Meet Our Team

Introducing Pico's VP of Strategic Partnerships, and office basketball champ, Yaron Talpaz! 

Tell us a little bit about yourself

Family person, passionate worker, competitive, perfectionist, sports fan, amateur athlete. Born in the USA, grew up mostly in Israel. Went from serving 6 years as a software engineer in the IDF after graduating from its prestigious Mamram computers school, to working 15 years in Israeli sports media because I “wanted to get paid to watch basketball” - which beat the higher salaries in the high-tech industry. 

Founded the digital department of The Sports Channel – Israel’s version of ESPN, and before that, was one of the founders of the channel’s highest rated daily shows, The Sports News. During 13 years at the channel, acted also as its American Sports Reporter and Commentator, covering 10 NBA Finals series and Allstar weekends on-site, broadcasting them to Israel. Spent some time in New York working for Mobli, a social media start up and then was proud to join Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball club for 3 years, before jumping back to the start-up life at Pico in 2017. I played semi-pro table tennis for 20 years and later turned to long-distance running. Happily married, father of 3.

What is your role at Pico?

VP of Strategic Partnerships. I’m basically in charge of our global sales and interactions within our potential markets, while providing a hand to the Customer Success team to which we hand off these partnerships.

What's the best thing about Pico's solution?

Leveraging what brands/sports teams are already doing in digital for short and long term gains in easy to use ways.

If you had to describe Pico using 4-5 words, or a phrase, what would they be?

Capture data and act upon it.

What is your favorite sport and team?

Basketball has been a part of my life since I was 8 years old. The NBA is at the top of my list with European and Israeli Basketball at a close second - a combination you can probably only find with someone who has split his childhood between College Station, Texas, and Tel Aviv, Israel. The NFL is amazing too. Teams I've been closely following for years have been the Houston Rockets, Dallas Cowboys, and Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club.

Favorite player?

Heading a long list is Hakeem Olajuwon. In football it’s Jason Witten, despite him never winning it all in his Hall of Fame career with the Cowboys. In international and Israeli basketball it’s guys like Manu Ginobili, Dirk Nowitzki, Mickey Berkovich, Nadav Henefeld, Oded Katash, and Omri Casspi.

Go-to snack/meal?

Again, an unusual mix- a burger is always welcome but also hummus in a pita with almost anything else.

What’s your motto in life?

Do what you love. Work hard to get there.

Lastly, what’s your favorite social media platform today?

Twitter, by far. As a sports guy, don’t think I need to elaborate.