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On February 11, 2025, the “Definitely Defense” conference, organized by iHLS in collaboration with Amit Pollak Matalon & Co. and Deloitte, brought together leaders from Israel’s defense industries, defense-tech startups, and investors from Israel and around the world. The event highlighted trends, challenges, and opportunities in defense technology and investment.
The conference kicked off with a welcome reception, followed by opening remarks from Adv. Yonatan Altman, Chairman of APM & Co., who emphasized the critical need for innovation and investment in the defense and technology sectors. This set the stage for a series of engaging discussions throughout the day.
Yigal Unna, former Director General of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, then presented iHLS’s new defense tech investment fund. He outlined the vital role of startups and innovation hubs in strengthening national and global security in the face of emerging threats.
The event then followed with two expert-led panels, one focusing on investment in the defense sector, while the other discussed current trends in defense tech.
The “Investors and Funds” Panel examined investment in the growing defense tech market. The panel featured experts like Adv. Yoav Etzyon, Managing Partner at APM & Co.; Rotem Yehuda Kakon, Strategic Investor at Family Office; Lital Leshem, Co-Founder of Protego Ventures; Rotem Eldar, Managing Partner at 10D; and Jason Wolf, Co-Founder of Iron Nation.
The panelists discussed the changes that have taken place in the defense sector in recent years, from an investor’s perspective. They described how there has been a rise in defense startups in recent years, shifting from the state-backed industries that dominated the field almost exclusively for many years. The panel described how defense investments are increasingly focusing on software, artificial intelligence technologies, and autonomous systems in response to global instability. The panel also expressed its belief that Israel has the potential to become an international leader in the defense-tech field.
The “Industry Trends” Panel followed, featuring key leaders in Israel’s defense sector, including Eli Tidhar, Deloitte Defense Sector Leader, Dr. Gal Harari, CTO, DDR&D (MAFAAT), Dr. Avital Schrift, VP Core Technologies, IAI, Eli Friedman, VP for Innovation, Elbit Systems and Naomi Israeli, CIO, Rafael.
The panel explored the rapid pace of technological advancements in defense, rising from geopolitical events such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Swords of Iron War, including the swift adoption of technologies like 3D printing, drones, and artificial intelligence. The participants also pointed out the challenges that defense tech startups face in meeting the long-term demands of the defense sector, including scalability and reliability over many years. The discussion also addressed the importance of collaboration between startups and large defense companies. The participants concluded by emphasizing that innovation and ongoing investment are crucial for shaping the future of defense
The “Definitely Defense” conference successfully highlighted Israel’s leadership in defense innovation and provided a valuable platform for discussing the industry’s future and for fostering partnerships. The event reinforced the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and forward-thinking in shaping the next generation of defense solutions.
