600 top tech folk to party in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv in April
Forbes magazine plans ’30 Under 30′ gala event in Israel
Who are going to be the leaders of tomorrow’s world in tech, education, entrepreneurship, the arts, and more?
Whoever they are, if you choose 30 potential influencers, all under the age of 30, you have the makings of a gala event that highlights the accomplishments of young individuals who are already making a difference and are likely to continue doing so in the future.
That’s the idea behind Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Summit, which has been running in the US for the past three years, and which will be coming to Israel to highlight the achievements of top tech and entrepreneurial figures in Israel’s start-up industry, said Randall Lane, editor of Forbes.
The event is the business magazine’s effort to highlight the tech accomplishments of under-30s in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Israeli speakers will dominate the agenda, and the event itself will be taking place in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv over five days in April, said Lane. “We at Forbes have always been about entrepreneurs, and Israel has the entrepreneurial ethos that fits right in with our philosophy. Israel is the natural choice for a summit like this.”
“There are a lot of people with a lot of great ideas, with an entrepreneurial mindset,” said Lane, “There’s a vibe you get when you walk down the street in Tel Aviv that is very similar to what you feel in Silicon Valley.”
The summit itself will have something for everyone – not just for entrepreneurs, but for scientists, gamers, music lovers, and even foodies. The event is expected to bring together 600 young entrepreneurs and game changers from across the world, including 200 from the US, 200 from Europe and 200 from the Middle East and Africa, selected from the various Forbes 30 Under 30 lists.
Among the speakers are Shai Agassi, founder, Better Place and founder & CEO, Newrgy; Hani Alami, founder, Coolnet Broadband Solutions; Gai Hetzroni, founder & CEO GeoFree Software; Nadav Zafrir, co-founder & CEO, Team8; Brian Wong, co-founder & CEO, Kiip; former president Shimon Peres; Sir Ronald Cohen, co-founder, Apax Partners and chairman of Global Social Impact Investment Steering Group and The Portland Trust; Uri Levine, co-founder, Waze, co-founder and chairman, FeeX; and Israeli tech godfather Yossi Vardi.
Among the highlights of the four-day event, a “Co-Create” day with sessions headed by Sir Ronald Cohen, will be designed to spur ideas and accelerate the prospects of a positive social business; an under-30 Music Festival, featuring Israeli and Palestinian performers, as well as top US rock band Mae; and an Under 30 Food Olympiad, curated by longtime 30 Under 30 judge Lee Schrager, pairing top young chefs from America and Europe with Middle East counterparts.
That many of the events are taking place in Jerusalem (the music festival, for example, will take place in the Tower of David, and part of the program will take place in Ramallah as well) has not deterred anyone from attending, said Lane.
“I haven’t heard about any cancellations – in fact we are just about at capacity. The people coming in from abroad are young world changers who are used to traveling and are comfortable with new scenarios, and Israel is certainly a place many are curious about,” said Lane. “I have to admit I am not as familiar as those in Israel about the ins and outs of politics, but I am a big believer in the power of tech to build cooperation. The theme of the event is ‘Co-Investment, Co-Creation and Co-Existence,’ and that can only bring about positive things for everyone involved.”
Far more than just a business magazine, Forbes is a media empire that publishes the US edition of Forbes, as well as Forbes Asia and Forbes Europe magazines, and operates Forbes.com. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 80 million people worldwide each month through its magazines and 37 licensed local editions around the globe, as well as on websites, TV, conferences, research, social and mobile platforms.
