YKC: June...
"Don't wish it was easier, wish you were better"
Welcome back to YKC. I will be attending Cyber Week later this month in Tel Aviv, writing about the conference, and continuing to write profiles of interesting professionals on my LinkedIn.
I am also going to start profiling everyday heroes from the tech community during the summer in Israel. If you know of someone who you’d like to nominate for a featured post, please respond to this email.
For those attending Tech Week in New York this week, this is a good calendar of events: 2024 Official Tech Week Calendar.
LinkedIn Ghostwriting: As many of you may know, I've spent the past few years immersing myself in the world of LinkedIn. Given this, I've been offering LinkedIn ghostwriting services, and have been helping founders, investors, and executives amplify their voice, share their expertise, and build their personal brand online.
If this service is something that you (or someone you know), would be interested in exploring further, I'd love to set up a time to chat. To set up a time to speak just click here.
“A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once. It seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.”
-William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
Opinion | Therapy Culture Has Undermined Our Maturity by David Brooks: I believe our collective mental health as a society is something which needs to be addressed. I’m often asked by people in Israel about the protestors… and how to deal with people who seem to lack any basic empathy, and am often at a loss for words. This has been brewing for some time… the events of October 7th, and the war which followed that terrible day, brought this out into the open.
Therapy culture may be well meaning (even though there are commercial interests involved), but the most pernicious element is that it stops people from developing their own coping mechanisms. If someone is “triggered” by a difficult emotion, they are only a text away from being self-soothed… so instead of using mental tools to face challenges, people are doing what they can just to avoid those difficult emotions. With AI poised to take over so much of our working lives, the one thing which we actually have, are interpersonal skills. My worry, is what value can someone new to the workforce (who does not have experience, or connections) bring to the table if everything is automated? The natural answer would be youth, positive energy, and interpersonal skills… and it’s those vital skills that are at risk of not being developed. Therapy culture is part of the problem, but of course social isolation, and excessive time on social media, are all factors as well. The fact that I’ve heard that there is a lot of pro-Palestinian sentiment in the therapist community is not surprising either, but disappointing (I’ve stopped having expectations for any liberal minded groups and organizations these days).
Regarding therapy itself, while I believe that different forms of talk therapy can be beneficial, I don’t think it’s a one size fits all solution, (personally I journal using prompts), and not every difficult emotion needs to be viewed through the lens of psychopathology. Sometimes life is just… hard. And that you’ll eventually figure it out, and come out stronger and better as a result of facing (and overcoming), life’s challenges.
Remagine Ventures: They’re Hiring! Join Remagine Ventures as a Venture Capital Analyst! Are you a motivated and enthusiastic self-starter with a passion for Israel’s tech scene? Remagine Ventures is looking for an analyst to join our team in Tel Aviv! Work alongside their Tel Aviv and London partners, perform market research, evaluate investment opportunities, and support their dynamic venture capital activities. Apply now via this form here.
ZORA Ventures: Climate Tech VC Principal. They are pleased to be adding a Principal to their team at ZORA Ventures. If you or someone you admire is an experienced VC investor excited about scaling Israeli climate innovations for a brighter future, they want to meet. Please reach out to Elsa Katz (elsa@zora.vc) for more information or apply.. Cover letters detailing your interest are always appreciated. Apply here.
Israeli genAI hackathon: Once a decade, there's a chance to explore a completely new technology that transforms the way we build digital products. HackAI TLV is a chance to explore your most innovative ideas and your skillset, connect with industry leaders, and compete over prizes and recognition. JUNE 26-27. Apply here.
Cocktails & Connections: FinTech Executive Happy Hour: Join them for an exclusive evening of networking and connection-building at Cocktails & Connections: FinTech Executive Happy Hour, hosted by GUTS Innovation Hub in collaboration with Blumberg Capital and ViewPoint Ventures, at JVP Margalit Startup City New York. Tuesday, June 4, 6:00 PM. Margalit Startup City New York,122 Grand St, New York. Register here.
Yom Yerushalayim & A Model for Building Bridges: Fadi Suidan, the CEO of the Jerusalem YMCA will explore the unique role the Jerusalem International YMCA plays in bringing together diverse communities through its inclusive programs and initiatives. By sharing his experiences and success stories working with peoples from every walk of life (Jews, Muslim Arabs, Christian Arabs, Palestinians from East Jerusalem) he will highlight the importance of organic collaboration when it comes to building a stronger, more cohesive society. Starts on Wednesday, June 5 · 8pm IDT. Old North Tel Aviv-Yafo. Register here.
Beyond the Feed: Empowering Creators to Own Their Audience: Creator Economy NYC is excited to partner with beehiiv, for an incredible event during NYTechWeek. Kickstart your day with enriching insights and convos over a taste of New York with bagels, coffee and mimosas alongside fellow leading content creators, digital media experts, founders, marketers and investors. Wednesday, June 5th, 10:00 AM EDT. Register to See Address. New York, New York. Register here.
Founders Night with VCs & Angels NYC #TechWeek: Join them for a private invite-only Founders Night hosted by Entre and Fidelity. Open Bar and good vibes with top tier NYC founders and investors at a special rooftop location. Wednesday, June 5. 7:00 PM EDT. Register to See Address. New York, New York. Request to join here.
Layla Lavan Boat Party - Shavuot Summer Yacht Party - White Night: SHAVUOT Layla Lavan Summer Yacht Party. 2 Floor Yacht - 1 Indoor floors with Huge Windows to see the magnificent views, big tables for bottle service, great sound and amazing lighting with 350 person capacity! 1 Outdoor floor at the top to enjoy the breeze and the open sky views! Saturday - June 8. Jewel Yacht on 23rd street and FDR. Boarding: 10:30pm - 11:15pm (entry closes at 11:15pm sharp DO NOT BE LATE). Sailing: 11:15-2:30am. Tickets here.
FoundersBoost NYC Demo Day, Spring 2024: They invite you to meet the promising pre-seed startups from our spring cohort! In addition to hearing the amazing pitches, you’ll be able to network with other investors, incredible mentors, supporting partners, program leaders, and the startup founders. Refreshments will be served. Tuesday, June 11th. 5:30 PM EDT. Register to See Address. Register here.
2024 MetaProp Accelerator Demo Day: They’re excited to extend an invite to the 2024 MetaProp Accelerator Demo Day. Join us on June 18th at 300 Madison Ave in NYC. Demo Day is the culmination of months of intense growth focus and offers a rare chance for investors, strategics, enthusiasts, and select media to see and hear from the latest crop of innovative PropTech startups. June 18th, 9:00 AM. Location: 300 Madison Ave, New York. Register here.
Climate x AI: Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Epsilon invite you to join their event highlighting the intersection of climate tech and artificial intelligence. During the event, they will explore the possibilities of utilizing AI to address climate challenges and optimizing AI infrastructure to reduce emissions. Wednesday, June 19 6:00 PM IDT. Microsoft Reactor Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Tel Aviv District. Register here.
Building the Future, Twice Over: From Founding Startups to Funding Founders: Calling all Startup Grind Israel hustlers! This June, they're celebrating SG Women Month by shining a light on the incredible women shaping the future of tech. Join them for a fireside chat with Hilla Ovil-Brener, serial entrepreneur, investor, and champion for women in business! Jun 23, 8:00 AM. Ashtrom Port, David Ben Gurion Rd 1, Bnei Brak. Register here.
Registration - Tech vs. Hate: Combating Online Antisemitism: Since October 7th, we have seen a surge of hate, bigotry, and antisemitism online. In response, leading tech companies are joining the fight against antisemitism by leveraging their unique technology to combat policy violations and mitigate harmful narratives, fueled by propaganda and misinformation. The event will take place on Wednesday June 26th, at 19:00 at Tel Aviv University, as part of the Cyber Week/AI Week conferences. Register here.
YJP Pre-Fourth of July Party - July 3rd: PRE-FOURTH OF JULY PARTY at TBD. Party with them on Wednesday, July 3rd. At TBD - One of NYC's Hottest Rooftop Club. Doors Open at 10:00 pm. SOUNDS BY TBD *Table Specials Are Available for Purchase. One of NYCs Hottest Clubs. 400+ People Expected. NYC's Best Young Professionals Crowd. Open Format, Israeli, Top 40 & House. July 3 · 10pm EDT. Jewel Yacht - Skyport Marina. 2430 FDR Drive New York. Tickets here.