T E A M

The CET Sandbox was conceived and founded by a group of venture capitalists, national security experts, defense contractors and current and former government officials.

This group — with deep connections within the Israeli startup and defense-tech ecosystems, and across the U.S. government and contracting agencies — identified a unique opportunity:

Demand — The U.S. has engaged a long-term, national security strategy aimed at promoting and protecting Critical and Emerging Technologies, and has published its desire to work with allies to deliver on that CET strategy;
Supply — Israel is a U.S. ally that happens to have more Critical and Emerging Technologies than all of the U.S.’s Five Eyes allies, combined, and has experienced a remarkable period of breakthrough innovation in CETs post-Oct. 7;
Opportunity — While the U.S. and Israel have enjoyed a robust and multifaceted long-term relationship, the countries lack mature infrastructure for B2B collaboration on these Critical and Emerging Technologies.
Catalysts — The 2022 U.S.-Israel Strategic High-Level Dialogue on Technology pledged to advance and protect Critical and Emerging Technologies, and the National Defense Authorization Act of 2025 included specific provisions for “collaboration on emerging technologies” between the U.S. and Israel.

The CET Sandbox is a U.S.-Israel “innovation hub” on those Critical and Emerging Technologies.

Core Team

Scott Cohen

A five-time startup founder, Scott launched — among other things — the national security information service Foreign Investment Watch. He has deep networks across the U.S. government, including at DOD, Treasury, and other Departments, as well as relationships with the U.S. primes and defensetech investors.

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Israel Ganot

A veteran of Amazon, eBay and PayPal, Israel was founder and CEO of the largest startup accelerator in Israel. He is founding partner of venture capital firm AGP Ventures, cofounder of re-commerce pioneer Gazelle, and he provides unprecedented access to the Israeli startup ecosystem.

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Gilad Kabilo

A former Military Intelligence Officer, Gilad is an expert at the intersection of national security and venture capital. Principal author of a comprehensive national security strategy developed with IDF Lt. General Gadi Eisenkot (former Chief of General Staff), Gilad has served in venture roles at iLand6, Hyundai, and GM Ventures.

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David Yahid

A serial marketing executive with extensive go-to-market experience with Israeli startups, David is an expert community builder and network organizer with deep connections across Startup Nation. He has served as CMO of several startups, agencies, and venture capital firms.

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Brig. Gen. Shmaya Avieli

IDF Air Force Brigadier General Shmaya Avieli (res.) was most recently the head of the defense export agency for the Israeli Ministry of Defense, “SIBAT.” A former attaché in Washington, D.C. and VC partner, Shmaya provides unparalleled access to Israeli defense technology.

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Select U.S. Advisors

Our U.S. advisors play a critical role in helping us understand evolving national security matters in the U.S., and ensuring The CET Sandbox is deeply connected to the needs of the U.S. government, Primes and venture capital firms.

David Rader

U.S. DOD
David is a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he is involved in operations related to the DOD Defense Innovation Unit, the Office of Strategic Capital, and DARPA. He was previously Deputy Director of the Global Investment & Economic Security Directorate

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Linda Lourie

EX-WHITE HOUSE, OSTP
Linda was most recently Assistant Director for Research and Technology Security in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, which literally wrote the book on Critical and Emerging Technologies. She has served as Associate General Counsel of the DOD, and General Counsel of the DOD’s Defense Innovation Unit.

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Thomas Feddo

FORMER HEAD OF CFIUS
Tom was the first presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary for Investment Security at the Treasury Department, where he oversaw the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Tom is the nation’s foremost expert on the intersection of national security and foreign investments.

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Enia Krivine

FDD
Enia is a Senior Director at Foundation for the Defense of Democracy, and serves as head of the research institute’s National Security Network. A former Middle East fellow at the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Enia served as Director of Congressional Affairs for the Israel Allies Foundation, and previously served at AIPAC.

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Heather Richman

DIN / AUKUS DIN
Heather is founder of The Defense Investor Network as well as the AUKUS DIN. The former Director of Appropriations for U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, Heather has significant experience bridging the DOD, the intelligence community, and investors across the U.S.

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Joshua Kaplan

WILSON SONSINI
Josh is a Corporate Partner in the New York and London offices of Wilson Sonsini, the legendary Silicon Valley-firm known for its tech and VC practices. Josh is an expert on U.S. market access and expansion, serving companies at all stages of their life cycle.

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Sarah Bard

Ex-U.S. SBA
Sarah Bard was appointed by the White House to serve as Assistant Administrator at the U.S. Small Business Administration, which ensures the DOD and other agencies allocate prime contracts to small businesses. She is an expert on government contracting with a special focus on B2G.

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Select Israeli Advisors

Our Israeli advisory board plays a critical role in helping us source, catalog and vet the latest Critical and Emerging Technologies in Israel, including capabilities that have been deployed by the Israeli Defense Forces in its latest war.

Moshe Schneid

FORMER IDF INTEL
Moshe is the former Chief Intelligence Officer of the Israel Defense Forces, where he directed all strategic intelligence operations vital to national security. He has extensive defense and technology expertise related to Critical and Emerging Technologies, and has done extensive work with the Israeli primes and defenstech startups.
Ilan Regenbaum

FORMER IDF
Ilan was the former Head of Innovation for the Israeli Air Force. Previously cofounder of the Israeli Air Force Accelerator, Ilan is currently Managing Director of “Mind the Bridge,” which helps multinationals access the Israeli innovation ecosystem.
Isaac Versano

FORMER IDF
Isaac was the former Deputy Head of Technology for the State of Israel, where he served as VP R&D managing all new technology initiatives for the Israeli government. An expert on Israeli homeland security matters, he is currently founder of a venture capital firm bridging the gap between defense and commercial applications.
Amir Groman

FORMER SHABAK
Amir brings over 30 years of security and intelligence expertise, having served as Director of Special Operations, and Head of the Security Division at Shabak, the Israeli Security Agency. He was responsible for intelligence and security projects in multiple geographies, and is the recipient of numerous commendations from Prime Ministers of Israel.