the largest U.S. hacking conference, for 10 years. A longtime member of the NYC tech scene, he teaches “Entrepreneurship for Hackers” at NYU and is a Kauffman Fellow.
Prior to joining Point72 Ventures, Ben was an Analyst at Financo | Raymond James, a consumer and retail focused investment bank, working on M&A transactions across beauty and personal care, specialty retail, and other consumer categories. Prior to that, Ben spent two years in the military before attending Columbia University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics and business management.
Jesse foresaw the remote work boom, helping scale WeWork globally and later investing in 50+ startups with a 16x MOIC. At Flybridge since 2016, he’s led deals in companies like Chief, Splice, and Imperfect Foods, while also launching Next Wave NYC to support the next generation of New York founders.
Today, he focuses on full-stack AI-native apps enabling the rise of 10x humans. A former engineer and early tech exec, Jesse lives in NYC with his wife and two kids — adventurous travelers from the start.
Luis Valdich is a seasoned venture capitalist and the founder of VIM Investors, a firm focused on making secondary investments in “hidden gems” he sources off market with access to motivated sellers and confidential startup information via his proprietary relationships. An HBS grad, Luis’s 20 years+ VC career started at Softbank and continued with senior roles at Citi Ventures, most recently, and JPMorgan before. He has made >100 direct investments resulting in 7 IPOs and 22 M&A with 10 on near/mid-term IPO track. He has also invested as LP in >25 established and emerging venture capital funds.
Jonathan founded the NY Enterprise Tech Meetup, a 10,000+ member community that connects entrepreneurs, technologists, and investors in NYC. Before Work-Bench, he worked in Morgan Stanley’s Office of the CIO, helping onboard emerging tech startups. He has written on enterprise tech trends for WSJ and TechCrunch, and holds a BSE in Bioengineering with minors in Math and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Hadley Harris is Co-Founder and General Partner at ENIAC Ventures, where he leads seed investments in AI, dev tools, SaaS, and healthcare. Previously, he helped build Vlingo and Thumb, both acquired, and held roles at Microsoft, Samsung, and Pegasystems. He also serves on the board of Cardinal Cushing Centers.
Jenny is a top global pre-seed investor, having backed 300+ startups as first money in. At Everywhere Ventures, she leads a community of 500+ founders investing in money, health, and work. Previously, she spent 7.5 years at Techstars, where she built a $10B+ portfolio. Jenny is a 2x founder, trained lawyer, and adjunct professor at Columbia and Cornell Tech.
Dan joined Two Sigma Ventures in 2015 and focuses his time investing in data-driven startups across B2B software, marketplaces, and consumer tech. Previously, Dan co-founded SpeedDate (acquired by IAC), a live-video online dating service that used real-time matching algorithms to connect its 23 million members, and is very familiar with the roller coaster ride that most founders experience during their startup journeys. Dan holds an MBA from Stanford and a BA in Economics and Philosophy from Columbia.
Zohar is a seasoned entrepreneur and award-winning product leader with 20+ years in fintech and consumer tech. He’s founded ventures in cybersecurity (Gumption) and payments (Token), helped launch the neo-bank Spiral, and led innovation at a major U.S. bank. His work has been featured by FOX, Nasdaq, Forbes, and more.
Avihai Schieber is a Partner in the US Corporate Practice Group and Co-Head of the US Startup Practice Group. He advises both startups and venture capital funds on venture financings, M&A, and strategic transactions. With extensive experience across sectors such as cyber, AI, SaaS, life sciences, and medical devices, Avihai helps founders scale their companies and supports VCs in making and managing high-impact investments.
Moshe Sister is a tax partner specializing in U.S. and Israeli taxation. He advises startups, venture capital funds, and global companies on M&A, equity plans, executive compensation, corporate flips, and cross-border structuring. With extensive experience in the high-tech sector, Moshe helps both founders and investors navigate complex tax challenges to support growth and investment.
Guy Milhalter is a corporate and commercial attorney who advises technology companies and startups on complex, strategic transactions. His practice focuses on technology transactions involving SaaS and cloud-based agreements, software and data licensing, and the legal dimensions of artificial intelligence across diverse industries. Guy works closely with his clients’ leadership teams to align legal strategy with commercial and operational goals, often working at the intersection of deal execution, compliance, and business growth.
Al Kinel is President of Strategic Interests, a health tech consulting firm, and the New York Israel Chamber of Commerce. Formerly a McKinsey consultant and Fortune 50 tech exec, he advises on digital transformation and public–private partnerships. Al helps startups enter and scale in the US with strategy, pilots, and relationships. Al connects the U.S. and Israeli ecosystems: startups, customers, partners, government, universities, NGOs, and investors.
Trace Cohen built his first startup at 18, which was later acquired by a fintech unicorn. Since then, he has invested in over 30 startups, achieving a top-decile portfolio ranking. A recognized thought leader in the venture space, Trace has built a massive social media audience that generates millions of views and engagement.
Daniel J. Arbess is an investor, strategic advisor, and geopolitical thinker with a deep commitment to Israel’s innovation ecosystem. As Founder of Xerion Investments, he actively backs Israeli tech companies at the intersection of deep tech, life sciences, and national resilience. A longtime advocate for Israel on the global stage, Daniel brings a unique lens shaped by decades of experience in law, finance, and international policy. He previously managed over $3 billion at Xerion Capital Partners and led major economic transitions in post-Communist Europe. His commentary on Israel, democracy, and technology regularly appears in The Jerusalem Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Hill. Daniel serves on global health and policy boards and is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Moti is a branding and marketing strategist who has led brands across tech, CPG, and luxury goods to global growth. He’s held leadership roles at Copilot.cx, Carbyne, and OSA, scaling startups to millions in ARR. Now, as founder of Atlantic Brands, he helps emerging companies grow through content-led strategy, fundraising support, and public speaking training. A top writer on Medium, Moti holds an M.S. from Columbia, where he also taught public speaking.
Eyal advises domestic and international clients on corporate transactions, capital raising, M&A, and securities matters. He counsels on IPOs, private placements, and compliance, with deep cross-border experience, including three years practicing in London. Prior to Greenberg Traurig, he worked at major U.S. law firms representing leading companies and private equity funds.
Moran is a partner at Deloitte, advising Israeli startups, investors, and multinational companies in the Israeli tech ecosystem. With over 18 years of experience, she specializes in financial strategy, international tax, fundraising, and global expansion. Moran is recognized for her deep understanding of the challenges facing innovative companies and is passionate about supporting their growth on the global stage.
Guy has over 11 years of experience at Deloitte, focusing on technology and emerging growth companies, SEC-listed companies, and IPO and SPAC transactions. He has spent the past four years at our New York office, supporting US, Israeli, and global startups and emerging growth companies throughout their growth journeys, providing guidance across tax, financial planning, funding, M&A, and IPO processes.
Dr. Maria Blekher is a behavioral scientist, venture strategist, and Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Serendipity Impact VC, focused on technologies transforming mental and neuro health. With 15+ years of experience in consumer behavior and U.S. go-to-market, she’s a recognized voice at the intersection of AI, tech, and mental health. She holds a Ph.D. and MBA from Ben-Gurion University and was a visiting scholar at NYU Stern.
Oliver Mitchell is a partner at ff Venture Capital, leading investments in robotics, AI, drones, and climate tech. He has a strong track record with IPOs like Novocure and Ekso Bionics, and exits including TripleLift’s $1.4B sale. He sits on the boards of CivRobotics, Cambrian Robotics, and Paraspot, and is also an adjunct professor and author of A Startup Field Guide in the Age of Robots and AI.
Li-ran scaled Sauce into an eight-figure business with a team across 23 countries, empowering restaurants to thrive in the era of online delivery. A former Major in the Israeli Air Force and Magna Cum Laude MBA graduate, he blends hospitality-tech expertise with proven leadership to drive innovation in the restaurant industry.
Gil Eyal is an early-stage investor in consumer tech, AI, and culture. He’s a venture partner at Sticker Ventures, invests via Stardust Ventures, and advises several funds. Formerly founder of HYPR (acquired by Triller), Gil helped shape the creator economy, working on 200+ celebrity deals. He holds an MBA from Kellogg.
Sharon Melzer is a social media consultant and strategist, specializing in building personal brands for high-profile individuals. With 5+ years of experience in diplomacy, politics, and tech, she helps leaders amplify their voice. She is also a content creator and master’s student at NYU studying PR and Communications
Yoav Oren is the CEO and co-founder of Zoog, an app that brings children’s books to life through AR-powered video storytelling, helping families stay meaningfully connected. Before Zoog, he led global roles at SimilarWeb, including GM of Greater China and Chief of Staff. He’s also been an Entrepreneur in Residence at Remagine Ventures and an Associate Producer at Netflix. Yoav holds a BA from Columbia and an MBA from Shanghai Jiao Tong.
Yehuda Vidal is the Co‑Founder & CEO of Lidwave, an Israeli startup developing advanced 4D LiDAR-on-chip sensors using its patented Finite Coherent Ranging (FCR™) technology. Under his leadership, Lidwave raised $10M in seed funding and gained recognition as a CES 2025 Innovation Award Honoree. Yehuda brings deep expertise in optics and signal processing from his research at Hebrew University.
Rinat Keinan is the Co‑Founder & CEO of Pele AI, an Israeli startup pioneering the future of Vibe Shopping. Pele AI transforms online fashion from a search-and-filter process into a personalized, emotionally engaging experience - protecting shoppers’ Visual ID while delivering real-time virtual try-on, precise size recommendations, and AI-powered product visualization. Recognized as a Top 10 Finalist for the 2025 Breakthrough Award by the Israel High-Tech Association, Rinat holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Design from the Bezalel Academy.
Nurit Hirsch Spiegel is the COO of Pele AI, an Israeli startup pioneering Vibe Shopping. With over 20 years of leadership as CMO and CEO of global consumer brands, she specializes in growth through data-driven marketing and storytelling. She has built and scaled businesses, advised startups on go-to-market and retention, and now brings her blend of creativity and analytics to drive Pele AI’s expansion.
Dan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Lira AI. Before founding Lira AI, Dan worked in various roles across wealth management, including as an associate and investor at Liz Family Office and Ofer Capital, the private equity arm of Ofer Investments. Dan served in the IDF in a captain-equivalent role as 8200's representative in the Prime Minister’s Office. He holds a B.A. in Business and Economics from Reichman University.
Roy is the Co-Founder and CTO of Lira AI. Before founding Lira AI, Roy was the founding engineer at Innplay Labs, a mobile gaming startup that was acquired by Playtika (NASDAQ: PLTK). Roy served in the IDF as a captain and research team lead in an elite technological unit. He holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Statistics from Tel Aviv University.
Ayal is a deep-tech entrepreneur with 20+ years of leadership in cloud, open source, and enterprise software. He co-founded Troup AI to make LLMs reliable so Enterprises can build trustworthy automated processes. He holds dozens of patents, led major open-source projects, and served in an elite IDF tech unit.
Shlomo is the CEO & co-founder of LepreCon, a startup pioneering the science of personality-driven fraud prevention. LepreCon protects banks and bank customers from AI-driven fraud and social engineering scams, a rapidly growing threat. With a background as a C-suite executive at a credit card company, chief strategist for a $100B global bank, and leading data analytics for a $200B bank, he brings deep expertise in banking and payments technologies.
Noam Fine is a serial entrepreneur and CEO of Hear.ai, a platform redefining the role of contact centers by turning conversation data into a strategic driver for growth, loyalty, and innovation. With a proven track record in AI and voice technology, Noam has founded and led multiple companies from inception to acquisition.
He was the founder and CEO of Predictad, founder and CEO of Sensiya (acquired by i.am+), and founder and CEO of over.ai (acquired by Vonage), where he later served as Head of AI. At Vonage, Noam led AI product, engineering, and AI sales pipeline. His career reflects a consistent focus on building cutting-edge solutions that merge technology, customer engagement, and business impact.
Roi is the CEO & Co-founder of a company developing an autonomous retrofit solution that transforms any tire into a dynamically self-inflating system. The technology adjusts tire pressure in real time based on terrain, load, speed, temperature, and driver behavior—delivering proven improvements in fuel efficiency, safety, tire longevity, and emissions reduction.
Matan Edvy is the founder and CEO of Verstill, a company that has developed proprietary technologies enabling breweries, wineries, and hospitality groups to create premium spirits quickly and with minimal investment. He began his career in the Israeli Air Force flying unmanned aircraft and later founded several companies in that field, leading global operations, instruction, and flight testing. Growing up in a winemaking family and studying winemaking and distilling inspired him to establish Verstill. Matan applies the same aviation discipline and precision to the beverage industry, building partnerships across the United States and internationally to launch high-quality, profitable spirits portfolios with Verstill’s partners.
Udi Mann is the Founder & CEO of iMeasure, a deep-tech ConTech startup developing an AI-powered smart helmet platform for construction workers. The system combines 3D scanning, computer vision, and mixed reality to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds on-site. With a background in architecture, innovation, and project leadership, Udi has raised $1.4M to date and is now raising $2–5M.
Asaf Levy is the Vice President of Finance at Oligo Security, where he leads financial strategy, growth planning, and investor relations for the fast-scaling cybersecurity company. He has over a decade of experience driving funding rounds, acquisitions, and financial transformations at high-growth technology firms
Avner Mendelson is the President & CEO of IDB Bank, leading the Bank’s transformation and growth
agenda across both U.S domestic and international lines of business, further advancing IDB’s role within
the Discount Bank global holding group. A seasoned executive, Avner has more than two decades of
banking and leadership experience in Israel and the U.S. Notably, he has held the positions of President
& CEO of Bank Leumi USA and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Valley Bank. Prior to entering
the U.S. Market, he successfully led Group Strategy for the Leumi Group, Israel’s largest banking group.
Shahar Ben-David is the vice president of IDBTech, where she leads IDBTech; IDB Bank’s high tech banking group. Leveraging 10+ years of experience in banking and high tech, she successfully spearheads the Bank’s efforts to support technology startups and enterprises across all stages, both in the US and in Israel.
Nir Lerman is the Vice President of Business Development for the Florida Region at IDB Bank, where he leads growth initiatives and partnerships to expand the company’s presence. Leveraging over a decade of experience in business development and strategy, he drives opportunities and strengthens client relationships across industries.
