Does the Start-Up Nation brand need a rebrand? - with Yonatan Adiri and Yael Wissner Levy

2026-07-06

Download

As Americans mark Independence Day, we're revisiting one of the most popular episodes of What's Your Number?, a conversation that feels even more relevant today. Yonatan Adiri and Yael Wissner Levy are joined by Dan Senor, host of Call Me Back and co-author of Start-Up Nation which revolutionized the world’s respect for Israel and its entrepreneurial spirit and successes. Nearly two decades after the book's publication, Israel's tech sector is stronger than ever, yet the country's global brand faces unprecedented challenges. What does this mean f...

Dan also remembers his young friend, the late Israeli entrepreneur and investor Zaki Djemal, whose final essay on Israel's future and memorial service are linked below.

Read a tribute to Zaki Djemal and his white paper here.

Watch Zaki Djemal’s memorial service here.
____

Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going.

Become a Subscriber - Inside Call me Back
____

In this episode:

08:00 – How Start-Up Nation changed Israel's image

14:35 – Israel's brand crisis after October 7

19:10 – Why global investors keep doubling down on Israel

25:55 – Does Israel need a new audience?

32:15 – The rise of defense tech

37:35 – AI, brain drain, and Israel's next challenge

44:30 – Does the "Start-Up Nation" reputation still apply?

46:55 – How would Dan characterize Israel's brand now?

More Ark Media: