The Israel Asia Startup Connection

The shift has already begun This we all know. Well almost all of us. My American colleagues seem to be the last ones figuring out that as Israel’s startup scene has grown to world renowned status, its connections have also grown and they have not gone in the direction many anticipated a few years ago. Israel has been nurturing new relationships with many Asian nations. From India and China to Japan and Taiwan. The reasons for this are plenty, but I believe deep inside Israelis and Asians share a lot in common.

One of the reasons Israel’s startup scene really took off was partly due to the Israeli attitude that anything is possible. This in built belief in oneself coupled with hardwork allowed many Israeli startups to lift off. I see the same attitude in Asia: Small teams, great vision, and an intense desire to succeed.

When cultures begin to develop an organic desire to change their world good things happen. Asia is going through this now. Sure the exit is great, but the path to get there can light up and inspire many individuals. In Israel this path has created a new economy and many new partners around the world. In Asia the same dreams are changing on the ground realities right now. Take a look at Mongolia. Who would have thought that there would be a growing tech scene in Ulaanbaatar. Sure its still in its early stages and Mongolia is far more known for mining, but inspiration and ingenuity are needed and what I see is exciting.

Some words of advice for young startups. With all of this growth across Asia, there are some points to take note of , especially if one is a new startup bootstrapping it. It is fairly easy today to get something up and running. MVP’s are key in raising your first round so get it up and out there and yes get users. A lot can go wrong in the MVP stage and those things are usually over thinking product and future monetization. Since it is easy to build platforms of all stripes these days, comeptiton abounds. Know it well and learn how to be better. Investors don’t expect young startups to know everything, but they want to see users, problem solving, and of course dedication.

In the years to come, the direction will continue to shift East. Harnessing this directional shift will be key for sustained growth and inspiring younger generations to build startup cultures that thrive.