Wednesday’s event at the Jerusalem Business Networking Forum (JBNF) was a phenomenal success. The large crowd departed, highly motivated by the amazingly diverse set of practical tips about how to become an entrepreneur. Where to begin?

Actually in Las Vegas. Earlier this month, Israel once again proved its credential as a ‘start-up nation’. As ever, the Israeli pavilion at CES – Consumer Electronics Show – in the American desert was packed with dozens of companies. Personally, I find it ironic that so many applications today from the Holy Land are aimed at the automobile industry, an area of commerce where for decades Israel had been considered the undesirable.

Back in Jerusalem, the JBNF audience was treated to a feast from three speakers, all closely associated with the world of entrepreneurship, innovation and start ups. However, without wishing to detract from the words of wisdom of Harold Weiner and Nathalie Garson, I want to concentrate on the success story of Ran Poliakine. To be more precise, I want to understand what are the key factors that bring about his triumphs.

Ran started life as an arts student at the prestigious Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem. In his 15 minute presentation, he introduced just four of his companies.

1. Powermat allows you to recharge your phone by placing it on a disk the size of drink’s-coaster. No need to plug it in. All done whilst you are sitting down, relaxing in a public spot. I was stunned to learn just how wide spread this tech is available, as a student from a Chinese business school observed that it is available throughout her country. It can also be found on Virgin Trains (UK), Cadillacs, several Samsung products…..to mention a few clients.
2. Wellsense  has created a wonderful solution for that horrific problem of bed or pressure sores. Whether in hospital or at home, this is one of those awful yet not often spoken about topics. The company has created a fibre that allows the pressure of the mattress to be altered in designated areas, thus relieving distress from sores. It has been installed in thousands of hospital beds across America, including at Mayo clinics.
3. Years of Water enables poor villages in the Third World to irrigate their crops and to sustain their inhabitants. The Israeli comapny designed and manufactures a “manually-operated, self -sufficient, maintenance-fee purification system capable of producing drinkable water within 10 seconds of deployment“. The stories are phenomenal.
4. TAP eliminates the need for the computer’s keyboard. After a brief tutorial, you communicate with your hardware or phone via a flat surface next to it. Amazing.

Ran denies having a magic formula, which makes him a successful serial entrepreneur. That said, several factors did recur throughout his talk. And it is not just that he is based in the Jerusalem area.

A) His starting point is the problem itself, which others accept as given.

B) He realises that he is passionate about really wanting to solve it.

C) He does not accept the impossible.

D) He almost always uses the same core team.

In addition, I suppose that his artistic background allows him to be creative. Which leads me to one final observation. Two innovation indexes were published recently, from the World Economic Forum and by  Bloomberg. They place Israel – 50% desert and with a population of barely 8 million  – at 2nd and 10th respectively. The efforts of Ran’s team are a prime example of this ability.

Because of such teams, billions around the globe are benefitting. Could you imagine trying to stop or boycott such progress? May it long continue.