All About Exits

In celebration of International Unicorn Day and the opening of applications for the Coller Startup Competition, this year’s event was once again fully dedicated to the world of exits. The event featured inspiring stories from entrepreneurs and investors, all graduates of Tel Aviv University.

Tel Aviv University is ranked 7th in the world in producing venture capital–funded entrepreneurs, following leading institutions such as Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, MIT, and Cornell. A Stanford University study found that Tel Aviv University ranks first outside the United States in producing unicorns—privately held startups valued at over $1 billion—founded by its alumni.

Opening remarks and an introduction to the Coller Startup Competition were delivered by:

· Dr. Eyal Benjamin, Director of the Coller Startup Competition and the Dan Launchpad Entrepreneurship Program at Tel Aviv University, and an alumnus of the Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University

· Doron Simhi, Strategic Advisor to startups, and lecturer in entrepreneurship, growth, and business development at Tel Aviv University

Dr. Eyal Benjamin presented impressive data:

“The Coller Startup Competition, established by Jeremy Coller, is now in its tenth year and is currently open for applications. We are pleased to see that 64% of past winners succeeded in raising funding for their startups, and 46% of past winners raised funding from venture capital funds. This demonstrates that participation in high-quality competitions increases the chances of raising investment.”

A special TED-style talk was delivered by Dr. Ronen Dar, VP Software Systems at NVIDIA, and an alumnus of the Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University

The entrepreneurs panel featured:

· Shahar Tal, Co-founder & CEO of Cyata, an alumnus of the Faculty of Management, Tel Aviv University

· Uri Beitler, CEO & Founder of Pliops, an alumnus of the Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University

The panel explored the entrepreneurial journey, challenges, and key decision points behind building successful startups.

The investors panel featured:

· Hila Rom, Founder and Managing Partner at FutureFirst Ventures, an alumna of the Faculty of Law, Tel Aviv University

· Assaf Wise, Partner and Manager at Earth & Beyond Ventures, an alumnus of the Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University

Both Panels were moderated by:

· Inbal Orpaz, technology journalist, strategic innovation consultant, founder of Women in Tech, and an alumna of the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Social Sciences, and Faculty of Management at Tel Aviv University

Closing Remarks

Sigalit Ben Hayoun, Co- Founder & Head of the Tel Aviv University Alumni Organization, concluded:

“Once again, this year, as we mark International Unicorn Day, we see how Tel Aviv University alumni continue to serve as the backbone of Israeli entrepreneurship, even in the complex reality we are living in. Tel Aviv University is an entrepreneurial university, and its ranking among the world’s leading institutions in producing unicorns is no coincidence; it is the result of excellence, boldness, and a vast network of connections.

The meeting today between experienced entrepreneurs and investors and the next generation of our alumni ensures that we will continue to lead, innovate, and shape the world in the years to come.”