Israeli Innovators Drive Global Tech Giants From Waze to Teva
Israel, a nation of just over 10 million people, has become a powerhouse in global technology and innovation, producing companies whose products are integral to daily life worldwide. These ventures span diverse sectors including navigation, software, pharmaceuticals, cybersecurity, and agricultural technology. While some remain Israeli entities, many have been acquired by international corporations or moved their headquarters abroad, yet their origins, founders, and core developments remain rooted in Israel.
The Israeli high-tech sector is a significant economic driver. In 2025, it generated approximately 352 billion shekels in products and services, with exports reaching $85 billion and employing around 400,000 people. High-tech accounted for 58% of Israel's total exports. The country consistently ranks among global leaders in research and development spending, with civilian R&D reaching 6.3% of GDP in 2023, significantly higher than the OECD average of 2.7%. This innovation boom has been decades in the making, with a notable surge in patent activity observed in the mid-1980s and early 1990s.
Several prominent companies exemplify this success. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, originating from a small Jerusalem wholesale business in 1901, is now a global leader in generic drugs, with 2025 revenues of $17.3 billion and operations supporting 240,000 jobs in 26 countries. Check Point Software Technologies, founded in 1993, pioneered the commercial firewall market and generated $2.725 billion in revenue in 2025, establishing cybersecurity as a major Israeli export industry. Mobileye, founded in 1999 by Amnon Shashua, transformed academic computer vision research into advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous driving technology, acquired by Intel in 2017 for $15.3 billion.
Navigation app Waze, founded by Israeli entrepreneurs, revolutionized real-time traffic information by leveraging user data and was acquired by Google in 2013 for approximately $1.1 billion. Website builder Wix, launched in 2006, empowers users without coding skills to create websites, boasting 304.2 million registered users globally and $1.99 billion in revenue in 2025. Workflow management platform monday.com, founded by Roy Mann and Eran Zinman, has become a global SaaS business with significant revenue growth. Freelance marketplace Fiverr, also founded in Israel, transformed the gig economy by connecting clients with digital service providers worldwide.
Other significant Israeli-founded companies include CyberArk, a leader in cybersecurity solutions for privileged access, which reported $1.361 billion in revenue in 2025. NICE, established in 1986, is a global provider of contact center solutions, AI, and automation, with 2025 net profits of $612.1 million. Messaging app Viber, founded in 2012, was acquired by Japan's Rakuten for $900 million. Agricultural technology firm Netafim, originating from a Negev kibbutz in 1965, pioneered drip irrigation and now operates in over 100 countries. Industrial tool manufacturer ISCAR was acquired by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in a multi-billion dollar deal. SodaStream, known for home carbonation, was acquired by PepsiCo for $3.2 billion in 2018.
The success of Israeli companies is attributed to a decades-long synergy between university research, skilled engineering talent, venture capital, defense technology, entrepreneurship, and a small domestic market that forces companies to think globally from inception. This ecosystem continues to thrive, with new generations of AI and cybersecurity companies emerging, attracting significant investment and driving global innovation.
