In the world of tech, Israel is known for many strengths: startups, Nasdaq listings, cybersecurity, healthcare and defense. Now, add a booming stock market.
Thanks to new rules, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, called TASE, ranks among the world’s best performing. It’s even attracting listings from US tech companies that trade shares on US exchanges. Some US firms seek to be listed both in the US and overseas, so their Israel shares also can be part of international funds focused on ventures outside the United States, panelists said during Israel Tech Week held mainly at The Lab Miami in Wynwood.
Helping spur the market’s gains: TASE now trades Monday to Friday, the workweek common in western countries where Christian majorities hold Sunday dear. Encouraged by global investors, the stock exchange switched from Israel’s typical Sunday-Thursday workweek that honors the Jewish sabbath on Saturdays, panelists told a packed audience of funders, founders and others in Wynwood.
Indeed, Israeli companies who long preferred to go public on the tech-heavy US Nasdaq exchange now are looking to sell initial shares on the modernized TASE, said Natti Ginor, head of Israel investment banking for Jeffries, who is based in New York.
“I’m in discussion with seven Israeli tech unicorns now to do their IPOs on TASE,” Ginor said, during an afternoon session focused on finance for tech companies.
Israel’s tech, economy still strong despite wars
Israel has long shined in tech, earning the nickname Startup Nation. Just the size of New Jersey and home to only 10 million people, the country ranks third in the world for its number of high-tech companies – 9,000-plus, trailing only after the US and United Kingdom. It’s also third worldwide for Nasdaq listings, trailing the US and China, said Nir Netzer, founder of the Israel FinTech Association Fintech-Aviv.
Tech accounts for 20 percent of Israel’s economic output, 53 percent of its exports and a whopping 14 percent of its jobs, the largest share of tech employment in any nation worldwide, Netzer said.
Last year, even amid wars, Israel had more than $11 billion invested in its tech ventures and at least 750 startups founded. The country’s economy grew by 3 percent, and its trade balance stayed positive, underscoring the nation’s resilience, said Nathan Tsror, head of the Israeli economic mission to the US, based in New York.
Many of Israel’s startups are looking to the US to grow and setting up in South Florida, thanks partly to the area’s welcoming Jewish community and weather similar to Israel’s. Florida hosts more than 400 Israeli companies, with most in Miami-Dade County, according to a 2025 report from the US-Israel Business Alliance.
“It behooves [Israeli] CEOs to be near their market more than ever” to drive sales and learn the ropes of key markets overseas, said Lia Cromwell, an Israel-based partner at US venture-capital group Upwest, which holds a large portfolio of Israeli startups.
More people, more sectors
The second annual edition of Israel Tech Week in Miami kicked off with a reception Sunday and featured four days of panels focused on nine tech sectors, including space and defense.
Co-founder Lior Halabi said attendance topped 2,000 people, up from 1,500 participants last year, with more people coming from Israel than expected amid a ceasefire there.
“We’re looking forward to Israel Tech Week in Miami next year,” Halabi said.
The future of AI, laws for AI agents?
Like other tech conferences, Artificial Intelligence and venture capital commanded lots of attention at Israel Tech Week Miami.
“AI is changing the game. It’s a new playbook,” with startups now able to move more quickly and operate with fewer employees, said Avichay Nissenbaum, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Isarel-based VC Lool Ventures. His group is investing in a startup with three staffers and 10 AI agents. “Set up in an environment with agents who are going to help you do your work,” Nissenbaum advised founders.
Startup funding may also shift. “VC is not immune to AI and automation,” said Rachael Ferm, director of investments at Florida Funders, based in Miami. She suggests VC companies hone their strategies and seek differentiation in the AI era.
Legal systems still need to catch up amid AI’s speedy deployment. “The law doesn’t know how to deal with AI agents,” said Avital Haitovich, a partner in Israeli law firm Gornitzky & Co. “What happens if something goes wrong?”
Israel Tech Week Miami wound down Thursday, after sessions focused on AI, data infrastructure, automation and a curated AI startup showcase.
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