Deborah Modiano
Israel market expert with boots on the ground. Founder of Modiabiz. Based in Israel for 17 years.
“My commitment: save you 6 to 12 months on your Israel growth plan, by steering you clear of costly mistakes and pulling the right levers from day one.”
17 years in Israel. I know this market from the inside.
I’ve negotiated with buyers at Israel’s national grocery chains, run food festivals that put French cuisine on Israeli plates, activated brands in stores and in the field, and built strategic partnerships with key players in Israel’s innovation ecosystem.
That hands-on experience is what I now bring to brands and companies that want to succeed in Israel.
What drives me
Full commitment to every project, a real love of fieldwork and face-to-face contact, and the ability to bridge the way European and American headquarters work with the way Israelis do business. I’m here, in constant contact with local players: in stores, in meetings, at trade shows.
Before Modiabiz
For 11 years at Business France Israel (the French government’s trade and investment agency), I helped French food, wine and agriculture companies enter and grow in Israel. I ran national food events, immersion programs for deep tech startups, specialized AgTech and FoodTech missions, and French-Israeli Climate Tech challenges. I also helped industry clusters, corporates and regional governments connect with the local ecosystem. Eleven years of learning what really works in this market, and why.
Modiabiz, launched in May 2025
I founded Modiabiz to go further for my clients, with hands-on involvement in every project. Among other things, I’m the official trade marketing representative for Pink Lady® in Israel: national in-store campaigns, coordination with distributors and retail partners, and KPI reporting to the brand’s teams in France and the US.
The name Modiabiz combines my last name, Modiano, and my Hebrew first name, Dvora (דבורה), which means “bee.” That’s exactly what I do: create buzz and drive business. The bee searches, connects and builds. And she never gives up.
Food Tech Nation Conference
Israeli startups, researchers, companies and public agencies, all around one question: how do we keep feeding a growing population when resources are under pressure?
Pink Lady® tasting tour
Six Rami Levy stores, from Jerusalem to Hadera, with crunchy stops in Beit Shemesh, Modi’in, Tel Aviv and Ra’anana.
Women in Tech® Israel
Inspiring speakers and outstanding women entrepreneurs, brought together for workshops that spark real change.
What makes the difference
I speak both languages
Trained as a lawyer, with an MBA from Tel Aviv University, I understand how export teams at headquarters think, and how an Israeli buyer or startup founder thinks and decides. Most intermediaries in this market lean heavily to one side: local or HQ. I bridge the two in real time, in a sales negotiation, a board meeting, or while structuring a deal. That’s rare here, and it’s what my clients value most.
An active network
Built on the ground, project after project: importers, grocery chain buyers, independent retailers, wholesalers, foodservice players, food and lifestyle influencers, AgriFood Tech startups, R&D centers, incubators and investors. These are relationships I keep active over time. When I need to open a door for a client, it opens.
Both sides of the Israeli market
Commercial growth and open innovation are two worlds almost nobody connects, even in the same market. Working in both lets me spot synergies others miss: a company entering Israel commercially is often the same one that should be looking at Israeli AgriFood Tech startups. Few people cover both, with the same depth of network on each side. That combination is what I bring.
Your Israel project starts here.
In 30 minutes, we’ll see whether my approach fits your goals, and you’ll leave with concrete first steps. Free, no strings attached.