There’s mandatory military service in Israel. All Israeli companies with Israeli founders were started by the alumnis of some units unless they’re ultra-religious. Obviously, those with a liking to computers would choose to serve in the unit on cybersecurity and information technology, especially if it provides an afterschool learntocode program for teens described by Forbes as a “startup machine”.

The unit is composed primarily of 18–21 year olds. As a result of the youth of the soldiers in the unit, and the shortness of their service period, the unit relies on selecting recruits with the ability for rapid adaptation and speedy learning.[7] Afterschool programs for 16–18 year olds, teaching computer coding and hacking skills, also serve as feeder programs for the unit.[8] Former Unit 8200 soldiers have, after completing their military service, gone on to founding and occupying top positions in many international IT companies and in Silicon Valley.[8][9]