Holy Land: Startup Nations
The second season of the multi-part documentary series ‘Cities of the Future’, produced by Wired UK, examines Israel’s tech boom. From Tel Aviv to the Holy Land, the country has the largest number of tech start-ups in the world. Their innovations defined trends that dominated much of the rest of the world, and they will continue to do so for generations to come.
The communities in the series benefit from a thriving cultural diversity and a shared sense of purpose. In Tel Aviv, the flag of diversity welcomes vibrant people of all ages, races and sexual orientations. This contagious energy also permeates Boulevard Rothschild, the heart of the city where technology, politics, architecture, social movements and global influence come together. A century ago, this famous road consisted of solitary sand dunes; few places in the world today can claim greater vibrancy and promise.
The devout ideology shared by the people of Jerusalem and other holy cities in the region underpins some of the most creative technological endeavors in the country. On the surface, faith and high technology may seem like strange partners. But these innovators appeal to their belief in making the world a better place, and their entrepreneurial endeavors reflect those grand ambitions.
The filmmakers explore the bedrock of Israel’s existence today and how its unique personality makes it the ideal breeding ground for tomorrow’s breakthroughs. We are undertaking several research and development projects, including one aimed at improving the efficiency of healthcare delivery through standard smartphone technology. Collectively, companies like this have the potential to change the world in healthcare, agriculture, education, and many other areas.
The first season of “Shenzhen: Silicon Valley of Hardware” and the second season of “Future City” showed us that technological innovation is not just binary code and increasingly complex hardware. It’s about people’s hopes and dreams, and their shared belief that anything is possible. The film offers a fascinating insight into a country that, through sheer force of will, forged a major identity in the tech world. Perhaps the country’s most impressive start-up in this regard is Israel itself.
Directed by: Jim Demuth
