5 Life lessons learnt in Israël
The Start'HEC student club organized a unique technology trip to Israel. 17 students left for 6 days during the February break to discover Israel's formidable entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystem.
The students began their stay by visiting the Jaffa Institute, an NGO that works with disadvantaged children. Emphasis was placed on the importance of education to get young people out of their precarious situation by Yaacov Perez. Then without transition they plunged into the media world and the latest technologies developed by i24News, an Israeli international 24-hour news and current affairs television channel that broadcasts in French, English and Arabic. The channel's owner is Patrick Drahi, and the CEO is Frank Melloul.
The intense first day ended with a visit to Via, a journey sharing startup that helps people move around the cities. Similar to Uber, Via is more ride-sharing focus.
The stay then continued a little further inland, with 2 visits to Be'er Schiva, the Dalet company, and Incubit, a VC specializing in new technologies. Owned by Elbit Systems, Israels biggest defense company, their goal is to identify technologies that may have an application in the defense industry.
After a break in the desert, they went to Jerusalem where they met with OrCam that develops devices to assist the blind and visually impaired, and at the end of the week, they discovered the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, its 18 faculties, its 15000 students, "we could have gotten lost" says India Fourcade, student of L3, "We had the chance to meet Schuli Shwartz, Research Scientist, who spent a lot of time with us, explained the different university paths and fields, but also took the time to get to know us and identify our needs »
A full program and many memories, but also lessons that the Start'HEC team would like to share with us.
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The people you meet are as important as the technology you create. Israel is a cluster of new technologies. But it's also a place that regroups people from all backgrounds. Many startups founders met during the mandatory military service.
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Legal issues matter. Will it be patent agreements or advertising regulations, legal technicalities can make the life or death of a startup.
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Don't be afraid to expand and delegate. For Via and Israeli startups, their market isn't a 8 million inhabitants country. It's the world. And to expand worldwide, you must be willing to delegate to other people and trust them.
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Take advantage of what you have. Israel's universities, like Technion, have previously profited from the re-emigration of Jewish scholars from Germany. This gave a head start to research and created a long-lasting culture of research in high tech.
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When you have nothing, go toward the unknown and be a pioneer. Will it be in business models, technology, or marketing, innovation awaits everywhere.
Look back at the trip with India Fourcade, L3
« This trip to Israel was enriching for me both culturally and professionally. The dynamism, pioneering spirit and constant pursuit of excellence and innovation truly make this country a "startup nation". During visits to companies as different as each other in their field of expertise, we could see that they shared the same entrepreneurial values. I left with an interest in entrepreneurship, I came back determined to finally start and create this startup that I have been thinking about for too long already. »
Participating Students:
Matias Melo-Felgueres, Alexia Dubois, Anton Barthelmess, Baptiste Wiel, Céline Bertrix, Corentine Gazier, Mathieu Capelle, Nicolas Oulianov, Margaux Wehr, Louis Karcenty, Yang Ou, Della Wang, Yannick Bartsch, Lorenz Wolfel, Louis Kong, Nicolo Cravero et India Fourcade.
