https://youtu.be/nTuSD8AoUDw?si=UHzoNnC_Ztmz5kO-
Universidad ORT Uruguay the conference “Startup Nation: International Business and Technology” on November 21, 2024. The event was organized by the Department of International Studies within the School of Business and Social Sciences.
The presentation was given by Miriam Berger—executive director of the Israel-Latin America Chamber of Commerce—who shared her insights on the Israeli entrepreneurial ecosystem and its impact on business.
Berger, with over 25 years of experience in global companies, is a key figure in Israel’s high-tech sector. His career includes working with major technology corporations and supporting emerging startups. In his presentation, he discussed the evolution of Israel’s technology sector and its impact on the global economy.
A global innovation ecosystem
Known as the "startup nation " or "scale-up nation," Israel has established itself as one of the world's leading hubs of innovation. Its technological development has been driven by a combination of factors: a strong entrepreneurial spirit, a technology-focused education system, and a close relationship between the private sector and the government. This synergy has led to advancements in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and medical technologies.
“I feel like all of Israel is in the high-tech sector. That’s not true, but a very large percentage of it is. Today there are about 7,000 startups there. Just as Uruguay’s population remains constant, so does this number. Many fail, but new ones are also launched,” she said. In addition to the multinationals setting up operations in the country, the expert noted that several companies are built from the ground up in Israel.
Among the leading Israeli companies, Berger highlighted the following: Amdocs, Wix, Mobileye, and Check Point.
“What does a startup need to grow? I like to compare it to a plant that needs love and care.”
The Role of Diversity in Entrepreneurial Culture
Another key focus of the talk was Israel’s cultural diversity and how it has influenced its high-tech ecosystem .
With immigrants from different countries and backgrounds, the country has managed to build a market where creativity and adaptability are essential. Berger emphasized that this diversity allows Israeli startups to think big from the start, designing products and services with a global perspective.
“Israel is a country of immigrants from all over the world, which is why its population and culture are so diverse—a factor that has a strong influence on the high-techecosystem, ”the expert added.
Expansion of Israeli startups into international markets
Startups tend to seek opportunities abroad, given the country’s size and its relationships with its neighbors. In this regard, the United States and Asia are typically the primary destinations for expansion, while Latin America still presents both a challenge and an opportunity for many Israeli tech companies.
Finally, regarding Israel’s current status as a technology hub, the expert noted: “Israel ranks third in the world in terms of the number of unicorns, behind the United States and China.”