For nine consecutive years, Forbes magazine has been selecting the most promising young talents in Israel from a pool of thousands of applicants across various fields. These candidates vie for a coveted spot on the exclusive list.
Forbes Under 30 list includes young men and women, up to the age of 30, who have already achieved remarkable accomplishments in their respective fields and have led significant changes that left a mark on society. The list features 30 young people in the field of technology and an additional 30 in the fields of government, science and research, education and society, arts, entertainment, and sports.
What makes it even more unique is that upon being selected for the prestigious list, members of the Forbes Israel youth community become part of a global network, which includes a remarkable group of young talents from around the world. These members have already established extensive connections and are considered the next generation of leaders in a diverse range of fields.
A cyber warrior from the ISA, artificial intelligence developers, an environmental startup entrepreneur from New York, a cancer vaccine researcher, world-renowned models, and a footballer worth seven million euros – all took part in the exciting event.
Clockwise from top left: Roy Nisni, David Sa’ar and Shai Zenko, Uri Zamir and Uri Gov | Photo: Dmitry Gorodetsky
The unveiling of Forbes’ list of promising young people for 2023 was accompanied by an exclusive launch event for members of the Under30 community. The event took place in the ballroom of Pearl Cohen law firm and was attended by 60 members of the list, along with dozens of other impressive community members from previous years.
The event was emceed by Adi Weitzhandler, a 2016 Under30 list alumnus. It was graced by the presence of various distinguished personalities, including Itay Zahorai, editor of Forbes Israel’s Forbes Under30 list; Bank Hapoalim representative, Michal Kisos-Herzog, CEO of Hapoalim HI-TECH; Yael Shimon Mani, Partner in the Hi-Tech Group at Pearl Cohen’s Herzliya office attorney firm; Yam Atir, an Under30 graduate, and Tom Auerbach, a representative of the Under30 selected for 2023.
Clockwise from top left: Yael Shimon Mani, Michal Kisos-Herzog, Tom Auerbach and Adi Weitzchandler | Photo: Dmitry Gorodetsky
“Having had the privilege of working with exceptional leaders of all ages and learning from them, I am aware that young leaders such as yourselves possess the potential to shape the future in remarkable ways,” expressed Michal Kisos Herzog. “Whether you are just embarking on your leadership journey or have already achieved significant success, your commitment to making a positive impact on the world is truly commendable, and I have no doubt that you will accomplish great things in the years ahead.”
Adi Weitzhandler, a founding partner at Valoo, a startup that creates a smart investment platform for qualified investors, spoke about the current state of Israeli society during the event. “Those of us gathered here tonight are natural-born entrepreneurs, individuals who bring about change through the companies they’ve founded, impactful projects, groundbreaking research, art, and more. During times of chaos, people like us can and should flourish and make a difference. We’re here to help each other grow and succeed.”
Clockwise from top left: Bar Elmalich, Anna Zak, Ofer Ben Natan and Maya Rachlin | Photo: Dmitry Gorodetsky
Weitzhandler also discussed the recent financial disruptions. “Over the past eight months, Valoo has seen a 1600% increase in the number of shareholders seeking liquidity for their shares. This is, of course, beneficial for investors who wish to avoid the volatility of the capital market and instead make long-term investment opportunities.”
“Institutional bodies have also gained exposure to alternative assets that we have not seen before. With the current high-interest rates and the risks in the real estate market, it is clear why more and more investors are turning to alternative types of investments that are not subject to market volatility,” explained Weitzhandler.
Clockwise from top left: Gal Ullman, Roee On, Shon and Romi Spector and their parents, and Valeria Kogan | Photo: Dmitry Gorodetsky
Itai Zahorai, editor of the Forbes Under30 list and chief investigative editor of Forbes Israel emphasized the global impact of the project in his concluding remarks. “What makes this project even more unique and powerful is its global reach. The Under30 list was first published at the beginning of the previous decade and since then, the brand has gained enormous popularity. Today, it covers five continents and spans across approximately 30 countries around the world.”
“While we are gathered here today to reveal the list of promising young people in Israel, similar unveiling events are taking place all over the world- from Beijing to Tokyo and Seoul, Mumbai and Abu Dhabi, through Athens, Bucharest, Rome, Paris and Madrid to Rio de Janeiro Nero, Buenos Aires and New York.’
Clockwise from top left: Tom Nesher, Neria Kraus, Charlie Mubarchi and Adi Ikan | Photo: Dmitry Gorodetsky
“By making it to this prestigious list, members of Forbes Israel’s youth community join a global community of exceptional young talents from various parts of the world. These individuals have already established extensive connections and occupy powerful and influential positions in a wide range of fields across different countries.”
“This is undoubtedly the most prestigious and largest community of young people in the world, which already has tens of thousands of members and friends,” Zahorai concluded, “from global tech leaders who founded giants such as Facebook, Tik-Tok, Spotify and OpenAI, to pop and culture icons such as Billie Eilish, Rihanna and Taylor Swift, LeBron James and Kylian Mbappe.”
