Conversation on Israel and Technology Draws San Jose Students

On February 8, 2010, more than 150 students and members of the San Jose State University community came together to learn about the enormous impact that Israel has had on the technology sector. The event kicked off with an overview on Israel and technology delivered by Akiva Tor, the Israeli Consul General for the Pacific Northwest. Tor’s presentation led into a panel discussion with David Perlmutter, executive vice president of Intel; Karen Alter, vice president of marketing for Better Place, and Sagi Rubin, investment manager at Virgin Green Fund, which examined the high-tech sectors in the U.S. and Israel.

In the course of the conversation, moderator David Steele, dean of SJSU College of Business, posed the question: Why has Israel has emerged as a leader in the high-tech field? Perlmutter pointed to Israel’s lack of natural resources -- unlike her neighboring oil-rich countries -- as one factor that has pushed Israelis toward innovation. Rubin offered a simpler reason for Israel’s high-tech success: chutzpah. In Israel, “you can’t be afraid to fail,” Rubin said. It’s Israelis, he said, who have the nerve to knock on a CEO’s door with a crazy idea and not fear the consequences. And according to Alter, Israelis’ inherent intellectual curiosity and drive for wealth have helped fuel its tech boom. Finally, the panelists took questions from the audience and dished advice on creating successful start-ups.

“Silicon Wadi Meets Silicon Valley: Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the U.S. and Israel” was co-sponsored by the Israel Center, Hillel of Silicon Valley, the Israeli Consulate to the Pacific Northwest, and the College of Business at San Jose State University.

For more information regarding campus events please contact Liron Biton at lironb@sfjcf.org