Unicorns 2030: A Round-Table event with alumni at the top of the Hi-Tech industry and Investment Funds

The event was held with participation of TAU President, Prof. Ariel Porat (who participated via Zoom while quarantined) and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Orit Farkash HaCohen and with the participation of TAU alumni who are founders and heads of Unicorn companies from various fields and in key positions in the capital market:

• Yuval Tal, Founder of Payoneer and currently Managing Partner of Team8 Fintech
• Joel Bar-El, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Trax Retail
• Yifat Oron, Senior Managing Director and Head of Tel Aviv Office at Blackstone
• Kobi Marenko, Co-Founder and CEO of Arbe
• Eran Gorev, president of the Israeli office of Francisco Partners
• Rakefet Russak-Aminoach, Managing Partner of Team8 Fintech
• Udi Danino, Founder and CEO of SAIPS (acquired by Ford), member of the TAU Alumni Organization Advisory Committee
• Eric Feingold, Co-Founder, Chairman and President of Comm-IT, Co-Founder and Chairman of Pentera
• Alon Arvatz, Co-Founder of IntSights, a Rapid7 company
• Asaf Shiloni, CEO of Kadimastem
• Zack Zigdon, Co-Founder and MD international at Innovid
• Hagai Itkin, Former Director of Technology in Israel’s Prime Minister's Office (not a graduate)

The event was moderated by Galit Hemi, Editor-in-Chief of Calcalist, Alumna of TAU’s Coller School of Management, School of Economics and Steve Tisch School of Film & Television.

TAU President, Prof. Ariel Porat, commented at the beginning of the discussion on the great importance the university sees in the development of entrepreneurship centers: "On the international level, we are currently in the midst of preparations for the establishment of the first branch of Tel Aviv University outside the borders of Israel, in Florence, Italy. This is alongside the joint program with Columbia University, alongside a partnership between Columbia University with the United Arab Emirates. Following the great achievements of TAU’s Entrepreneurship Center, Headed by Prof. Moshe Zviran, Dean of the Coller School of Management, we are in the process of establishing entrepreneurship centers in additional faculties, in conjunction with entrepreneurs who are Tel Aviv University alumni. Regarding the Faculty of Medicine, we launched a joint center with the Tel Aviv Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital) And we are testing similar collaborations, including sharing the data base with other hospitals. The purpose of this meeting is to learn, get help, and strengthen the relationship with the rich industry in Israel and all around the world."

On behalf of Tel Aviv University, the following participated in the discussion:

• Amos Elad, TAU VP of Public Affairs, Resource Development & Alumni Affairs
• Prof. Moshe Zviran, Dean of the Coller School of Management and Director of the University's Entrepreneurship and Innovation array
• Prof. Yossi Rosenwax, Dean of the Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering
• Prof. David Mendelovich, Director of TAU’s Center for Innovation Labs, Entrepreneur and CEO of Corephotonics
• Prof. Sivan Toledo, Head of the Blavatnik School of Computer Science
• Prof. Dan Amiram, Deputy Dean of the Coller School of Management
• Nimrod Cohen, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of TAU Ventures (Tel Aviv University's investment fund)
• Yael Regev, Director of the Development & Public Affairs Division
• Yair Sakov, founder and Managing Director of Tel Aviv University's Entrepreneurship Center
• And Sigalit Ben Hayoun, Co-Founder and Head of the Tel Aviv University Alumni Organization.

 
View the photo album from the event on Facebook>