Does the Start-Up Nation brand need a rebrand? - with Yonatan Adiri and Yael Wissner Levy

As Americans mark Independence Day, we're revisiting one of the most popular episodes of What's Your Number?, a conversation that feels even more relevant today. Yonatan Adiri and Yael Wissner Levy are joined by Dan Senor, host of Call Me Back and co-author of Start-Up Nation which revolutionized the world’s respect for Israel and its entrepreneurial spirit and successes. Nearly two decades after the book's publication, Israel's tech sector is stronger than ever, yet the country's global brand faces unprecedented challenges. What does this mean for Israel’s reputation, innovation and its place in the world?
Dan also remembers his young friend, the late Israeli entrepreneur and investor Zaki Djemal, whose final essay on Israel's future and memorial service are linked below.
Read a tribute to Zaki Djemal and his white paper here (timesofisrael.com/in-memory-of-zaki-djemal).
Watch Zaki Djemal’s memorial service here (youtube.com/watch?v=prGR1l-fMCE). ____
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In this episode:
08:00 – How Start-Up Nation changed Israel's image
14:35 – Israel's brand crisis after October 7
19:10 – Why global investors keep doubling down on Israel
25:55 – Does Israel need a new audience?
32:15 – The rise of defense tech
37:35 – AI, brain drain, and Israel's next challenge
44:30 – Does the "Start-Up Nation" reputation still apply?
46:55 – How would Dan characterize Israel's brand now?
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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo