Intel Israel, now employing roughly 8,000 people — its lowest headcount since 2012 — is in the midst of a dramatic turnaround under CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Since replacing Pat Gelsinger just over a year ago, Intel's stock has surged from an all-time low of $20 to over $90, a record high.
Long-time employees say the shift is as cultural as it is financial. Tan canceled unnecessary meetings, trimmed middle management, and began writing directly to all employees via email — bypassing the filtering chain. "Lip-Bu writes directly to everyone, and that's it. No more filtering or processing," one veteran employee told Globes.
Similarweb: A New Era After Two Decades
Similarweb founder Or Offer, 42, announced he will step down as CEO after nearly 20 years at the helm. He will spend the next year searching for a successor and hand over the reins by May 2027.
The company, which provides market data based on web user behavior, went public on the NYSE in May 2021 at a $1.6 billion valuation. Since then, the stock has fallen 81%, hit by the so-called 'SaaSpocalypse' — investor fears that AI will render traditional enterprise software obsolete.
But in recent weeks, the stock has staged a recovery, jumping 77% partly fueled by insider purchases from the CEO and chairman.
Zenity: Cybersecurity Startup Aiming for the Top
Zenity, an Israeli cybersecurity startup founded in 2021, is on a fast growth track with 230 employees and tens of millions in annual revenue. CEO and co-founder Ben Kliger, 38, a 8200 intelligence unit and Microsoft veteran, worked alongside Wiz founders Assaf Rappaport and Yinon Costica at Microsoft.
The company, which raised $60 million from Intel Capital and others, specializes in securing enterprise AI agents. "We're seeing millions of agents in every organization," Kliger said, declaring his goal is "to ring the bell on the Nasdaq."
Research: AI Adoption Remains a Personal Tool
A joint study by Tel Aviv University's AI Lab and Natural Intelligence reveals that employees adopt AI as a personal rather than organizational tool. Prof. Lior Zalmanson, head of the AI Lab, noted that "each employee essentially has their own team — creating isolated islands within the organization."
The Bottom Line
This week in Israeli tech features stories of recovery alongside growth: Intel Israel finding its footing again, Similarweb signaling a leadership transition, and startups like Zenity and Natural Intelligence continuing to prove Israeli innovation on global stages.
