Israel Venture Network

IVN Welcomes New Members

Eli Gorovici, President and CEO of DVTel
Eli has over 15 years of senior management experience in the digital data communications industry, with extensive experience in management, sales, engineering, customer support, business development, and product management.  In 2002, Eli successfully repositioned DVTel’s market focus, and in five short years he has brought the company to the #1 position in the networked video space.  Eli has spoken widely at leading industry events and has written numerous articles for security and vertical market trade publications.  Previously, Mr. Gorovici was vice president, global sales and marketing, for NICE Systems.  At NICE, he was responsible for overall operations as well as the successful introduction of the NiceVision™ platform of digital recording systems to North America and key global markets.

Steve Eskenazi, Managing Director of WaldenVC

Steve joined Walden from Alex Brown, where he worked for seven years as Managing Director and Founder of Alex Brown's New Media Group. At Alex Brown, he was directly involved in financing and sponsoring a wide range of new media and technology companies. In both 1995 and 1996, Steve was selected by The Wall Street Journal as an All-Star software analyst and stock picker, ranking #1 in 1995 (with a 90%+ return) and #5 in 1996 (with a 130% return). Prior to Alex Brown, he began his career in 1985 working for IBM as a marketing representative. Steve is Chairman of the Board of Apollo International and a member of the Board of Directors of BlueLithium, Cybertrust, Real Girls Media, Hands On Video Relay Services, and Iconoculture.

Jonathan Levy, President of Winbond Israel & General Manager of the Advanced PC Product Center

Jonathan is the President of Winbond Israel, a fully owned subsidiary of Winbond Electronics Corporation of Taiwan. He is also the General Manager of the Advanced PC Product Center, which is responsible for development and marketing of silicon-based solutions for Personal Computers and Servers.   Jonathan holds several U.S. patents.  He received a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering and a master’s degree in business administration (Executive MBA) from the University of Tel Aviv in Israel.  Jonathan is married to Dina, an Artist, and together they have 5 children, ranging in ages from 8 to 27.

Ofer Timor- Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Delta Ventures, Seed and early stage VC established in the year 2000.  In Delta Fund, Ofer played a major role in starting and managing portfolio companies, and in many instances has served as a member of their boards. Ofer served as the chairman of the board of Appilog Inc, and was instrumental in its sale to Mercury (NASDAQ: MERQ). Prior to founding Delta Ventures, Ofer served as the President of JACADA (NASDAQ: JCDA), a leading software company in the legacy of web-enabling market. Ofer helped transform JACADA from a start-up into a multi-national company with 140 employees and more than $10 million in annual revenues.  Prior to his work at JACADA, Ofer for 5 years managed Western Systems, one of Europe's leading computer hardware companies, and a subsidiary of Packard Bell. Earlier in his career, Ofer managed Amira (Israel) Ltd., the pioneer investment house responsible for establishing Teledata and Interpharm. Ofer holds a B.A. in Business Administration and Economics from Haifa University.  Ofer served as a combat fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force.

IERI Business Profile

Over 110 businesses have been initially screened by IVN's Economic Reconstruction Initiative (IERI) and of those, 37 businesses have begun to receive formal coaching. One year after the Second Lebanon War, businesses are still in great need of assistance – both financial and strategic. Below is a profile of one such business.

Name of Business: Conkor

Industry: Real-time software program outsourcing

Background: Conkor was founded in 1998 by a husband and wife team – Marina and Iliya Koritny – both immigrants from the FSU who are software engineers by training. Iliya is considered a leading expert in real-time software (used in applications such as embedded systems (programmable thermostats, household appliance controllers, mobile telephones), industrial robots, spacecraft, industrial control, and scientific research equipment). The company began with 4 employees and quickly grew to a staff of 25 by the year 2000. Before the Second Lebanon War began, there were nearly 40 employees.

Impact of the War: Conkor's offices are at Kibbutz Sa'ar, which is located along the border with Lebanon. From the moment the war began, there was no possibility of the business remaining open due to constant shelling and immediate danger. They tried to continue providing their services remotely, but it was very difficult as employees scattered around the country seeking shelter. Beyond the damage sustained during the war, they continued to lose customers, who lost faith in the stability of a company situated in the North. In addition, a significant number of their employees have decided to relocate.  Conkor currently has 15-20 employees.

Trying to Rebuild: Conkor has tremendous potential, both in its current area of outsourcing, as well as a developer of spin-off products. After the war, Conkor turned to the local MATI (Small Business Center) for assistance and they were referred to IVN's Economic Reconstruction Initiative (IERI). IERI performed an initial review of the business and determined that there is significant potential for growth and that Conkor is primarily in need of organizational management and strategic marketing.

Eli Teicher, the local business consultant working with Conkor via IERI believes that, "The support and networking offered by IVN through IERI is fantastic, as the Conkor managers can learn from people who actually know the market and know how to succeed. There is amazing potential here."

Moving Ahead: The next stage is for Conkor to work with Eli to build a business and marketing plan with clear objectives.

We look forward to sharing the progress of Conkor and other IERI-supported businesses as they move from initial recovery to long-term planning and development.

Education Initiative Success Story

We are pleased to share the following letter with you from a homeroom teacher in Tiberias, where IVN and Sacta-Rashi have been operating the Education Initiative (EI) since 2002.

Report on Progress in N's Behavior Class for Formulating Behavior, Ehrlich School

N came to the class after having been diagnosed as suffering from serious behavioral and emotional disorders. During the past two years, intervention programs at both the class and individual levels were implemented: a class behavior intervention program was devised, and individual learning programs were designed in various subjects. The class had  a day per week in carpentry, agriculture and home economics workshops. Computer use became a regular occurrence, once the class received a computer from Sacta-Rashi-IVN. The class received art therapy as well.

N is very talented in various fields of creativity, and connected to the range of possibilities made available to him. He was able to express and develop his talents, improve his self-image, and advance towards fulfilling his potential.

I am pleased to report that the conditions that we were able to provide for N, the largest portion of which came from IVN-Sacta Rashi funds, helped in N's advancement. Due to the normative behavioral tools that N acquired, the Integration Committee has decided that next year, N will be in a regular class, in a regular school.

I have the pleasant duty of thanking you, from the bottom of my heart, in N's name, that of the class's educational staff, and in the name of all the students in the class, for your help and support throughout.

With warm regards,

Anat Levinstein

Homeroom teacher, June, 2007

IsraCorps Celebrates Third Year of Activity

Last week IsraCorps celebrated the completion of its third year of activity. The ceremony took place at the Rashi headquarters in the Ben Shemen Youth Village.

The ceremony was an expression of appreciation to the some 450 young IsraCorps volunteers who completed a stint of professional volunteering replete with community activities in the periphery of Israel.

Events Promote Citizenship & Social Entrepreneuring

• Minister of Education Yuli Tamir was the guest speaker at an IVN event held to promote active citizenship on May 27th in Raanana at the home of Benny and Mika Levin.  Over 150 IVN Members, friends, and national and local government representatives from the education ministry attended the evening.  Eliezer Ya'ari, Director of the New Israel Fund (IVN's strategic partner in the Education for Active Citizenship Program) led a panel discussion of teachers and students from Kiryat Shemona, Sderot and the Bedouin village of Tuba-Zangariya.  IVN Citizenship Co-Chairs Isaac Hillel and Yehudah Cohn encouraged the implementation of formal citizenship studies in all grades K-12 together with social action programs.

• The Annual Social Entrepreneur (SE) Event was held at the home of IVN SE Mentor Shai & Mina Beilis this April in Kfar Saba.  The event was well attended and the guests included the SE Fellows, IVN mentors, IVN members, representatives from the New Israel Fund and Sacta-Rashi - strategic partners of IVN in the program; the press, SE selection committee members, and potential donors.  The keynote speaker was Isabel Maxwell, IVN Voting Member and Chair of the SE program, who spoke about the Global Power of Social Entrepreneuring. Her presentation was very informative and moving.  The audience felt that they came away with a true understanding of and a feeling for the power of a social entrepreneur and it gave new meaning to the importance the work of our SE Fellows.

BeYachad Partners Inagurate New Computer Center in North

Representatives from the Calgary Jewish Federation participated in a moving inauguration ceremony of the newly opened computer center in the village of Yesod Hama'ala in the Galilee Panhandle at the beginning of June 2007. The idea to establish a computer center in the village was presented by local leaders to representatives of the Calgary Jewish Federation during a visit to Yesod Hama'ala over a year ago. One of the first five settlements established in Israel, in 1883, Yesod Hama'ala has fallen on hard times.

Annual General Meeting in CA

IVN held its fifth Annual Meeting on Monday evening, April 30^th 2007.  The meeting was held at SAP in Palo Alto, California and was attended by close to 70 people including nine IVN Board members who mingled with local members and friends. Both IVN Chairman, Eric Benhamou, and Benny Levin, IVN Vice-Chairman, addressed the group and reported on IVN’s 2006 accomplishments. Special guest, Ishmael Khaldi, Deputy Israel Consul General in San Francisco, (pictured right) also delivered heartfelt remarks about the importance of IVN’s work in Israel.

Pictured: Tzipi Tramiel, Sam Tramiel, Rich Saperstein, Illeana Benhamou

    

Pictured: Len Lehmann and Eric Benhamou          Pictured: Isabel Maxwell, Amos Vilnai

                                             

Pictured:David Millstein, Sasson Sharam, Steve Eskenazi

Pictured: Oren Zeev, Harry Kellogg, Amos Ben-Meir

IVN Members in the News

We are pleased to share with you the following news highlighting IVN Member activity:

• IVN Chairman Eric Benhamou received the 'Israel in our Hearts Award' presented annually at Israel in the Gardens, the San Francisco Bay Area's celebration of Israel's independence. Israel in our Hearts Awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to Israel and proven leadership in an initiative or program that has enhanced the Jewish community's relationship with Israel.   Eric was one of ten recipients. Israel in the Gardens attracts approximately 10,000 people. Israel in the Gardens was co-chaired by IVN Members Yael and Amnon Landan. Israel in the Gardens is presented by the Israel Center of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Israel. Orli Rinat, another IVN member, is the current Chair of the Israel Center and IVN Member Jim Koshland is the Campaign Chair of the Jewish Community Federation.
• IVN Vice-Chair Benny Levin met with fellows from the PresenTense Institute for Creative Zionism (PICZ). PICZ is an incubator for social entrepreneurs whose mission is to seed ground-breaking initiatives that change the way the Jewish People live, think and work.  Response to Benny's talk was very positive - "one of our participants said that she felt "goosebumps" when you told about your project, that she couldn't believe people were doing such forward-thinking things and blending the best of all worlds."  To see Benny's talk, visit: http://creativezionism.weebly.com/blog-and-updates.html .
• Congratulations also to IVN Board Member Shlomo Dovrat, who received an honorary fellowship from the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center.  The Honorary Fellows award is granted by IDC Herzliya every year to individuals whose outstanding leadership and entrepreneurship is having an enormously positive impact on the State of Israel in general and its Education/Higher Education system in particular.