Aviram Eisenberg, Ignite Ltd

Tips for managing your business in stressful times based on Israel's experience

IT Spring, Dnipropetrovsk 2015

Are you Crazy?

“A lot of people ask me if I am crazy?““You are living in Ukraine? In these times???”

Well, I live in Israel, we are kinda used to state of war…

I am just replacing this:

With this:

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About Me

Father of 3 wonderful children

High-Tech professional for the last 30 years

- computer geek in my teenage days

- platoon commander in the Army Intelligence (computer related)

- computer Science Graduate from the Technion

- chief Architect at Mind CTI

- founder and CEO Of Ignite – a global IT company

- chairman of the Israeli R&D Managers forum

Lives in Kiev (Ukraine is my second home!), 8 Years ago I came to Ukraine for the first time…

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Where is Putin?

Where is Putin?A …B …C …D …We can’t lose him – how can we have a decent war without him???

Just like in Hollywood movies, the world need a good villain and Putin is just perfect!

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Israel & Ukraine are young states

Wars

10 wars (every 5-10 years)

1947-1949, 1956, 1967, 1967-1970, 1973, 1982-2000, 2008-2009, 2010, 2012, 2014

Daily living under possible terrorist attacks

2014 - now

WarsWars

Back in 1948 all Israel had was- brave people with no weapons- 5 Arab state armies around - and a desert to live in…

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67 years old 24 years old

How do I manage the company and risk?

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War Factors

Low psychological threshold to risks of business failure

Boy, you are alive! And someone is not…

Strong desire to control your own fateNo fate but what we make (Terminator 2)

War creates opportunities…For those who are in the right mood to take advantage of it

War creates new circumstances and force you to reiventyourselfThe cycle of nature

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The benefits of WAR

It’s an employer market again!!!

No one leaves you (unless they go abroad)

Better control of labor costs increaseDuring the crisis a lot of good people are moving around

Ability to reduce overhead expenses

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The opportunities of WAR

Tighten the connection between employer and employee

The USD-UAH exchange rate

Credit shift

Invest!

Reinvent yourself

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The Risks of WAR

The brain drain

Uncertain future There will be tax scheme changes – I don’t think they will be good to the

industry

Canceled projects + low credit = financial crisis

Ukraine will join EUIt’s a very good thing to Ukraine but not so good it its IT industry…

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10 War Tips for IT companies

Create a safe and peaceful environment within your offices

Show that you are a rock solid against the storm

Help your employeesMobilization support

LoansProtect their salary value

Look for new available talentLarge American corporates hate wars - A lot of good people are

moving around…

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10 War Tips for IT companies

Reduce your expenses A lot of things get cheaper and your $ is the king!

Raise cheap credit and use it wisely

Increase your investmentsthe Time to invest is when the blood is on the streets

Don’t avoid talks with your customers about risks Find back-up solutions to minimize possible risks together. Stress that Ukraine is huge and despite the war in 2014, Israelmade a record $15b. in high-tech exits that year

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10 War Tips for IT companies

Focus on mid-range customersthey are more tolerant to the risks in Ukraine

Promote Ukraine as a place of change and opportunitiesBe active in media: comment and share your opinion, write articles. Not as

fast as we desire but positive changes do take place

Prepare fallback plans for changes in tax scheme

From IT to High-Tech – reinvent yourself!

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www.igniteso.com

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