An Opening Bell Ceremony was held this morning, featuring eight prominent founders of leading New York-based Israeli technology companies. The ceremony was led by Guy Franklin, Founder and CEO of Israeli Mapped in New York, an Israeli entrepreneur who established the network to promote and expand the footprint of Israeli tech within the New York ecosystem.
The invitation of the New York-based Israeli tech community, whose entrepreneurs serve as "ambassadors" of Israeli innovation, aims to bolster the continued success of Israeli firms in the United States and to enhance the collaborations and empower the business alliance between these two major cities.
In addition to Mr. Franklin, leading U.S.-based founders participated in the ceremony, including among others: Ofir Ehrlich (Eon), Dean Leitersdorf (Decart), Michal Tsur (Remepy), Shalev Hulio (Dream), Omer Bar Ilan (Kela), Asaf Peled (Minute Media), Ori Goshen (AI21), and Yaniv Vardi (Claroty).
The founders’ ringing of the opening bell symbolizes the economic and technological cooperation between Israel and the U.S., representing the investment and entrepreneurial opportunities arising from the integration of global markets. This special ceremony expresses the commitment of TASE to promoting Israeli technology companies, strengthening ties with international high-tech communities, and positioning the Israeli capital market as a key player on the global stage. Currently, nearly 500 Israeli startup companies operate in New York, primarily in the sectors of Cybersecurity, Fintech, AI, Digital Health, and Proptech.
Guy Franklin, Founder and CEO of Israeli Mapped in NY: “The Israeli tech community in New York is reaching new heights, driven by record-breaking capital raises and landmark exits, a momentum that is set to carry forward into 2026. Just as our innovation engine remained undeterred by war, so too the incoming mayor will be unable to stop the development of Israeli innovation, Israel's global calling card, from spearheading the New York tech scene.”
Dr. Dean Leitersdorf, Co-Founder and CEO of Decart: “This event underscores the critical importance of synergy between technological ecosystems for the growth of global companies. The Israeli ecosystem integrates deep research, entrepreneurship, and a robust capital market, enabling companies to scale from their earliest stages. Decart emerged from this environment, with operations in Tel Aviv and San Francisco, and has recently expanded its footprint to New York as part of a natural expansion into international markets and strategic partnerships.”
Ofir Ehrlich, Co-Founder and CEO of Eon: “Opening the market today signifies a new chapter for Israeli companies in general and technology companies in particular, operating with a dual-engine strategy: localized innovation in Israel and global expansion in New York. A presence in New York is a strategic gateway to premier talent and customer proximity, driving significant collaborative growth. Simultaneously, we are seeing Tel Aviv solidify its position at the forefront of global technological progress.”
Ori Goshen, Co-Founder and CEO of AI21: “At the heart of the AI revolution lies the way people work, create, and make decisions. New York and Tel Aviv are two leading hubs of global innovation, and the synergy between them enables the acceleration of technology development that will shape the future of work worldwide. The Israeli tech community in New York continues to spearhead deep and impactful solutions, driven by a commitment to open innovation, collaboration, and creating real market value.”
Shalev Hulio, Co-Founder and CEO of Dream: “Israeli technologies are currently at the forefront of innovation, at the heart of global activity, and at the core of decision-making for governments and public institutions worldwide. Participating in the Opening Bell Ceremony at TASE reflects the maturity of Israeli technology companies to operate successfully and reach unprecedented achievements in the international arena. At Dream, we develop AI systems that empower governments to navigate complex realities and make critical decisions on a national scale. This is not merely innovation; it is a tangible impact on the way nation's function and make decisions.”
Ron Klein, EVP Listings at TASE: “At TASE, we prioritize fostering direct synergy between Israeli tech visionaries and leading global innovation ecosystems, particularly in New York. This event underscores our dedication to creating a truly globalized local market, thereby empowering Israeli enterprises to expand internationally. Our strategic move to a Monday-Friday trading week further propels this momentum, ensuring that TASE-listed companies, already among the world’s top performers, have the necessary tools to thrive and grow, despite the geopolitical challenges of the past two years.”
In the photo – the founders visit the Stock Exchange together with the VP of the Economic Department.
The photo is without any financial compensation. Credit to the photographer: Elad Gutman.
