Omri Kohl

🚀 Huge milestone for Israeli tech! 🇮🇱 ServiceNow is acquiring cybersecurity leader Armis in a $7.75B all-cash deal, marking one of the biggest exits in Israel’s tech ecosystem and a major leap forward in enterprise security. 🔐💼 This strategic move significantly expands ServiceNow’s footprint in cyber exposure and risk management across IT, OT and connected devices, while empowering Armis’ talented team to scale even further. 👏🌍 #Cybersecurity #TechNews #Israel #Innovation #MergersAndAcquisitions https://lnkd.in/gRb6cEMb

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​Israel's unmatched "Founder Density" is a global engine for progress. ​With 151 founders per million people—making it 3.4x more efficient than US, the #2 on the list. Beyond the numbers, Israeli innovation provides the essential tools that protect and sustain mankind: ​Saving Lives: Leading the world in AI-driven diagnostics and personalized medicine to improve patient outcomes globally. ​Feeding the Planet: Water-recycling and climate-resilient agriculture to combat global food insecurity. ​Securing the Digital World: Providing the cybersecurity infrastructure that protects global finance and privacy. ​Environmental Stewardship: Developing carbon-capture and clean-energy solutions. Try to remember the last time you heard about Palestinian or Iranian startup the made your life better.

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🌱 Most #founders focus only on the idea and completely overlook #themselves 🌱 I’m honored to join the efforts of 18X Elite Impact, helping nurture the next generation of Israeli founders as they transition from #service into #entrepreneurship. I am mentoring a group of IDF reservists and young veterans at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey. What I appreciate most about Mike Silberg and the 18X team’s approach is the focus on what’s usually overlooked, guided by community and the hard questions every founder eventually has to face. This week, Eilon HaCohen, I, and the group kicked off with a focus on #FounderIdentity - the internal drivers that ultimately shape the #standards you set for yourself, culture, and your company’s energy. Some (hopefully) valuable takes: My common theme was simple: there is no right or wrong, only your #authentic truth. ⭐ Your deep #why is your fuel: It doesn’t have to be world-saving. It just needs to create real emotion and sustainable energy. For me, it was seeing something truly #transformative in a massive, non-obvious industry, and believing I had a #uniqueperspective on how to approach it. ⭐ Connection to the problem: It doesn’t have to be personal, but it must drive #curiosity and #passion. I wasn’t a “construction guy.” Not even close. Yet something about the problem pulled me on and on. In fact, the curiosity is still there, even after the #acquisition. ⭐ Mapping strengths and #weaknesses and managing them actively: It isn’t about writing them on paper, it’s about explicitly deciding: Which weaknesses will you develop? And which will you intentionally complement? Early on, I said I wasn’t “a salesperson” because my image of sales was the classic pushy stereotype. Over time, I realized my #relationship-driven approach was the advantage, and became one of my strongest founder skills. ⭐ #FounderMarketFit: why you are the right person to solve this problem. This is an unfair advantage that can allow you to build confidence for yourself, your team, and investors, demonstrating that you’re the right leader for this venture before making any progress. #Domainexpertise, #industrynetwork, and #Problemexpertise can create an unfair advantage through deep understanding of nuance, fast feedback loops, and access to customers. Most first-time founders (myself included) won’t have it upfront, and that gap will need to be closed with passion, soft skills, and a differentiated perspective. ⭐ Finding your #journeypartners: This is one of the most complex, unpredictable, and important decisions you’ll make. Clear #alignment on #expectations, #values, #boundaries, #ownership, and individualvalue. But above all: #trust. Arik Davidi and I navigated plenty of challenges - age gaps, life stages, leadership styles. But from day 1, we had deep trust in each other’s intentions and values. Which turned any challenge into a learning. Founders, have you intentionally thought about these questions? Happy to help.

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Israeli Tech Still Delivers, NO MATTER WHAT. Last year, the #NoMatterWhat campaign helped put Israeli tech back in the global conversation. That message is still relevant. Now more than ever, the voices of the Israeli tech ecosystem must be heard. Startup Nation Central is here to empower Israeli companies and their employees to convey their message with impact by providing them with resources that effectively strengthen their communication and messaging. Download the toolkit here- https://okt.to/muICbq Use it to show your network what resilience and optimism look like. *Make sure to share this post with your network so that others can benefit. Viola Ventures | G-CMO | Atreo

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The power of Business AI lies not in automation, but in changing how organizations think, decide, and deliver.   In my column published today in Calcalist כלכליסט, I discussed my perspective - that the real breakthrough isn’t in adding another AI tool, but rather in shifting the paradigm - instead of employees adapting to fragmented organizational systems, AI adapts to us. We describe what we need in natural language, and the technology orchestrates the rest. The ability to delegate clearly and purposefully to AI, just as leaders and managers delegate to teams.   The outcomes are profound: * Contextual productivity: AI connects the dots, enabling teams to move beyond micro-tasks toward strategic thinking. * AI agents “speak” to each other, supported by shared standards. * Data as an anchor: Trusted, up-to-date business data is the foundation of relevant, reliable, and responsible AI.   The gain is not only a 20–30% boost in efficiency. The real value is clarity, with the ability to focus on customers, strategy, and innovation.   At SAP, we are embedding #BusinessAI across our portfolio and across processes, so that every customer and employee can leverage AI.   Read the full column here (Hebrew): https://lnkd.in/gPpbvEcx

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“Within 10 years, there will be at least 10 more Israeli companies like Wiz” Cyberstarts founder Gili Raanan, the first investor in Wiz, says Google’s $32 billion acquisition will reshape Israel’s tech ambitions.  “The sale of Wiz to Google is an event that goes far beyond investors, employees, or taxes. Just as the ICQ deal broke the first glass ceiling for Israeli exits, followed by Waze, which broke the billion-dollar barrier, Wiz is now shattering every possible ceiling. This will influence Israeli high-tech, the economy, and the country for generations,” says Gili Raanan, founder of the venture capital firm Cyberstarts and the first investor in the cybersecurity company. Sophie Shulman 16:44, 11.03.26 https://lnkd.in/dr7nGthr

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Today I had the privilege of attending the “Services are the Next Software - Rethinking the AI Future” event, hosted by Grove Ventures and Google Cloud at the Google for Startups Campus in Tel Aviv. Moderated by Ariel Salpeter from Google Cloud, the panels brought together voices from SAP, Palantir Technologies, McKinsey, Deloitte, Real, Harmony, and Wonderful - alongside Lotan Levkowitz from Grove Ventures - to share diverse perspectives on the evolving intersection of AI, trust, and value creation. The conversation reinforced a few key points: 🔹 Trust remains the ultimate currency. Even as AI accelerates transformation, credibility and human oversight remain irreplaceable. 🔹 Palantir’s model exemplifies this balance - combining deep data intelligence with strong client relationships built on transparency and measurable value. 🔹 AI alone is not the answer. Without structured, high-quality data and well-designed integrations, AI remains only a tool, not a solution. 🔹 Partnership is the bridge. Real transformation happens when large organizations and specialized solution providers collaborate - not compete - to deliver tangible value. 🔹 The future is hybrid: human intelligence, data transparency, and AI working together. As a finance executive who’s spent years at the intersection of data, trust, and decision-making, I left with one clear takeaway - the next generation of “services” won’t replace people; it will empower them through better insight, precision, and connection. Many thanks to Grove Ventures, Google Cloud, and all the speakers for curating such a thought-provoking and forward-looking discussion. #AI #ServiceAsSoftware #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #FinanceLeadership #GroveVentures #GoogleForStartups #Palantir #Trust

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Yesterday, I had the chance to attend the first Israeli conference dedicated to Generative Engine Optimization (AI Search) — and it honestly left me thinking a lot about where our industry is headed. For years, companies have invested considerable effort in ranking organically at the top and maximizing every bit of ROI from paid search. But with the rise of AI-driven search experiences like ChatGPT, Perplexity, the new AI Mode, and others, you can really feel the ground shifting under our feet. People from so many different industries were genuinely curious to understand what this new reality means for them. They know they need (or want) to act fast, but almost no one is sure what the right next step is. At least not based on the same 25–30 years of knowledge we’ve all built around Google Search. There’s no doubt we’re entering a new era of search, one that will challenge all of us to adapt. But I’m excited that Xverum is playing a meaningful role in this evolving and rapidly growing space!

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Torq, the Israeli-American AI security operations startup founded in 2020 by Ofer Smadari, Leonid Belkind, and Eldad Livni, raised $140 million in a Series D round led by Merlin Ventures, pushing its valuation to $1.2 billion and total funding to $332 million. The company plans to use the capital to expand adoption of its self-service AI SOC Platform across Fortune 500 enterprises and into U.S. federal and public sector markets, building on strong growth driven by widespread deployment of its AI Agents for investigation and response in security operations centers. FOUNDERS: Ofer Smadari, Leonid Belkind & Eldad Livni INVESTORS: Merlin Ventures, Evolution Equity Partners, Notable Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Insight Ventures Partners &Greenfield Partners ROUND: Series D AMOUNT: $140,000,000 VALUATION: $1,200,000,000 HQ: #TelAviv #Israel #VentureCapital #Torq #OferSmadari #LeonidBelkind #EldadLivni #MerlinVentures #EvolutionEquityPartners #NotableCapital #BessemerVenturePartners #InsightVenturesPartners #GreenfieldPartners #TradedVC

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Behind every highlighted success is a mess: failed “sure” term sheets, last-minute customer churn, and nights counting runway in days. That’s normal. VC is built on 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬, not smooth averages. What separates the outliers is 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 + 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝: the refusal to quit, paired with ruthless iteration. More on why we stay bullish (AI × Cloud × Cyber) and back the ones who keep pushing through: https://lnkd.in/dqy5vVxB #venturecapital #powerlaw #entrepreneurship #israeltech

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At yesterday's gathering of CFOs from leading companies in the economy, produced by Dun & Bradstreet & PwC Israel, our own Anat Eitan delved into why Israeli VC investment in AI and Data lags behind the US and Europe (unlike cybersecurity), and how she sees the path ahead with Hetz: 👉 There is an expertise gap; a scarcity of professionals with deep, practical understanding. 👉 Tapping into a more niche data network: It's a smaller, highly specialized community, with diverse "sub-expertises" unlike the more centralized CISO role. 👉 We're investing a lot to create a 'data investing Infrastructure' for our portfolio, mirroring/leveraging takeaways from our successful approach in cyber. 👉 It's critical to actively encourage and incubate strong founders to pivot from security initiatives towards data engineering/AI infrastructure innovations. Read more by Anat in her recent take on approaching AI in the budget (link in comments). (Photo credit - PWC Israel)

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A Special BizLabs Session with Gigi Levy-Weiss Today we hosted a unique and intimate session for the founders in our BizLabs Technology Scalerator, a candid conversation with one of Israel’s most influential tech investors: Gigi Levy-Weiss. Gigi, formerly CEO of 888 and a senior executive at Amdocs, is considered one of the leading “super angels” in the industry. He has invested in companies like Playtika, Similarweb, Moon Active, MyHeritage and many more, and he co-founded NFX, a venture fund managing over $1B and investing in pre-seed and seed-stage startups. But beyond the impressive résumé, he brings a sharp worldview on how real, scalable companies are built: a culture of learning, rigorous performance, and an obsession with what truly matters. During the session, we discussed what actually catches his attention when meeting a founder: Not “another nice SaaS,” but startups that can scale fast, win global markets, build a real competitive moat, and leverage AI and data in smart and meaningful ways. And he was clear: the Haredi angle can be an advantage, but only when it translates into real business value, not just a nice story. Our founders came prepared, sharp, and focused, with their numbers in mind and a global mindset. It was a rare opportunity to learn directly from someone who operates at the top tier of the tech world and is willing to share his insights openly. Proud of our BizLabs community and of the Haredi entrepreneurs who continue raising the bar every day. The next generation of Haredi innovation is here — and it’s playing in the big leagues. Bizmax | The KEMACH Foundation | Nitzan Adler | Eli Dynovisz

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𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐩: December 2025 2025 is almost in the books And what better way to end the year with another massive exit... ServiceNow acquires Armis for an astounding $7.75B in cash. It's been quite an incredible year for Israeli cyber exits. With a handful of the largest M&As (Wiz, CyberArk, and Armis) in the Israeli hi-tech ecosystem. Truly remarkable. We end 2025 with more cyber funding rounds And Dr. Cyber has the scoop. So, here we go... Funding Rounds: → Saviynt raises $700M in Series B → Eon.io raises $300M in Series D → Fastly raises $160M Post-IPO Debt → 7AI raises $130M in Series A → Vega raises $120M in Series B → Antithesis raises $105M in Series A → Axiado Corporation raises $100M in Series C → Zafran Security raises $60M in Series C → Act raises $40M in Series A  → Echo raises $35M in Series A → SpecterOps raises $30M Venture Round → imper.ai raises $28M in Funding → Prime Security raises $20M in Series A → Kasada raises $19.9M Venture Round → Lumia Security raises $18M in Seed → vijil raises $17M Venture Round → Codenotary raises $16.5M Funding Round → Multifactor (YC F25) raises $15M in Seed → NetFoundry raises $15M in Series A → Resemble AI raises $13M in Strategic Funding → Equixly API Security raises €10M in Series A → Dux Security raises $9M in Seed → Helmet Security, Inc. raises $9M in Seed → Verisoul raises $9M in Series A → Alinia AI raises $7.5M in Seed → Saporo raises €7M in Series A → TestMachine raises $6.5M Venture Round → Mirror Security raises $2.5M in Pre-Seed → Realm.Security, Inc raises $2M Venture Round What else? → Israeli cybersecurity funding climbs to $4.4B, up 46% in 2025 → Proofpoint finalizes $1.8B acquisition of Hornetsecurity → Check Point raises $1.75B Upsized Private Offering of 0.00% Convertible Senior Notes → Cyera raises $400M at $9B valuation → Exein raises an additional €100M (€170M total) → Outpost24 acquires Infinipoint for tens of millions → Netskope shares dip over 5%  → Aqua Security lays off dozens in restructuring Huge congrats to Yotam Segev Ran Lampert Ben Seri Michael N. Stephan Goldberg Eilon Elhadad Shay Sandler Or Latovitz Noam Awadish 🎉 🎉 And as always... Follow Dr. Cyber Media 🩺 to stay in the cybersecurity loop.

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According to Crunchbase, the total volume of M&A deals in the U.S. during the first half of 2025 was around $100 billion. But here’s the catch: that figure includes the $32 billion acquisition of Israeli startup Wiz. If you exclude that deal, Israeli companies accounted for $64 billion in exits—compared to just $68 billion for the entire remaining U.S. market. That’s a truly staggering result. אין כמו ישראל 🇮🇱 🇮🇱🇮🇱

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I added the new Israeli Proptech startup landscape by TLV Partners to my 2025 collection on VC Cafe. There are over 200+ Israeli startups operating in the proptech sector (including a number of unicorns). The new crop of AI-first startups are penetrating every layer of the tech stack - from elevating the tenant experience and enabling predictive maintenance, to construction site monitoring and delivering AI-driven infrastructure insights. Link to the CTech by Calcalist article with the commentary below.

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Proud to see how quickly meaningful support can reach people when the right infrastructure is in place. Together with Cal (Israel Credit Cards), organizations such as EL AL Israel Airlines and municipalities like Beit Shemesh are able to distribute assistance quickly and efficiently to those who need it — anywhere in the world. We’re proud that the Custodia platform serves as the foundational infrastructure that makes initiatives like this possible. Glad we can help! A special thank you to our partners at MalamTeam and Custodia Israel for helping make this happen!

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I’ve always believed that top-tier customer support comes down to two things: tools and processes. We recently put this into practice for a major Israeli #telecom leader. By linking Service Cloud and #Salesforce-ERP, we gave them a system that’s faster, smoother, and ready to scale. Here’s a look at the solution 👇 #ServiceCloudImplementation #Synebo

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