Venture capitalist Yitz Applbaum discusses government initiatives and economic growth across the Gulf region with Joe Lonsdale.
Assertion Contradicted
Israel's Unit 8200 encourages departing soldiers to commercialize non-classified military tech
“If you're at 8200, of course, which is the most famous of the Israeli military units in tech and in cyber, although there are many when you leave the military, believe it or not, you're actually encouraged to take that technology with you. Now, I don't mean if…”
Insight
Abraham Accords succeeded by prioritizing defense and economics over the Palestinian conflict
“Economic prosperity is what drives so many people today, especially in the region, especially where we've come from and they've come from. And this was approached really from the perspective of defense. There was a lot of stuff that went on behind the scenes a…”
Opinion
Saudi Arabia sets the strategic direction for the broader Arab world
“Saudi really is the leader in the region from that perspective, and as Saudi goes, the rest of the Arab world goes”
Disclosure
MizMaa Ventures refuses Israeli startups lacking design partners or early customers
“Today, we don't invest in an Israeli company that doesn't have a design partner, that doesn't have a beta or an alpha customer, because how do you know what you're supposed to build?”
Assertion Supported
Israel quietly shared intelligence and medical care with Arab states for 25 years
“Also hosting families and hospitals in Israel. You cannot imagine how many stories I hear of people who come to Sheba Hospital from the Arab states, not in the last 24 months, in the last 25 years. That made a very big difference. And also, sharing of intellig…”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
UAE grants Israeli founder visas in months while the US takes years
“If you're an Israeli and you want to go move to the U.S. With your family, it could take you a year, two years to get all the visa. If you want to come work or start a company from Tel Aviv in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, you can bring your whole family and all your frie…”