The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange hosted a special Opening Bell Ceremony on Tuesday morning, welcoming eight prominent founders of New York–based Israeli technology companies in a show of strengthening economic and technological ties between the two global innovation hubs.
The delegation was led by Guy Franklin, Founder and CEO of Israeli Mapped in New York, a network he established to promote Israeli tech companies operating in the New York ecosystem.
Joining Franklin at the ceremony were 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)-all founders of major Israeli-led companies with significant operations in New York.
Franklin said the event captures the resilience and upward trajectory of the Israeli tech community abroad.
“The Israeli tech community in New York is reaching new heights, driven by record-breaking capital raises and landmark exits,” he said. “Just as our innovation engine remained undeterred by war, so too the incoming mayor will be unable to stop the development of Israeli innovation from spearheading the New York tech scene.”
According to a release by the TASE, 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.”
Nearly 500 Israeli startups are operating in New York, primarily in the sectors of cybersecurity, fintech, AI, digital health and proptech.
TASE said the bell‑ringing symbolized the economic and technological cooperation between Israel and the US, 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,” it said.
Ron Klein, EVP Listings at TASE, said the exchange is committed to deepening its engagement with the global market to help Israeli enterprises to expand internationally.
“We prioritize fostering direct synergy between Israeli tech visionaries and leading innovation ecosystems, particularly in New York,” he said. “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.”
Dr. Dean Leitersdorf, Co-Founder and CEO of Decart, highlighted the importance of synergy between tech 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,” he said.
Ofir Ehrlich, Co-Founder and CEO of Eon, described the dual‑engine model many Israeli companies now adopt- localized innovation in Israel while globally expanding 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, emphasized the shared leadership of both cities who are at the heart of the AI revolution.
“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” he said.
Shalev Hulio, Co-Founder and CEO of Dream, noted the global impact of Israeli technologies, saying that they “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.”
Dream develops AI systems that empowers governments to navigate complex realities and make critical decisions on a national scale.
In collaboration with Israeli Mapped in New York