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 each of the U.S.’s Five Eyes allies, 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
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Scott Cohen
COFOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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
COFOUNDER
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 is deeply connected to the Israeli startup ecosystem, including defense-tech startups and the MOD.
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David Yahid
CMO AND COFOUNDER
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, and has deep connections in the Israeli defense-tech market.
Advisors
Our advisors play a critical role in helping us connect with the U.S. national security ecosystem and defense-industrial base, including the DOD, Primes, VC firms, and others.
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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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Col. David Rokach (res.)
SOSA HLS
David leads the SOSA HLS open innovation programs and accelerators for international defense companies and the Israeli MOD. He previously served as the Head of Weapons System Division in the IDF, and was a VP at "Peres & Associates," led by former Israel President Shimon Peres.
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Sarah Bard
FORMER SBA OFFIAL
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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Neil Wallack
AGP VENTURES
Neil Wallack has nearly three decades of experience in private equity, most recently as president of a $2B fund that focused on critical infrastructure and energy. Managing Director of AGP Ventures, Neil serves on the boards of Jewish Federations of North America, The Joint Distribution Committee, and other U.S.-Israel organizations.
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Brig. Gen. Shmaya Avieli
EX-HEAD OF SIBAT, MOD
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.