IPOs or M&A: The 2026 Exit Strategy Revealed!

Hi, I'm Amy Shapiro, journalist at CEK. Hi, I'm Amy Shapiro, journalist at CEK. We're here today as part of our annual We're here today as part of our annual We're here today as part of our annual VC survey with Yuron Benhin, the VC survey with Yuron Benhin, the VC survey with Yuron Benhin, the representative of Valley National Bank. representative of Valley National Bank. representative of Valley National Bank. Yuron, thank you so much for joining us Yuron, thank you so much for joining us Yuron, thank you so much for joining us today. today. today. >> Thank you for having me. It's great to >> Thank you for having me. It's great to >> Thank you for having me. It's great to be here. be here. be here. >> It's a pleasure to have you. Um, to

>> It's a pleasure to have you. Um, to >> It's a pleasure to have you. Um, to start off with, looking uh into 2026 and start off with, looking uh into 2026 and start off with, looking uh into 2026 and next year, do you think we're going to next year, do you think we're going to next year, do you think we're going to see the IPO window finally open wide or see the IPO window finally open wide or see the IPO window finally open wide or is it going to be another year that's is it going to be another year that's is it going to be another year that's primarily about M&As? It's interesting primarily about M&As? It's interesting primarily about M&As? It's interesting enough that the interest rates have enough that the interest rates have enough that the interest rates have started to decline in the US which started to decline in the US which started to decline in the US which should be favorable for the IPO market.

should be favorable for the IPO market. should be favorable for the IPO market. The IPO market will be um a solution for The IPO market will be um a solution for The IPO market will be um a solution for exit strategy for selected few companies exit strategy for selected few companies exit strategy for selected few companies with strong governance, strong product with strong governance, strong product with strong governance, strong product and strong management. the majority of and strong management. the majority of and strong management. the majority of the companies will still use the M&A. the companies will still use the M&A. the companies will still use the M&A. >> And you're on, in your opinion, do you

>> And you're on, in your opinion, do you >> And you're on, in your opinion, do you think uh when you're pitching Israel to think uh when you're pitching Israel to think uh when you're pitching Israel to the rest of the world, the story is the rest of the world, the story is the rest of the world, the story is primarily going to be uh still about primarily going to be uh still about primarily going to be uh still about innovation or do you think now it's more innovation or do you think now it's more innovation or do you think now it's more about extreme resilience? about extreme resilience? about extreme resilience? >> I think it's a combination between the >> I think it's a combination between the >> I think it's a combination between the two. Companies with innovation have gone two. Companies with innovation have gone two. Companies with innovation have gone through a lot of extreme measures during through a lot of extreme measures during through a lot of extreme measures during the past couple of years. the layers of

the past couple of years. the layers of the past couple of years. the layers of innovation and uh resilience together is innovation and uh resilience together is innovation and uh resilience together is what will make the platform attractive what will make the platform attractive what will make the platform attractive for the global ops. Mhm. So uh looking

for the global ops. Mhm. So uh looking for the global ops. Mhm. So uh looking ahead you're on uh with AI with the rise ahead you're on uh with AI with the rise ahead you're on uh with AI with the rise of AI now uh does headcount mean of AI now uh does headcount mean of AI now uh does headcount mean anything in terms of like uh anything in terms of like uh anything in terms of like uh approximating growth of a company or is approximating growth of a company or is approximating growth of a company or is it officially now uh vanity metric? it officially now uh vanity metric? it officially now uh vanity metric? >> It's amazing because always the >> It's amazing because always the >> It's amazing because always the headcount was leading to the u increase headcount was leading to the u increase headcount was leading to the u increase in revenues but suddenly the AI is in revenues but suddenly the AI is in revenues but suddenly the AI is disrupting the field and companies are disrupting the field and companies are disrupting the field and companies are look we are looking as investors we're

look we are looking as investors we're look we are looking as investors we're looking more at the productivity and looking more at the productivity and looking more at the productivity and execution rather than the headcount. M execution rather than the headcount. M execution rather than the headcount. M you're on uh very interesting insights

you're on uh very interesting insights you're on uh very interesting insights there. Thank you so much for your time there. Thank you so much for your time there. Thank you so much for your time and enjoy the rest of your day here at and enjoy the rest of your day here at and enjoy the rest of your day here at the conference. the conference. the conference. >> Thank you and happy 2026. >> Thank you and happy 2026. >> Thank you and happy 2026. >> Happy 2026.