Silicon Valley Heads to Tel Aviv for Ideas

Google gay pride (Niv Singer / Flickr / CC / Cropped)
Niv Singer / Flickr / CC / Cropped

Techies are in Israel ahead of a Wednesday event to participate in the TechCrunch Meetup and Pitch Off in Tel Aviv, where some of the best technological minds from Silicon Valley will merge their brainpower with one of the world’s leading nations in innovation and tech.

“It’s happening,” TechCrunch announced on their website Sunday. “The TechCrunch team landed in Tel Aviv and we’re in the starting blocks for the TechCrunch Meetup + Pitch-Off in Tel Aviv on Wednesday June 22. And it’s going to be an awesome event.”

Panels and meetings include discussions with an Israeli venture capitalist firm, a medical nanofiber technology company, a firm that deals with artificial intelligence, and another that is focused on the technology that gave the world self-driving cars, in addition to a host of others.

Additionally, attendees will participate in an intimate fireside chat with Israel’s ninth President, Shimon Peres. His son, Chemi, is a managing general partner and the co-founder of Pitango Venture Capital. Chemi will also participate in a panel titled “Israel, a diverse ecosystem.”

TechCrunch is also holding its traditional startups pitch contest, where ten companies will pitch their ideas and “fiercely compete for first place.” The winner will receive a table at the Startup Alley at TechCrunch Disrupt in London, and second and third places will respectively receive two tickets and one ticket for the big show.

Israel has been at the forefront of technological innovation for decades, and the “start-up nation” has also helped California directly with water technology, aiding the Golden State as it recovers from a dangerous fifth year of crippling drought.

All the hard work aside, TechCrunch notes that they are also “looking forward to having a drink with all of you.” Tel Aviv is one of the world’s party capitals, with dance clubs and bars open around the clock — even on Jewish holidays in the predominantly secular beachfront city.

The full schedule for Wednesday’s events in Tel Aviv can be found here.

Follow Adelle Nazarian on Twitter @AdelleNaz

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