Who are the most influential voices in Defense tech in Israel?

1. Eyal Zamir
2. Boaz Levy
3. Yoav Har-Even
4. Isaac Ben-Israel
5. Tamir Hayman
6. Aviv Shapira
7. Michal Mor
8. Inbal Kreiss
9. Ran Kochav
10. Shuki Yehuda

Conference Speakers - Defense Tech Expo 2026

Assessments regarding who constitutes the most influential or impactful voices in specialized sectors such as defense technology can vary significantly depending on whether influence is measured by technological innovation, venture capital investment, military-industrial leadership, or strategic policy contributions.

Below is an overview of prominent individual leaders, founders, and executives who play major roles in shaping Israel's defense technology and dual-use ecosystem:

1. Assaf Rappaport – Co-founder and CEO of Wiz, and a prominent figure originating from elite IDF tech units whose technological leadership and venture footprint heavily influence the broader Israeli tech landscape.

2. Amir Rappaport – Founder of Israel Defense , a leading publication and media platform tracking Israeli defense technology, policy, and military innovations. Introducing Israel's 30 Under 30 Most Promising Young Leaders in

3. Lital Leshem – Co-founder of Protego Ventures, actively investing in and scaling deep-tech and dual-use defense startups originating from Israel's intelligence and defense ecosystem. Protego Ventures closes $125m. Fund I | The Jerusalem Post

4. Lee Moser – Co-founder of Protego Ventures, prominent in directing capital and strategic partnerships toward Israeli defense-tech and national security startups. Protego Ventures closes $125m. Fund I | The Jerusalem Post

5. Uri Levine – Serial entrepreneur and innovator with deep roots in the IDF tech ecosystem, frequently consulted on scaling high-tech companies globally. Startup Soldiers: From the IDF to High-Tech Success

6. Yossi Vardi – Veteran tech investor and entrepreneur widely recognized as a foundational figure in the Israeli startup ecosystem, mentoring generations of founders entering dual-use and defense markets. Startup Soldiers: From the IDF to High-Tech Success

7. Eze Vidra – Managing partner and prominent investor connected to deep-tech ecosystems, advising early-stage innovators emerging from military intelligence units.

8. Yariv Gilat – Technology entrepreneur and investor involved in funding advanced dual-use technologies and strategic digital infrastructure in Israel.

9. Nadav Eylath – Head of specialized technological offices dealing with the intersection of military requirements and emerging commercial capabilities.

10. Elad Schulman – Researcher and technology leader contributing to advanced development frameworks bridging defense R&D and commercial applications. IDF: Funding, Team & Investors | Startup Intros

Based on reporting from financial and defense publications such as

TheMarker

,

TechCrunch

, and industry analysis on Israel's dual-use and defense tech ecosystem, here are the top 10 individual figures who shape and voice the trajectory of defense tech in Israel, ranked in order of industry influence: Protego Ventures closes debut $125M fund for Israeli defenseTech chiefs get seat in ranking of most influential Israelis

TechCrunch

Lital Leshem – Co-founder and Managing Partner of

Protego Ventures

, a major dedicated defense-tech venture capital ecosystem builder in Israel.

Lee Moser – Co-founder and General Partner of

Protego Ventures

, leading prominent financing and operational scaling for battlefield-proven Israeli tech.

Tal Kelman – Head of Strategy and Defense at

Protego Ventures

and former IDF Major General, bridging military strategy with private defense innovation.

Gil Shwed – Co-founder and Executive Chairman of

Check Point Software Technologies

, a towering foundational figure in Israeli cyber and national security tech infrastructure.

Amnon Shashua – Founder of Mobileye and prominent voice in applied AI, autonomy, and critical dual-use technology development.

Bentzion Levinson – Founder and CEO of Heven AeroTech, steering major advancements and scale in autonomous aerial defense applications.

Moshik Cohen – Noted deep-tech researcher and defense innovator bridging physical electronics, AI, and operational systems for Israeli defense capabilities.

Yoni Heilbronn – Co-founder and Managing Partner of

IL Ventures

, active investor and commentator on smart manufacturing, robotics, and supply-chain resilience for defense.

Shlomo Kramer – Co-founder of Check Point and Cato Networks, influential security architect shaping national cyber-defense dynamics.

Marius Nacht – Co-founder of Check Point and active deep-tech/cyber-defense angel investor steering early-stage security paradigms. TeamProtego Ventures closes $125 million fund for Israeli defenseGil Shwed - WikipediaRecord Fundraising, Record Valuations: Meet Forbes Israel'sWhere are Israel's Defense Tech Startups? - by Amir Mizroch'Whether you like it or not': The Israeli VC on who's reallyHighGil Shwed - Forbes

Protego Ventures

Protego Ventures

Protego Ventures

Check Point Software Technologies

IL Ventures

If you would like, I can provide details on the specific investment portfolios or military-to-tech backgrounds for any of these individuals.

Daniel Gold
Ran Kochav
Nadav Padan
Hadas Lorber
Merav Davidovits
Alon Dror
Hamutal Meridor
Amnon Shashua
Ziv Aviram
Yigael Yadin

Top 10 most influential voices in Israel’s defense technology today are listed below, ranked from most to least influential. These individuals are recognized for shaping Israel’s defense-tech ecosystem through leadership, innovation, and strategic impact.

🇮🇱 Top 10 Influential Figures in Israeli Defense Tech

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Machlis and Levy dominate due to their leadership of Israel’s two largest defense contractors (Elbit & IAI).

• Daniel Gold remains iconic for Iron Dome and ongoing R&D leadership.

• Inbal Kreiss is a rare female leader in missile and space defense, highly influential in shaping Israel’s strategic edge.

• Startup leaders (Elichai, Daniel, Shapira, Klein, Levinson) represent Israel’s “Defense-Tech Nation” shift, blending military innovation with commercial tech.

Would you like me to also highlight emerging under-40 leaders (from Israel’s “30 under 30” defense-tech list) who are rising quickly and may soon rival these established figures? That could give you a forward-looking view of influence.