What's Your Number? What's Next for Israeli IPO's? - with Oren Zeev
Sep 10, 2025
In this discussion, Oren Zeev, a solo venture capitalist known for backing Israeli startups like Houzz and Navan, shares insights on the evolving landscape of Israeli IPOs. He highlights the resilience of the local tech ecosystem and the unique challenges faced by solo venture capitalists. The conversation also delves into the strategic partnership between Israel and India, focusing on its potential impact on investments and exports, as well as the necessity for improved government responses to civilian needs following recent crises.
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India As A Long-Term Strategic Anchor
- Yonatan argues Israel should pivot strategic ties eastward with India as a long-term anchor.
- He sees India as critical for economic and security partnerships beyond the US relationship.
Solo VC Model Scales Without Partners
- Oren Zeev became a solo VC by investing personally, leading rounds, and then accepting LPs after proving the model worked.
- He scaled to institutional capital while keeping the solo operator advantages intact.
From Personal Checks To Institutional Funds
- Zeev funded early rounds like Houzz and Navan personally before raising outside LPs.
- A casual meeting with Peter Thiel prompted him to convert his personal investing into a formal fund.