Roadshow+
"Entrepreneurship in Israel is exceptional, and it is very important for us as a bank to be part of it"
Yadin Antebi, CEO of Bank Hapoalim, was speaking at the Roadshow+ event hosted by Calcalist and Poalim Tech. Michal Kissos Hertzog, CEO of Poalim Tech, added: "I see the Israeli funds facing challenges and difficulties in raising capital, yet everyone keeps pushing forward. To me, this is inspiring."
“Entrepreneurship in Israel is exceptional, and it is very important for us as a bank to be part of it,” said Yadin Antebi, CEO of Bank Hapoalim, at the Calcalist and Poalim Tech Roadshow+ event held at Expo Tel Aviv.
“There is a lot of talk about the strength of the Israeli economy and how the private sector has conducted itself during the recent crises here. This entrepreneurship, the thinking behind products such as food packaging that cooks with the food, which is just one example out of tens of thousands of startups developing products and ideas, is extraordinary,” he said.
“It is not natural for a bank to operate in these worlds of credit, because the typical financing for this sector relies more on equity due to the level of risk. And yet, the importance of this sector to the Israeli economy is so great that it is clear to us we must be there, and be strong there. It’s about startups and technology, the entire ecosystem built around this world. It’s a very, very exciting world. In the end, we want to be like you.”
This is the fifth consecutive year of the Roadshow+ event, which is designed for entrepreneurs in the Pre-Seed to Series A stages, giving them a platform to present their ventures to Israel’s leading investors. This year, approximately 150 companies applied; 18 were selected to pitch at the event, representing sectors including cyber, fintech, deep tech, climatetech, and proptech.
Israel’s tech industry is navigating a complex moment, shaped by geopolitical isolation, the disruptive rise of AI technologies, and both local and global instability. The Roadshow+ event offers entrepreneurs a meaningful platform to gain exposure to top investors.
Michal Kissos Hertzog, CEO of Poalim Tech, noted that “although the headlines present high-tech on a positive upward trend, the full picture is more complex, and yet there is reason for optimism.”
“When you look at the numbers, you see strong fundraising figures. But those who examine the field closely understand that not everything is rosy. The past two years were not a barrier, they were a filter. They created a real evolution in the market: less noise, more quality, more professionalism,” she said. “I meet brilliant entrepreneurs every day, people who are not afraid to build even when the environment is challenging. And I see Israeli funds pushing forward despite difficult conditions. It is inspiring. Therefore, despite the complexity, I truly believe we have reason to be optimistic about the future.”
During the event, founders from the selected companies presented their ventures to investors, who focused on questions about the teams, go-to-market strategies, and next steps. Investors provided feedback on market dynamics, product–market fit, and potential partners and customers.
Funds that participated in the event included:
Poalim Tech; StageOne; Team8; Grove Ventures; Vintage; Pitango; Viola Growth; Glilot Capital Partners; lool Ventures; Cerca; S Capital; D10; UpWest; Key1 Capital; Mensch Capital Partners; TPY; NFX; Disruptive AI; Surround Ventures; Insight Partners; Bloomberg Capital; Idea VC; Hetz Ventures; Entrée Capital; Vertex Ventures; YL; TLV Partners; Ibex Investors; Third Point; and Sticker Ventures.
