1,500 high-tech leaders to meet in Tel Aviv at TECH1 2026 the day after elections
The October 28-29 conference, held in partnership with Calcalist, will bring together Israeli and international entrepreneurs, investors and executives for two days of discussions, business meetings and networking across three Tel Aviv venues.
For Israelis living abroad, the elections offer a reason to visit Israel during the week of October 27. For Israeli high-tech professionals operating globally, there is an additional draw: TECH1 2026, taking place in Tel Aviv on October 28-29. Held in partnership with Calcalist, the conference will span three key city venues, Expo Tel Aviv, The David Kempinski Hotel, and the Suzanne Dellal Center, combining professional content, business meetings, and networking opportunities over two days.
More than 1,500 senior figures from the technology industry, including entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and representatives of global companies, are expected to attend the conference. Dozens of investors, entrepreneurs, and senior executives from Israel and abroad have already confirmed their participation in the event's various activities.
Holding the conference immediately after Election Day creates an opportunity to bring together Israeli executives, entrepreneurs, and investors based overseas with leaders of the local high-tech industry. The connection between the two groups is expected to facilitate meetings focused on investment, fundraising, international market expansion, business partnerships, and the identification of new opportunities.
"A rare window of opportunity has opened here," says Matan Marom, founder of TECH1. "During the week of the election, Israeli entrepreneurs, executives, and investors who hold influential positions in the global tech industry will be arriving in Israel. We designed TECH1 so that, within just two days, they can meet the key decision-makers, companies, and most significant opportunities within the Israeli ecosystem. The goal is not merely to discuss the industry, but to actively generate investments, partnerships, and business connections."
Two days, three venues: from Expo Tel Aviv to Suzanne Dellal
The main conference day will take place on October 28 at Expo Tel Aviv, with more than 1,500 senior high-tech industry figures expected to attend. The program will feature more than 90 speakers across two parallel stages, alongside lectures, panels, a startup exhibition, networking sessions, lunch, and a live performance. Held in partnership with Calcalist, the conference will also feature a special interview studio hosting senior executives from the high-tech and investment sectors.
The professional agenda will focus on key issues and challenges facing the industry in Israel and globally, including cybersecurity and information security, data infrastructure, and the impact of artificial intelligence on product development, organizations, and business models. Discussions will also address building companies for the long term, growth trajectories, and scaling startups into global enterprises, as well as leadership and management during periods of technological change.
The investment sector will also be a major focus, with discussions on fundraising, the relationship between entrepreneurs and venture capital funds, M&A deals, and international expansion. Other topics will include corporate innovation, product development, and advanced technologies.
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From right: Nadir Yizrael, Rakefet Russak-Aminoach, Michael Eisenberg
(Ron Kedmi,Tech1)
On the morning of October 29, activities will move to The David Kempinski Hotel for more intimate and focused sessions, including roundtables, workshops, speed-dating-style sessions, and one-on-one meetings between entrepreneurs, investors, and senior executives. Meetings will be coordinated through a dedicated conference app.
That evening, TECH1 will move to the Suzanne Dellal Center for an exclusive gala event attended by approximately 500 guests. Access will be available by invitation or prior confirmation only. The evening will bring together founders, CEOs, investors, and senior executives for a reception, dinner, content, entertainment, and networking, culminating in the TECH1 Awards 2026 ceremony.
The TECH1 Awards, being held for the first time this year, will recognize companies, executives, founders, and initiatives that shaped the Israeli high-tech sector in 2026. Awards will be presented across categories honoring innovation, growth, leadership, artificial intelligence, product development, and impact on the industry and society.
The selection process will combine the decisions of a judging panel comprising entrepreneurs, investors, and senior executives from the Israeli and international technology ecosystems with a public vote. Judges will account for 80% of the score, while the public vote will account for 20%. Winners will be announced on stage at the gala at the Suzanne Dellal Center. Nominations for the TECH1 Awards are open until September 24 at https://tech1.co.il/awards.
At the inaugural TECH1 conference, held in Eilat in 2025, the southern city became the setting for two days of discussions among entrepreneurs, investors, thought leaders, and CEOs about the challenges and opportunities facing the technology industry. The event combined professional content and business networking with informal gatherings and social activities, including meals and live performances by artists such as Berry Sakharof, Omri Smadar, and Einat Sarouf.
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From right: Alan Feld, Eynat Gaz, and Amit Asraf.
(Kobi Koenecks, Orel Cohen, Omer HaCohen, Tech1)
This year, the conference will again combine professional programming with informal networking and social events, culminating in the gala at the Suzanne Dellal Center.
Dozens of investors, entrepreneurs, and senior executives from Israel and around the world have already confirmed their participation in the conference's various activities.
Asaf Ezra is a partner at the U.S. venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). He joined the firm last year to lead investments in early-stage companies in the cyber and AI infrastructure sectors, with a focus on the Israeli tech ecosystem. Ezra was the co-founder and CEO of Granulate, an Israeli cloud optimization startup acquired by Intel in 2022 for approximately $650 million.
Lak Ananth is founding CEO and global managing partner of venture capital firm N47, which focuses on early-stage technology companies. He previously led Next47, Siemens' venture capital arm.
Rakefet Russak-Aminoach is managing partner at Team8 and a former CEO of Bank Leumi. She is a prominent figure in the Israeli investment and technology landscape.
Amine Baji is a partner at Quadrille Capital, a European investment firm focused on technology and growth-stage companies. Based in New York, he specializes in growth investments and the U.S. secondary market.
Alon Yariv is VP of business development and head of Israel operations at Crusoe. Yariv joined the company after Atero AI, the startup he founded, was acquired by Crusoe in 2025.
Steve Brotman is founder and managing partner of Alpha Partners, a firm focused on growth-stage companies. With more than 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur and investor, Brotman currently manages assets valued at more than $400 million.
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From right: Asaf Peled, Anna Pelkin, Lak Ananth, and Daphna Langer – Tech1.
(Cara Robbins, Tech1)
Jessica Sellam is head of the Private Markets Group within the Wealth and Asset Management division of Rothschild & Co. Sellam joined the firm in 2006 and has headed the global group for the past three years, leading strategic investments in private equity, private debt, infrastructure, and real estate funds.
Prem Anand is a senior executive at global technology company Zoho, serving as associate director for the Middle East and Africa region. In this role, he leads the expansion of the company's cloud and enterprise software solutions, tailoring them to local markets and digital transformation processes.
Alan Feld is founder and former managing partner of Vintage Investment Partners. He has decades of experience in technology investments, fund-of-funds, and global secondary market transactions. In this role, he helped shape Vintage into an influential investment platform within the local and international ecosystem, alongside extensive public and philanthropic activity.
Eytan Stibbe is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and private astronaut who has long been involved in investments and business activities across various technology sectors.
Michael Eisenberg is founder and managing partner of venture capital fund Aleph, established in 2013 to invest in early-stage startups. Eisenberg is a prominent investor in the Israeli high-tech sector, leading investments in companies such as WeWork, Lemonade, and Melio.
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From right: Fiona Darmon, Shahar Fienblit, Eytan Stibbe, and Amit Karp
(Orel Cohen, Avishai Finkelstein, Tech1)
Anna Pelkin is head of business operations for TikTok Israel, where she drives the platform's business growth in the country and helps local startups, brands, and businesses integrate into the global content and advertising ecosystem.
Amit Karp is a partner at global investment firm Bessemer and a leader of its operations in Israel. At Bessemer, he leads investments in Israeli startups across cybersecurity, enterprise software and infrastructure, guiding entrepreneurs from early growth stages through IPO or acquisition.
Ella-Tamar Adhanan is CEO of Israeli operations for U.S.-based finance company Hercules Capital, focusing on financing growth-stage companies and managing activities in the Israeli market.
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Alongside dozens of investors, the two-day conference will feature discussions, lectures, and activities involving Israeli entrepreneurs, many of whom have integrated into the global industry and operate from abroad after selling companies they founded to international corporations.
These include Nadir Izrael, co-founder and CTO of cybersecurity company Armis, which was acquired by U.S. software company ServiceNow for $7.75 billion; Eynat Guez, co-founder and CEO of Papaya Global; Gabriel Suissa, co-founder of Fundamental, an AI company developing analysis and prediction models based on structured and tabular data that reached a valuation of $1.2 billion; Daphna Langer, co-founder and CEO of Voltify, which develops technology to convert diesel trains to electric power using batteries; Amit Asraf, Israeli cyber entrepreneur and co-founder and CEO of Koi, a cybersecurity company acquired by Palo Alto Networks for approximately $400 million; and Amos Peled, Israeli cyber and technology entrepreneur and co-founder and CEO of Guardio.
Also participating are Sandy Hefftz, CEO of Bellboy Robotics, a startup developing autonomous robots and Physical AI for the hospitality and commercial real estate sectors; Shachar Fienblit, co-founder and chief R&D officer at VAST Data; and Asaf Peled, founder and CEO of Minute Media, who led the company as it became a global sports and entertainment content platform operating brands and distribution technologies for creators.
Other participants include Liran Grinberg, co-founder and managing partner at Team8; Fiona Darmon, founder of Sunvest Capital Partners; Yifat Oron, CEO of Blackstone Israel; Asaf Banai, founder and CEO of Profit; Hila Zigman, partner at Cyberstarts; Jason Wolf, co-founder and managing partner at Iron Nation Fund; Shay Levi, co-founder and CEO of Unframe; Lior Mallul, partner at Battery Ventures; Avi Shulman, partner at StageOne Ventures; Benny Lakunishok, co-founder and CEO of Zero Networks; Chen Tzvi of Hetz Ventures; David Siegel, former CEO of Meetup; Eitan Singer, CEO of Cibus Pluxee Israel; Shira Kaplan, founder of Cyverse; Erez Freibach, co-founder and CEO of ZutaCore; Guy Katsovich, founding partner at Fusion VC; Guy Tytunovich, CEO of CHEQ; Irit Kahan, managing director and head of Israel operations at Goldman Sachs Growth Equity; Liran Eshel, chairman and co-founder of CTERA; Liron Azrielant, managing partner at Meron Capital; Maxim Kogan, partner at Onyx; Michal Michaeli, director of international economic development and head of the technology sector at Tel Aviv Municipality (Tel Aviv Global); Moshe Zilberstein, general partner at N47; Moshiel Biton, co-founder and CEO of Addionics; Nicole Priel, managing partner at Mustang Capital; Neil Grunberg, managing partner at Storytime Capital; Nofar Amikam, managing partner at Glilot Capital Partners; Rona Samler, CEO of T3 at the Technion and co-chair of ITTN; and Yoav Manor, partner covering high-tech, M&A, and venture capital at Shibolet.
Tickets for the main conference day at Expo Tel Aviv, as well as information on applying for the Executive Pass, which includes access to activities at The David Kempinski Hotel, the gala evening, and the awards ceremony at the Suzanne Dellal Center, are available on the TECH1 website.
