The Real Value of Early-Stage Investment

Tech Sales Leadership, Global Growth, Investment and the InsurTech Revolution

In a standout episode of Tech Salescraft, hosted by James Hounslow, listeners are given an in-depth look at the global InsurTech landscape through the perspective of Kobi Bendelak, CEO of InsurTech Israel. This conversation is more than just an exploration of a growing industry; it’s a guide to entrepreneurial passion, building scalable technology ecosystems, investment and nurturing the right mindset for long-term business success. If you’re in the business of tech sales recruitment or looking to scale startups across international markets, this episode offers invaluable insights.

From the Israeli Army to InsurTech Entrepreneurship

Kobi Bendelak’s career story is anything but conventional. After serving in the Israeli Army, he transitioned into the insurance industry, driven by a chance encounter. A former soldier, who couldn’t fulfil his duty due to his insurance studies, sent Kobi a letter that piqued his curiosity. The rest, as they say, is history. Kobi went on to build a successful Managing General Agent (MGA) business in Israel. His company’s rapid success led to a strategic sale of 50% of the business to Generali Group. In 2015, Kobi sold his remaining shares and transitioned into what he thought would be a quiet retirement.

However, Kobi quickly realised that retirement wasn’t for him. After just six months, he found himself restless and yearning for something more. His life took another turn when he attended a meetup on InsurTech, an industry that was just beginning to take shape. That simple step opened the door to InsurTech Israel, a venture that has since positioned Kobi at the forefront of global InsurTech innovation.

Creating a Global InsurTech Ecosystem

InsurTech Israel is a multifaceted organisation dedicated to nurturing and growing the global InsurTech ecosystem. The company operates across four key pillars: investment, acceleration, business development, and global outreach. These pillars work in tandem to provide early-stage startups with the tools and resources they need to succeed in a competitive market.

Kobi’s mission goes beyond just building a business; he seeks to create an ecosystem where innovation is supported at every level. Unlike traditional venture capital, InsurTech Israel focuses on empowering founders by offering not just financial support but access to mentorship, knowledge, and networks that are critical for scaling businesses globally. This approach closely aligns with North Starr’s values, as we, too, believe in placing people and purpose at the heart of recruitment, especially within the growing sectors of tech sales recruitment.

Why Passion and People Matter in Tech Sales Leadership

A significant takeaway from this Tech Salescraft episode is the emphasis on people and passion when building a successful tech company. In the world of tech sales recruitment, it’s often easy to focus solely on skills and experience. However, Kobi stresses the importance of a founder’s mindset, their adaptability, and their willingness to lead through challenges.

When evaluating startups for investment, Kobi looks first at the founders. Are they open-minded? Are they passionate about solving problems? Can they handle adversity and pivot when necessary? For Kobi, it’s not just about the product or business model—it’s about the team behind it. The right people, driven by a shared purpose, are what make a company successful in the long term.

James Hounslow dives deeper into the evaluation process, and Kobi highlights that the chemistry within a team often tells more about its potential than any financial projections. This founder-first mentality is essential in tech sales recruitment, as identifying the right people who can execute a vision is more crucial than ever. This mindset is not only applicable to the startup world but also to technology sales jobs, where company culture and the right leadership are key to success.

Why Early-Stage Investment is About Belief, Not Just Capital

One of the most significant distinctions Kobi makes about InsurTech Israel’s investment approach is that they focus on early-stage startups. In contrast to traditional venture capitalists, Kobi’s focus is on offering belief, mentorship, and access—not just funding and investment. The belief in a company’s potential and the founder’s vision is what drives their investment decisions.

Kobi explains that early-stage companies often don’t need large sums of capital investment upfront; what they truly need is a strategic partner who believes in their vision and can provide guidance and support during the crucial early years. InsurTech Israel has seen tremendous success with this approach, and many of its portfolio companies have gone on to raise significant funding rounds and make substantial progress in their markets.

At North Starr, we understand the importance of this principle in tech sales recruitment. Just like early-stage startups, tech sales teams need belief and direction from leadership. It’s not just about recruiting for a specific role—it’s about understanding the broader vision and aligning the right candidates with it. Whether you’re recruiting for a FinTech sales job or a SaaS recruitment position, passion, belief, and the right leadership are the factors that drive success.

Redefining the Accelerator Model for Tech Startups

InsurTech Israel’s accelerator model breaks from the traditional approach in one key way: it’s not about one-on-one mentorship. Instead, Kobi has structured the accelerator as a collaborative, roundtable-style experience. Startups in each cohort are exposed to all the mentors, not just one or two. This format allows for shared learning and collective problem-solving, which is vital in a fast-moving industry like InsurTech.

Every startup in the accelerator has access to a broad range of global leaders, including those from the insurance, technology, and venture capital sectors. The programme covers everything from product development to market strategies and building successful sales teams. Kobi’s accelerator has now completed eight successful cohorts, and the results speak for themselves: these startups have raised over $200 million in the past three years.

This collaborative model is particularly relevant to SaaS recruitment, as it mirrors the dynamics of successful SaaS companies, where team collaboration, product-market fit, and customer success are crucial to growth. For those looking to break into SaaS sales recruitment or expand their knowledge of the sector, Kobi’s approach provides valuable lessons on building scalable, high-performing teams.

Business Development as a Launchpad for Global Expansion

One of the greatest challenges for any startup, particularly those outside of major tech hubs, is breaking into international markets. InsurTech Israel addresses this challenge through a robust business development programme that connects startups with key players in three critical regions: the UK, the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), and the United States.

Kobi and his team have embedded local representatives in each of these regions, who help startups navigate the complexities of local markets. These representatives offer advice on tailoring products, refining messaging, and connecting with potential customers and partners. By focusing on these high-impact regions, InsurTech Israel has helped its startups scale internationally and grow their customer bases in established markets.

For tech sales professionals, this global focus is critical. Understanding the nuances of each region, particularly when it comes to tech sales recruitment and customer engagement, is essential. As James Hounslow rightly points out, selling in London is vastly different from selling in Munich or Stockholm. Recognising and adapting to these regional differences is essential for expanding into international markets.

The Global Accelerator Programme and North Starr’s Vision for Tech Sales Recruitment

Kobi Bendelak also shares details about InsurTech Israel’s new Global Accelerator Programme, which aims to bring together startups from around the world for an intensive four-day bootcamp. This initiative provides startups with an opportunity to build global networks, gain valuable insights, and establish relationships with industry leaders. Kobi reveals that the programme’s next cohort will take place in Europe, following a successful programme in the United States.

The Global Accelerator Programme is a natural extension of Kobi’s vision to foster a truly global InsurTech ecosystem. This initiative highlights the need for tech sales recruitment firms to understand not only the local talent landscape but also the international reach and scalability of a business. Whether you’re recruiting for FinTech jobs or SaaS sales jobs, a global perspective is essential for success in the modern tech industry.

Energy, Authenticity, and Human-Centric Leadership

Throughout the episode, Kobi’s unmatched energy and authenticity shine through. James Hounslow points out that Kobi doesn’t have an “off” switch—he is consistently positive, energetic, and forward-thinking. His philosophy of “always keep moving forward” is more than just a catchphrase—it’s a personal mantra that drives both his professional and personal life.

Kobi attributes his energy to his deep belief in people. He believes in helping others, giving back to the community, and fostering a sense of purpose in everything he does. This human-centric approach to leadership is something North Starr embodies in its recruitment strategies. Whether we’re helping clients find the best tech sales recruiters or matching candidates with the right sales career path, we recognise the value of authenticity and leadership in building successful teams.

Final Thoughts: Insights for Tech Sales Leaders and Recruiters

This episode of Tech Salescraft offers invaluable lessons for tech sales recruiters, tech sales leaders, and anyone involved in the SaaS recruitment or FinTech recruitment sectors. Kobi Bendelak’s insights on entrepreneurship, building global ecosystems, investment and the importance of passion and people in leadership will inspire anyone looking to scale their business or career.

For those looking to enter the world of tech sales recruitment, this episode provides a clear roadmap for understanding how tech companies can grow from early-stage startups to globally recognised leaders. Kobi’s belief in the power of people and purpose resonates with North Starr’s mission to match the right talent with innovative companies that are shaping the future of technology sales.