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The Right Global Investment Team for the Next Generation of Leading Entrepreneurs

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By David J. Blumberg

Blumberg Capital Expands Global Team with Six New Hires

Innovation is bubbling up everywhere, stemming from brilliant minds in startups to academia to public and private institutions around the globe. I started Blumberg Capital 27 years ago to help entrepreneurs bring complex technologies to markets everywhere that have potential to improve billions of lives. Over the years, we’ve focused on building a visionary team with unique operational, technical and entrepreneurial backgrounds.

That’s why we’re excited to announce a large-scale expansion, adding six new team members in Tel Aviv and San Francisco. Our new team members aren’t just internationally-minded, but multidisciplinary in their approach—combining deep tech prowess in AI and cybersecurity honed over decades leading the Israel Defense Forces’ elite 8200 intelligence agency, with high-level multinational boardroom leadership experience and financial analytics mastery. It takes a team with all of these skills to identify the most promising technologies in today’s innovation-everywhere global economy.

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First, welcome Steve Gillan as COO and CFO. Previously CFO at Azure Capital Partners, Steve also has extensive operating and board experience at startups and large companies. He was CFO at e-commerce startup Mercantila, CFO and COO at marketing technology company Fathom Online and CFO at e-commerce company Alibris. He has led companies through acquisitions and IPO preparation, and held senior-level finance positions with publicly-traded manufacturing companies. Steve’s boots-on-the-ground financial and operating experience will not only help the Blumberg Capital team “see beyond the numbers,” but will be a source of financial insight and strategy for our high-growth portfolio companies.

Screen Shot 2018-10-18 at 9.47.32 AMWe’re also welcoming two new high-caliber managing directors in Tel Aviv, Yodfat Harel Buchris and Ehud Schneorson. When it comes to global investment experience, Yodfat Harel Buchris has it in spades. She has more than 20 years experience as an investor and board member with extensive skills in management, business development, marketing and strategic planning. From serving on the board of Discount Bank, one of Israel’s three largest banks, to working as the corporate director for Orbotech, one of Israel’s largest technology companies to working as a magistrate on the National Labor Court, Yodfat understands how business, law and finance must coexist to spur technological innovation. She speaks four languages and has worked in Europe, the U.S. and Asia, bringing global experience and relationships to Blumberg Capital’s investment team. Yodfat has also served on the boards of some of Israel’s largest companies and most innovative startups, including El Al Airlines, Protalix Biotherapeutics, N-Trig (acquired by Microsoft), Storewize (acquired by IBM) and Panaya (acquired by Infosys).

Screen Shot 2018-10-18 at 9.47.49 AMWith 30 years in the Israeli Intelligence community, Brigadier General (Retired) Ehud Schneorson is the former commander of Unit 8200 in the Israel Defense Forces, one of the world’s elite intelligence and cyber agencies. Blumberg Capital is honored to have a former Unit 8200 commander on our team, who commanded tens of thousands of soldiers and reservists and accomplished incredible feats of technological prowess. Ehud honed his experience in AI, big data, software, networking, cybersecurity, hardware and telecommunications. Ehud will be invaluable in identifying emerging technologies with global potential and to creating strong connections with the Israeli cyber community, as well as with the highest levels of corporate and government technology organizations worldwide. Schneorson has a MSc in Geophysics and planetary science and a BA in history, both from the Tel Aviv University.

Screen Shot 2018-10-18 at 9.47.42 AMRounding out the additions are three dynamic team members. The first is Idan Nurick, who will join as us a principal. Idan served for a decade as a computer scientist in Unit 8200, during which he led R&D teams and the largest cyber operations project, acquiring deep understanding in data science and cybersecurity. In 2015 he joined Sygnia by Team8, a cyber technology and services company. As a cyber researcher, he was involved in incident response, big data solutions and cybersecurity strategy projects. In parallel, he was also an independent scientific advisor to biotech companies. He has an MBA from Tel Aviv University, has completed the pre-clinical phase of his MD-Phd, a MSc in computer science and bioinformatics and undergraduate degrees in biology, computer science and mathematics. Clearly, Idan has a passion for learning and his inquisitive mindset is a perfect match for the Blumberg Capital team. He’ll play a key role in identifying the most promising technologies in med-tech, AI, fintech, cybersecurity and enterprise software.

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In San Francisco, we welcome Andrew Van Nest, associate, and Peter Cooney III, data analyst. Andrew previously worked in business development at Ellation, as an associate for Silicon Valley Bank and as an investment banking analyst for William Blair. Peter previously worked as a financial analyst for Santander US. They’ll be busy with meeting entrepreneurs, financial modeling and data-based due diligence.

At Blumberg Capital, we’re not just “staffing up.” We looked far and wide and hired the best – their deep expertise in governance, technology, operations combined with unparalleled networks will truly expand and enhance our team. These strategic hires support our global-first technology investment vision. All our team members must see the world from a global perspective, recognizing opportunity and innovation wherever it originates. With our team’s connections and wealth of knowledge, Blumberg Capital is finding, funding and building the world’s next blockbuster technology companies—no matter where their entrepreneurial journey begins.

David J. Blumberg is the founder and managing partner of Blumberg Capital. Follow him on Twitter at @davidblumberg 

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