What's Your Number?

Ariel Sobelman, senior advisor at Israel’s National AI Agency and former semiconductor and security policy expert, explains Israel’s strategic AI role. He discusses infrastructure needs like data centers, chips, and energy. He explores Israel as a trusted tech outpost for allies and regional partnerships. He also tackles geopolitics, digital sovereignty, and the limits challengers face without semiconductor capacity.

Rakefet Russak-Aminoach, Managing Partner at Team8 and former CEO of Bank Leumi, blends banking, fintech and venture-building experience. She discusses Israeli entrepreneurs’ wartime resilience, how investors roll up their sleeves to build startups, her shift from banking to high tech, and why AI is both a risk and an opportunity for fintech.

Miad Maleki, a sanctions and Iran-economy expert and former Treasury OFAC official, explains why the Strait of Hormuz may be Tehran’s greatest vulnerability. He discusses Iran’s oil-export dependence, critical import chokepoints like gasoline and catalysts, internal regime splits over strategy, and how sanctions, stuck revenues, and Gulf financial pressure shape who might blink first.

Markets diverge as defense and deep tech rally while SaaS names suffer sharp drops. A fintech deep dive examines Wix’s troubles and broader AI pressure on SaaS. Ceasefire shifts spark talk of resumed flights, energy flows, and regional normalization. A focused analysis explores Israel’s century-strong shekel and its mixed effects on consumers, exporters, wages, tourism, and talent movement.

A market rebound fueled by ceasefire optimism and space and satellite stocks jumping. A debate over whether Iran’s use of the Strait of Hormuz bought short-term leverage or set the stage for long-term decline as global energy routes diversify. Contrasts between space winners and AI-era SaaS uncertainty. Critiques of Israel’s spending priorities and a dramatic take on Anthropic’s withheld AI model.

Yael and Yonatan are taking the week off to celebrate Passover with their families. Wishing all of our subscribers a safe and happy holiday.  Find us on: YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Yael on X  Yonatan on X Write to us here New episodes drop on Wednesdays LEGAL DISCLAIMER This podcast offers general business and economic information and is not a comprehensive summary for investment decisions. It does not recommend or solicit any investment strategy or security.  CREDITS: Hosts - YONATAN ADIRI & YAEL WISSNER-LEVY Executive Producer - ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY Production Manager - BRITTANY COHEN Community Manager - AVA WEINER Sound and Video editing - MARTIN HUERGO Music - MIDNIGHT GENERATION

Miad Maleki, a former senior Treasury OFAC official who helped design U.S. sanctions on Iran. He discusses how sanctions battered oil, petrochemicals and financial networks. Short takes explore the IRGC’s grip on Iran’s economy, the risks of closing the Strait of Hormuz, and what rebuilding might look like if the regime falls.

Market movers and sector splits take center stage as cyber shows resilience while AI and SaaS stumble. Sharp stock swings from Fiverr to Via and defense tech highlight shifting winners. A deep dive examines Iran’s economic tactics, oil dynamics, gas and chip risks, and looming fertilizer and food pressures. The conversation maps a three to four week runway before broader strain may surface.

They run through a market rebound amid sirens, highlighting rebounds in Israeli SaaS and rallies in defense tech. They explore a thesis that Iran is shifting to economic warfare—targeting oil, gas, fertilizers, data centers, and the Strait of Hormuz. They flag regional political shifts in Lebanon and budget tensions at home while weighing whether these strikes can move markets.

A brief update about a pause in new recordings while the presenters care for family amid missile attacks in Tel Aviv. Personal reflections on safety and sheltering during wartime. A short sign-off expressing hope to resume next week and well wishes for listeners.