Israeli start-ups with women founders have a greater chance of success, say Google executives

• Published date: 25 March 2024
• Author: ALAN ROSENBAUM
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Despite these facts, last year, only 22% of start-ups founded in Israel had at least one woman on their founding team

Marta Mozes, Marketing Manager at Google for Startups, suggests that the solution to the inequity lies in education. "I think that the most important thing is that all of this starts from education from a young age. I think it's important for women to be exposed to academics, such as STEM, from a young age and to be exposed to other women in positions of power, whether it be the CEO of a multinational or a start-up founder. I think that it's so important for young girls from the very beginning, because it also influences what they'll study in university, and, if they're in Israel, what they'll do in the army. If we really want to make a big difference and push the needle, it's best to start from very early on."

Mozes adds that the IDF plays a significant role in the founding of start-ups. "We often hear that who you served with in the army tends to be who you'll form a start-up with, or what start-up you'll be hired to, and that tends to be a very closed 'boys club,' because those tend to be the people who are in the units that the start-ups come from. Opening up these worlds and opening up these networks is crucial for the next generations to change."

Having women role models and mentors, says Mozes, and having the support of female founders and other women in positions of authority and leadership can make a tremendous difference to women in high-tech, who then realize that they too can aspire to such positions.

The importance of leveling the playing field

Yuval Passov, Head of Google for Startups Israel, says that the Google for Startups Campus in Tel Aviv has been working since its inception to level the playing field for all entrepreneurs. "We've been working nonstop to promote women entrepreneurs in the ecosystem, and our mission is to level the playing field, allowing start-up founders, male or female, to get the same type of access to technology, to the best mentors, and to the best practices of Google."

Passov notes that 50% of the founders at the Google Campus are women...