🎙️ Eyal Bino: From Blue-Collar Roots to Building the Israel-New York Tech Bridge with 97212 Ventures
In this compelling episode, Eyal Bino, founding partner at 97212 Ventures, shares his remarkable journey from blue-collar family roots to becoming a leading venture capitalist connecting Israeli startups with the New York tech ecosystem. Through personal stories of cancelled engagements, career pivots, and entrepreneurial self-doubt, Eyal reveals how he built a unique accelerator model and now manages a portfolio of 70 companies with one unicorn success. From his early days helping international founders navigate New York’s emerging tech scene to creating the Israel-to-NYC pipeline that leverages the 972-212 area code connection, Eyal demonstrates how cultural bridges and founder-first mentality drive venture capital success.
✨ Key Insights You’ll Learn:
Career transformation from e-learning business development to venture capital founding
Building Iconic Labs accelerator: $3M across 50 companies with one unicorn exit
Israeli startup advantages: military tech background and entrepreneurial resilience culture
New York tech ecosystem evolution: from 100 VCs to hundreds creating massive opportunities
Cultural bridge importance: Israeli founders need local trust-building and customer connections
Time zone strategy: 7-hour difference vs 10-hour Silicon Valley gap enabling collaboration
Portfolio management approach: 35 of 50 companies still alive with 15 raising $20M+
AI transformation across industries: healthcare, legal tech, logistics moving beyond Excel
Zero-to-one specialization: helping pre-seed to Series A transitions with founder-friendly approach
Personal resilience lessons: cancelled wedding leading to perfect marriage and family
🌟 Eyal’s Key Mentors & Influences:
Wife and Family Support: Encouraged entrepreneurial leap when mentor suggested finding traditional job
Blue-Collar Parents: Mother nurse and father factory worker for 40 years providing work ethic foundation
Critical Mentor Figure: Office space provider who delivered harsh reality check spurring entrepreneurial transformation
Israeli Founder Community: Network of successful entrepreneurs in New York providing mutual support system
LP Investor Network: 50-60 limited partners including other fund managers offering specialized expertise
ConnectTeam CEO: Unicorn portfolio company founder now helping advise new pre-seed investments
👉 Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about venture capital innovation, cultural entrepreneurship, and how personal adversity fuels professional excellence in connecting global startup ecosystems.
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