Florida-based Jewish venture capitalist Peter Kash is known for making bold predictions that have proved spot-on. He made his latest one at the IATI MIXiii Health-Tech.IL Conference, Israel’s premier life sciences and health tech gathering, from March 4 to 5 at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem. “By 2026, Israel will be an economy on steroids,” Kash predicted.
Kash, a keynote speaker, reminded the audience that he had predicted growth in 2011, “and they didn’t believe me—but I was right!”
His talk on the second day of the conference, “Condensing 3,000 years into a decade,” captured the essence of Israel’s revolution in the biotech sector. Holding an ancient olive oil lamp, he drew a striking contrast between the past and the future, emphasizing the nation’s scientific prowess and the need for greater collaboration among Israeli universities to maximize their research impact.
Kash envisions not only unicorns (companies valued at $1 billion) but also decacorns (companies valued at $10 billion) in Israel’s future, as its GDP grows to a trillion dollars and technology extends life expectancy and improves quality of life over the next 10 years.
Hosted by Israel Advanced Technology Industries (IATI), the Jerusalem conference brought together global experts, innovators and investors to explore groundbreaking advancements in healthcare technology. While Israel positions itself as a global leader in biotech and health innovation, Kash’s insights are more relevant than ever.
Advice for biotech entrepreneurs
When asked by JNS after his address what advice he would offer to those looking to make their mark in biotech, Kash was characteristically direct: “Think Z to A, not A to Z! Consider your exit strategy from the start—it helps create a roadmap, even if there are detours and dead ends. If you don’t know your destination, you can’t start your journey. Also, aim to create a need, not just a want, for a better chance of success. The world is now the local market.”
He stressed the importance of financial strategy and collaboration. “Ensure you have two years of cash to sustain your venture, hire people who can drive success through equity, and be generous. Partnering early with a U.S. academic lab or company is crucial. A global, diversified board is essential. Seek grants and non-dilutive financing—it adds credibility when you have peer-reviewed journals and grants backing your work.”
The future of Israeli health tech looks promising, Kash said, with predictions of a trillion-dollar market encompassing medical devices, AI, nanotech and food technology. He pointed to Israel’s innovative spirit in food tech, recalling how hummus and pita once defined Israeli cuisine, and highlighting the creation of a vegan egg omelet made from hummus as a testament to Israeli ingenuity. The next day, Yo Farm, the Israeli startup that produces vegan eggs from soy and hummus, Yo Egg, won a prestigious food award in the United States.
In his three decades in the life sciences industry, Kash, 64, has been instrumental in funding and developing innovative treatments for cancer, diabetes and other pressing health challenges. As a principal at the Miami-based Camelot BioCapital, he has worked closely with inventors, research institutions and academic centers to propel medical breakthroughs from concept to market.
His team has successfully raised over $2 billion, advanced more than 20 break-through drugs through clinical development, and secured FDA approval for seven transformative therapies. Among the notable companies he has helped shape are Interneuron, Neose, Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Kite Pharmaceuticals, Intercept Pharmaceuticals and Alpha Tau.
Educator, mentor, author
Beyond his entrepreneurial success, Kash has spent 25 years as an educator, teaching entrepreneurship and marketing at prestigious institutions such as the Wharton School of Business and Nihon University in Tokyo. In 2015, he served as a visiting professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, continuing his commitment to inspiring the next generation of biotech innovators. Having lectured in more than 70 countries, he has left an indelible mark on aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide.
His influence extends beyond the classroom. He has written three books, two of which have been translated into Hebrew, with proceeds from the Hebrew editions supporting NATAL—Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center, an NGO that specializes in treating victims of war and terrorism in Israel.
His guiding principles—”less is more” and “nothing has to be equal, but it has to be equitable”—reflect his belief in impact-driven leadership and meaningful innovation.
As his latest visit to Israel—which he said was his 76th—drew to a close, Kash reflected on the perseverance and grit required for success. He cited the phenomenal success story of Jensen Huang, the founder of NVIDIA who once washed dishes at Denny’s while his parents lived in Taiwan and today runs a $3 trillion company that is a world leader in artificial intelligence computing.
Kash said his favorite passage from “The Nvidia Way,” the book that documents Huang’s journey, resonates with his own philosophy: “I wish upon you ample doses of pain and suffering. Greatness is not intelligence. Greatness comes from character. Character can only be the result of overcoming setbacks and adversity. The struggle to persevere in the face of bad and often overwhelming odds is simply what works.”
On a personal level, Kash proudly related how his children for their bar-and bat-mitzvah selected an “out-of-the-box” project to help underprivileged children in Israel with money they raised on their own. “They reached success but also had the experience of being told ‘no’ along the way,” he said.
For Kash, the future of biotech isn’t just about innovation—it’s about resilience, vision and the willingness to forge ahead against the odds. If his past record is any indication, his prediction about Israel’s biotech boom might prove him right once again.