In this post I will discuss the importance of the environment in the topic of innovation. I believe Plato is credited with the origination of the idea that necessity is the mother of invention. I will specifically look at this idea through the lens of Israel and explain the correlation between "necessity" and Israel's incredible success in innovation and entrepreneurship.

When my great grandparents moved to mandated palestine in the 1930s they worked draining swamps in northern palestine (now modern day Israel, Afula to be specific). To see it as an incredibly vibrant and first world country a mere 70-80 years later is incredible and is in large part due to the "necessity" that has led to many inventions and innovations.

I spent 3 months in Israel two summers ago, and it seemed like everyone had a startup idea or 3, a phenomenon I have never experience in my 20 years in America. I believe this is in many ways correlated to the fact that Israeli's are constantly threatened by terrorist attacks and incoming terrorist rockets, which pushes people to do "more" than what is simply required. The fact that all Israeli's spend a couple years in the army is also a large reason why there are so many entrepeneurs, but I believe the culture of constant fear for one's life and country engenders the innovating spirit and promotes invention.