Israel Venture Network

Putting Idealism into Practice: IVN’s Social Entrepreneur Fellows

We are pleased to share with you the story of IVN’s Social Entrepreneur Fellows Irit Solzi and Dror Gershon, who recently graduated the program. Their 2-year fellowship – one of 2 SE Fellowships sponsored by one of our strategic partners, the Rashi Foundation - focused on sustainable urban planning.

"Merchav – The Movement for Israeli Urbanism (MIU)" that Irit and Dror founded is introducing modern urbanism and city planning in Israel and takes its inspiration from the Movement for New Urbanism in the United States.  MIU strives to improve the quality of life for current and future generations via sustainable development of urban Israel; and by advancing democratic values in the Israeli urban planning processes. 

SE Fellow Irit Solzi, “The IVN Fellowship enabled us to achieve a number of goals and gave us the financial independence to focus on MIU. The mentoring by Avner Shelem, was invaluable. He helped us focus on what was important, particularly with the work of the Steering Committee.  Furthermore, the help and cooperation with the Rashi Foundation over other projects they brought us into such as Om Galil and Shlomi, was and is, invaluable.”

IVN Mentor Avner Shalem, “I try to dedicate at least one day a week to giving back to the community – working with Irit and Dror was an excellent way for me to do so – and for me to become more involved in environmental issues that are close to my heart. I saw my role as enabling them to become independent by the end of the two year fellowship and am pleased they have succeeded. I want to thank Irit and Dror, who are excellent examples of social leaders. I enjoyed every minute of my work with them and will continue to be involved in their initiative.”

Irit emphasized that, “The SE Fellowship also enabled us to participate in a charrette course at the University of Miami – Dror & I are the only Israelis trained in this process.”

Spotlight on New IVN Members

Theo Koffler

Director, Super-Pharm Israel Ltd.

President, Therapeutic Riding Center for the Disabled in Israel

Born in Canada , IVN new member Theo Koffler holds a bachelor's degree in social sciences and began her business career in her family-owned Canadian drugstore company, Shoppers Drug Mart. In 1979, she moved to Israel and co-founded Super-Pharm -Israel's first national drugstore chain with her father, Murray, and brother, Leon Koffler.

Theo brought with her retail knowledge in Marketing, Advertising and Special Events from Shoppers Drug Mart and was and integral part of the management team for its formative years. After thirteen vibrant years in Israel and 23 store openings, (the company now operates over 100 stores in Israel), Theo moved to California where she resides today. She remains a director of Super-Pharm Israel Ltd. and Global Retail Ltd. and serves as a consultant in global pharmacy retailing.

For the past twenty years, Theo has divided her time as mother of two children and conscious entrepreneur for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Her current endeavors include: founder, Between4Eyes Collaborative, member of the board of The Hawn Foundation; member of the advisory board, InnerKids Foundation; advisor to American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Director Super-Pharm Israel Ltd, and President of the Therapeutic Riding Center for the Disabled in Israel.

In 2006, Theo undertook Chairperson of Strategic Development for the William & Elizabeth Shatner/Jewish National Fund Consortium for Therapeutic Riding for the Disabled in Israel. Koffler brings over twenty years of experience in developing therapeutic riding programs to the disabled in Israel and is currently crafting a business model to bring therapeutic riding for the disabled to Jerico, Palestinian Territories.

Networking

IVN seeks to facilitate networking opportunities for small businesses in Israel's periphery seeking assistance from IVN Members. Your help in opening a door, providing a contact or offering advice from personal experience can make a big difference.

1.  IVN Mentor Amnon Yaacobi is forwarding the following networking request on  behalf of a company located in Carmiel, Northern Israel.

The company - Manage - is participating in IVN's Economic Reconstruction Initiative (IERI) and provides CRM outsourcing services for retail stores with hundreds and thousands of customers. These services include an innovative CRM call center, customizable CRM software, Marcom management & more. The company has experience in providing efficient and effective CRM services and after receiving consultancy via IERI, it has improved its operational capabilities. Currently, Manage is in the phase of expanding its activity and   branching out to new customers.

The networking activity of IVN's members can be of great assistance to Manage, by helping them to develop contacts with potential customers and by introducing the company to senior staff members of leading retailers in Israel.

2.  IVN is also seeking to help place Ethiopian immigrants who were recently trained in IT in hi-tech companies located in Israel's Center or South.

If you are able to provide the assistance requested, please contact Anat Samet at - anats@ivn.org.il

Funding Opportunities

IVN is seeking funders for a number of meaningful social investment opportunities including:

• Supplemental matriculation studies for high school youth affected by the recent teacher strike that lasted for 65 days.  IVN is seeking funding to provide additional tutoring that will make up for the study time missed during this crucial period.  Students from low-income communities where IVN operates often cannot afford the luxury of private tutors.  Grades received on the matriculation exams determine whether or not pupils can continue onto higher education. 
• Basic school supplies for children in Sderot.  The municipality of Sderot recently contacted IVN for help in providing basic school supplies for children whose lives are affected by daily Kassam rocket attacks. 
• Seed funding for IsraCorps US.  IsraCorps aims to narrow social and educational gaps by educating Israeli volunteers in and from the periphery and by increasing volunteers' effectiveness via targeted training, placement and guidance.  IsraCorps US will serve as a framework for US teens and young adults to volunteer alongside their peers in Israel's periphery. 
• Sponsorship of a Social Entrepreneur Fellowship. Social Entrepreneurs (SE) are society's change agents dedicated to developing and implementing innovative solutions to Israel's most pressing social problems. IVN's program provides SE Fellows with a monthly stipend, oversight and mentoring from members of the IVN network, and educational opportunities to bolster skills.  The next set of SE Fellows will be announced in Q1 2008! 
• Funding of a workshop for School Principal Leadership in Sderot. Optional to form a course open for principles and corporate participants. 
• Corporate sponsorship for an IVN Members Event. Corporate firms that are seeking to expand their exposure through the IVN network.

For further information on how to support IVN, please contact:

      US Office

Joni Block, Director, at joni@israelventurenetwork.org

      540 Cowper St.,Suite 200

Palo Alto, CA 94301

Tel. (650) 325-4200

Fax (650) 649-1974

Israel Office

Atara Dzikowski, Director of Development & Marketing, at atara@ivn.org.il

PO Box 5064

Kadima 60920

Cel. 052-534-5343

Tel. 09-891-2117

Fax 09-891-2118

Get Involved

IVN is inviting hi-tech and finance executives to share their wealth of experience in various IVN programs:

-   Mentor business consultants as part of IVN's Economic Reconstruction Initiative (IERI)

-   Mentor social entrepreneurs as part of the Social Entrepreneur Fellowship Program

-   Guide school principals as part of the Educational Initiative

For more information on any of these opportunities, please contact Anat Samet at anat@ivn.org.il.

New IVN Social Entrepreneur Fellowships

IVN and its strategic partners, NIF and the Rashi Foundation, congratulate the following Social Entrepreneurs who were just awarded IVN Social Entrepreneur Fellowships for the two year period of 2008-2010! Fellowships include a monthly stipend and mentoring by an IVN Member. The fellows were chosen from over 212 outstanding applications.

• Yossi Coten and Smadar Nehab - "Tsofen" - These entrepreneurs have a vision for the general Northern Israeli population and the Arab job seeking population in particular, to enable them to join the mainstream high-tech success story of Israel by centralizing and establishing an innovative high-tech employment and training nucleus, first of all, in Nazareth.

• Yony Choona and Georg Roessler - "SOS Center for Violence Studies", inspired by a highly successful national and innovative European model, is committed to prevention of violence and also promotes the topic as an academic discipline. The Center takes a holistic approach that includes teacher training, and work with parents, students, youth movements and local police authorities.

• Yael Cohen-Paran - "The Israel Energy Forum" - The global energy problem is being tackled head on in Israel by this project. The forum aims to develop the first sustainable energy plan for Israel, advocate its adoption and enable its implementation. The forum will builda framework for planning the future of Israel's energy supply and consumption, and will initiate public discussion, urging policy-makers to push forward sustainable solutions for Israel's energy needs.

• Linda Mosek - "Retirement - the Window of Opportunity" - Baby boomers the world over still have a huge amount to contribute to society, and Israel is no exception. This innovative initiative aims to create valued occupational opportunities for the elderly by establishing a vocational center that will provide work-related prospects. In addition, the project will embrace a wide range of elements such as community involvement, business development, volunteering, inter-generational interaction and Diaspora partnership.