Itai Zehorai, Author at Forbes Israel

Assaf Rappaport and Merav Bahat. The two worked together at Microsoft’s Israel R&D center, invested in each other’s companies, and are now teaming up on a joint fund | Photos: Netanel Tobias

Portfolio Revealed: The Companies, Investors and Founders Behind Merav Bahat and Assaf Rappaport’s New Fund

Itai Zehorai November 2, 2026

Stardust, the fund launched by the founders of Dazz and Wiz, unveils its portfolio companies, including an AI lab it backed at a $1 billion valuation in its seed round. Alongside Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz and Greylock, its backers include Index, Accel and Redpoint, as well as some 20 prominent founders from Israel and Silicon Valley • “Capital is abundant today,” Bahat tells Forbes Israel, “The added value we bring is human capital.”

Amir Naveh (left), co-founder of Classiq, receives the Forbes Israel Next Billion Dollar Startups award from Itai Zehorai, editor of the list. | Photo: Yossi Aloni, Forbes Israel

At Quantum Speed: Forbes Israel’s Next Billion-Dollar Startup Classiq Sells to Intel for $2.3 Billion

Itai Zehorai October 26, 2026

The quantum computing startup, whose founders were also named to the Forbes Israel 30 Under 30 list, is being acquired by Intel in the largest deal in the history of the quantum computing industry, making it a unicorn.

Mickey Haslavsky, Founder and CEO of enso | Photo: enso

Mickey Haslavsky’s AI Startup Raises $15 Million Led by MoreTech Ventures

Itai Zehorai October 1, 2026

enso, which builds and operates AI agent systems for marketing and sales, has completed a Series A round, bringing its total funding since inception to $23 million. The company’s clients include MyHeritage, Papaya Global and Israel-Canada

SENSEANA Sea Side Resort & Aquadventure - Main Pool Lounge | Photo: Golden Hotels & Resorts

Best of Both Worlds: A Family Vacation That Doesn’t Skip on Luxury – We Visited SENSEANA in Crete

Itai Zehorai September 18, 2026

A stay at one of the Greek SENSEANA hotel group’s properties proves that a family vacation and a luxury getaway can happen in the same place, at the same time • From the pool to the spa, from the water slide to the private beach and the Italian restaurant: this is what a vacation that pampers both kids and parents looks like

Forbes Israel Next Billion Dollar Startups: Meet the Promising Startups of 2026

Itai Zehorai September 17, 2026

Cyber and AI, gaming and fintech, digital health and quantum computing – Forbes Israel presents: these are the innovative, promising startup companies selected for the Next Billion Dollar Startups list of 2026

"I'm just deciding whether to invest based on the person sitting in front of me." Gili Raanan | Photo: Yossi Aloni

“I Came to Change the Rules of the Game”: Venture Capitalist Gili Raanan in an Exclusive Interview with Forbes Israel

Itai Zehorai September 15, 2026

Less than a decade ago, Gili Raanan left a partnership at a global venture capital giant to launch a small fund. Today, Cyberstarts manages $1.5 billion in assets and holds the seed investment that became Google’s largest-ever acquisition and one of the biggest deals in tech history • In a special interview with Forbes Israel, Raanan discusses the unconventional method behind his success, his family tragedy, the AI revolution on the horizon – and why, of all things, he invested in a basketball club

"The vision - to build the next great cybersecurity category, one that brings an entire market with it." Right to left: Roy Weisfeld and Itai Gafni | Photo: Yair Glazer

In the Big Leagues: Huskeys, Cyber Startup of 30Under30 Alumni, Closes Second Round Led by Blackstone

Itai Zehorai September 2, 2026

Itai Gafni and Roy Weisfeld, named this year to Forbes Israel’s 30Under30 list, complete an additional $27 million raise and report a doubling of headcount. Investment giant Blackstone led the round in its first Early-Stage cybersecurity bet in Israel – joining existing backers that include soccer star Mario Götze and NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald.

"A Natural Connection, Personally and Professionally". Michael Matias and Alex Bouaziz | Photos: Omer HaCohen, Nir Slakman, Yossi Aloni

Two Under30 Alumni, One Deal: Alex Bouaziz’s Deel Acquires Clarity, Founded by Fellow List Member Michael Matias

Itai Zehorai August 3, 2026

Clarity, the AI Security startup founded by Forbes Israel Under30 alum Michael Matias, has been acquired by Deel – the global workforce management platform led by fellow list alum Alex Bouaziz • The technology, originally developed to detect deepfakes, will now be built into Deel’s platform to protect organizations against the growing threat of impersonated employees

Forbes Next Billion Dollar Startups | Photo: Yanai Alfasi

A New Class of Unicorns: Registration Opens for Forbes Israel’s Next Billion Dollar Startups 2026

Itai Zehorai July 9, 2026

Which Israeli startups will cross the $1 billion threshold in the coming years and earn the coveted “unicorn” status? Forbes Israel opens registration for the 2026 edition of Next Billion Dollar Startups, with the participation of dozens of leading venture capital funds and investors from Israel and around the world.

The 2026 Forbes Israel 30Under30 class | Photo credit: Nir Slakman

Record Fundraising, Record Valuations: Meet Forbes Israel’s 30Under30 for 2026

Itai Zehorai July 6, 2026

The 11th edition of Forbes Israel’s 30Under30 shatters records: 35 entrepreneurs, 23 startups, more than $1 billion in funding, and a combined valuation exceeding $6.6 billion – all before the age of 30

Itai Zehorai

Portfolio Revealed: The Companies, Investors and Founders Behind Merav Bahat and Assaf Rappaport’s New Fund

At Quantum Speed: Forbes Israel’s Next Billion-Dollar Startup Classiq Sells to Intel for $2.3 Billion

Mickey Haslavsky’s AI Startup Raises $15 Million Led by MoreTech Ventures

Best of Both Worlds: A Family Vacation That Doesn’t Skip on Luxury – We Visited SENSEANA in Crete

Forbes Israel Next Billion Dollar Startups: Meet the Promising Startups of 2026

“I Came to Change the Rules of the Game”: Venture Capitalist Gili Raanan in an Exclusive Interview with Forbes Israel

In the Big Leagues: Huskeys, Cyber Startup of 30Under30 Alumni, Closes Second Round Led by Blackstone

Two Under30 Alumni, One Deal: Alex Bouaziz’s Deel Acquires Clarity, Founded by Fellow List Member Michael Matias

A New Class of Unicorns: Registration Opens for Forbes Israel’s Next Billion Dollar Startups 2026

Record Fundraising, Record Valuations: Meet Forbes Israel’s 30Under30 for 2026

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