No. 7: Assaf Rappaport: The man behind Wiz, the Israeli company that revolutionized cloud security

Assaf Rappaport, co-founder and CEO of Wiz, has become a prominent Israeli tech investor following Google's $32 billion acquisition of Wiz in March 2026. This all-cash deal, the largest in Google's history, was completed after Rappaport declined an earlier $23 billion offer. Wiz, founded in 2020, developed a cloud security platform that maps cloud environments and identifies risks, becoming the first CNAPP to integrate native AI security. The company achieved rapid growth, scaling from $1 million to $100 million in annual recurring revenue in 18 months. Rappaport, along with his Wiz co-founders, now invests in numerous startups, primarily in cybersecurity and AI. Additionally, through the Merit Spread Foundation, his group acquired a 74% stake in Channel 13 in March 2026 and a 60% stake in Israel Bidur's parent company in July, framing the Channel 13 deal as an "impact investment" to secure editorial independence. Venture capitalist Gili Raanan, who invested in Wiz, described Rappaport as "special" after their initial meeting at a gas station where they signed a deal on a napkin.