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The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), in partnership with KPMG Israel and Israel Advanced Technology Industries, is presenting  “Fintech and Cybersecurity: Opportunities for Israeli Companies in Northern Virginia” on Wednesday, March 17, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern U.S./15:00 Israel time.

Click here to register.

The virtual event will examine potential business opportunities and go-to-market partnerships for Israeli fintech and cybersecurity companies in Northern Virginia’s financial services and cybersecurity sectors. It will provide a dive deep into current challenges, benefits, risks and cutting-edge solutions that are the next-generation toolbox to conduct secure, intuitive and efficient banking services.

Located next to the nation’s capital, the Northern Virginia region is an emerging hub for financial companies that provide a wide range of services, from business and consumer banking, supply-chain transactions, to federal and international institutions such as World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Federal Reserve Bank, and to the large mortgage ecosystem.

Israeli fintech and cyber executives, venture capitalists, leaders at business incubators, and Northern Virginia executives in the fintech and cybersecurity fields should attend this timely event.

Opening remarks at the event will be delivered by Yair Ephrati, director, Fairfax County EDA’s Israel office, and by Leeat Sokol, manager, member relations, Israeli Advanced Technology Industries (IATI), Israel’s umbrella organization of the high-tech, life science and other advanced technology industries.

“The FCEDA has been present in Israel since 2005 and played a major role in establishing a prosperous relationship with the Israeli technological ecosystem and attracting Israeli companies to North Virginia, resulting in the presence of over 35 Israeli companies in the region,” Yair Ephrati said.

“The demographics and geographic location of Northern Virginia position itself as a natural strategic location for both cyber and fintech companies,” Ephrati added. “The importance of proximity to national legislators and decision-makers, combined with the highly educated workforce creates a natural business hub for leading global cyber and fintech companies.”

The presenters at the event will include Yaron Katz, partner at KPMG and head of U.S. tax at KPMG Israel, who will discuss what to expect from the Biden administration as related to tax policy, sectors investments and trade policy.

The keynote presentation will be delivered by Jeff W. Dick, chairman and CEO of MainStreet Bancshares and MainStreet Bank, who will discuss “Fintech Trends and Opportunities.” Located in Fairfax County, MainStreet Bank is a business-focused community bank.

“As a business bank we are in the best market in the country [Northern Virginia] when it comes to the opportunities for organic growth, access to capital and technological infrastructure,” Dick said.

Michael Johnson, senior strategic advisor for cybersecurity and financial transactions risks, will discuss cybersecurity and fintech challenges.

Barak Ben Rachel, general manager, research and development, U.S., Armis Security, an Israeli cybersecurity company, will provide an Israeli company case study on its recent expansion to Fairfax County.

“Armis is proud to expand our global research and development efforts by opening the first U.S. research and development site in the Dulles Technology Corridor in Fairfax County,” said Barak Ben Rachel. “The area was a great fit to establish Armis’ first research and development site outside of Israel. Fairfax is at the center of the cybersecurity market here in the United States, it is close to many of our clients’ head offices, agencies and talent pool, which is exactly what we need as we scale.”

A Q&A will follow the presentations.

Concluding remarks at the event will be delivered by Asher Kotz, Fairfax County EDA’s business investment manager for cybersecurity and Israel.

The FCEDA has had an office in Tel Aviv since 2004 to work with Israeli companies interested in locating or expanding operations in Fairfax County, which is minutes from Washington, D.C.

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA offers site location and business development assistance, and connections with county and state government agencies, to help companies locate and expand in Fairfax County. In addition to its headquarters in Tysons, Fairfax County’s largest business district, the FCEDA maintains business investment offices in six important global business centers: Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Seoul and Tel Aviv. Follow the FCEDA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

The FCEDA is a member of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance, which promotes and markets Northern Virginia outside the region and conducts activities and events to build the regional business community. Other members of NOVA EDA are the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Arlington County, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park and the Prince William County Department of Economic Development.

March 2, 2021

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