The Israel Technology Conference recently held in Philadelphia proved successful in promoting the city as a viable location for Israeli companies to open U.S. headquarters. The Times of Israel called it a “landmark event where business relationships were established and nurtured.”

The conference focused on two sectors in which Philadelphia leads – healthcare IT and media / communications – and provided the delegation of 11 Israeli companies an opportunity to meet with potential investors and explore strategic partnerships. Meetings with Philadelphia companies and universities, tours and panel discussions were part of the two-day event.

Greenberg Traurig organized the panel on doing business in the United States and Israel, which included leading investors, government representatives and professionals from the region. The panels were moderated by Beth Cohen and David Gitlin, both from the firm’s Philadelphia office; and Adam Snukal, from the firm’s Tel Aviv office, was a panelist.

The conference was the direct result of Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter’s visit to Israel in 2013. During a meeting with the Philadelphia delegation, Chemi Peres – one of Israel’s most prominent venture capitalists – offered a reciprocal visit. Peres led the Israeli delegation including BeatMed, BioCatch, DermaFlow, OpiSoft, PhysiHome, Shekel Healthcare, Trineba Technologies, Goopi Sarl, Opinion Stage, Pico, and Watchitoo.

According to a Philadelphia Business Journal article, PhysiHome, an online video analysis service that identifies movement patterns that limit athletic performance and can result in an injury, has already selected Philadelphia for its U.S. subsidiary, which will open in 2015. Opinion Stage, an online polling service for publishers and brands, has narrowed its search for a U.S. location to New York and Philadelphia, with the CEO / founder saying that the Philadelphia conference may have put the city in the lead.

Beth Cohen, the director of Global Emerging Growth Services at Greenberg Traurig and immediate past president of the Philadelphia-Israel Chamber (PICC), was chair of the Israel Technology Conference. She led the planning team that included the Mayor’s office, Comcast, Drexel University, PICC, the Israeli Consulate, the International Office of Pennsylvania, Jefferson University Hospitals, Children’s Hospital and others. The BIRD Foundation and Israel Economic Ministry also supported the conference, and Israel Advanced Technologies Industries, Israel’s foremost technology organization, was the Israeli partner.

PICC has suggested it will be hosting more industry-specific Israeli delegations in the future