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TCTV: Interview with Saul Singer, co-author, Startup Nation

Mike Butcher

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Mike Butcher is the European Editor for TechCrunch. A former grunge rock drummer, he became a long time journalist, and has since written for UK national newspapers and magazines including The Financial Times, The Guardian, The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The New Statesman. Mike is also a co-founder and shareholder of TechHub, a co-working space/service/community with several locations... → Learn More

Monday, January 17th, 2011
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Saul Singer is co-author, with Dan Denor, of “Start Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle.” I was given an early edition of this book a couple of years ago and it’s a brilliant read. It tells the story of how, hampered by an Arab nation boycott that makes regional trade impossible and with precious little natural resources, Israel managed to instead become a major player in the global business world, especially in technology. Israel has the highest number of startups per capita of any nation in the world and a very large venture capital eco-system which the government supported in a very far-sighted manner via the Yosma programme in the 1990s.

The book is a fascinating exploration of how Israel’s mandatory military and reserve service, a “critique” culture, ongoing inward immigration and a cultural embrace of risk helped bring this about.

I managed to catch up with Saul on a recent trip to Israel and record the below interview:


  • http://eu.techcrunch.com/2011/04/05/six-launches-at-techonomy3-the-latest-from-the-nation-of-startups/ Six launches at #Techonomy3 – the latest from the Nation of Startups

    [...] launch event Techonomy3, organised by uber-blogger Orli Yakuel, I can confirm that this is, as Saul Singer’s book says, the card-carrying Startup Nation. That’s not to say that we need to worry in Europe – [...]

  • http://jetlib.com/news/2011/04/05/six-launches-at-techonomy3-%e2%80%93-the-latest-from-the-nation-of-startups-2/ Six Launches At #Techonomy3 – The Latest From The Nation Of Startups | JetLib News

    [...] launch event Techonomy3, organised by uber-blogger Orli Yakuel, I can confirm that this is, as Saul Singer’s book says, the card-carrying Startup Nation. That’s not to say that we need to worry in Europe – [...]

  • http://www.israeltrade.org.au/top-15-israel-news-articles-published-in-the-uk-for-2011/ Top 15 Israel News Articles Published in the UK for 2011 | Israel Trade Commission

    [...] TechCrunch          Interview with Saul Singer, co-author, Startup Nation   [...]

  • Anonymous

    Saul Singer is the co-author, with Dan Senor, of the best-selling book Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle. He is a former Editorial Page Editor and columnist at the Jerusalem Post. Tom Brokaw called Start-Up Nation, “a playbook for every CEO who wants to develop the next generation of corporate leaders.” The book has reached #5 on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal business bestseller lists, and is also a best-seller in Israel, India, and Singapore.

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