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ALMALINKS MEMBERS BUILDING CONNECTIONS
Sidney Bresler and Dr. Boaz Shay established a research partnership to study how to reduce hospitalizations due to dental infections
David Kochman and Amikam Levanon joined forces to pilot an initiative to improve health care in underprivileged communities across the US
Shira Druion, a journalist who is an AlmaLinks member, published a feature highlighting Yuval Gonczarowski and Sharon Mirsky's startup initiatives in a UK-based magazine
Through AlmaLinks, Vic Levitin found his co-founders and founded Diptera.ai, which develops technology to fight mosquitoes
Nava Brief Fried and Natalia Olson connected while representing the Israel tech industry in Spain
UPCOMING EVENTS
📅 March 29:
Global AlmaSession with Dan Sarel, Co-Founder of Demisto, Acquired by Palo Alto Networks
How Systematic Product Development can be Replicated to Disrupt Industries
📅 April 7:
AlmaLinks New York Chapter Dinner at 19 Cleveland
Connect Face-to-Face over Dinner, Strengthening Existing Relationships, and Creating New Ones
If you have not yet done so, sign up for our AlmaConnect Program. AlmaConnect is a platform designed to create new connections between our members.
The goal of AlmaConnect is to help you get to know our local and global networks, so you can build business and personal connections. To opt-in to receive quarterly connections to members, sign-up here.
After you sign up, you will receive an email introduction to another member. It will be up to the two of you to schedule a time to connect, either in-person or virtually.
Bruce Newman
Philadelphia
Managing Principal, Addison Feen Insight Inc; Partner, Entrepreneur Partners L.P; Operating Partner, Graham Partners
Daniel Klein
Baltimore
President, Klein Enterprises and Sundeck Capital
Matthew Winnick
Los Angeles
Co-Founder, True Classic; Managing Partner, Kilowatt Capital
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - DANIEL HILLMAN
DANIEL HILLMAN
CO-FOUNDER, KALEPA
With a foundation in mathematics, systems science and business, Daniel rose up through the ranks of sales at Applied Predictive Technologies and Mastercard before co-founding Kalepa in 2018. Kalepa was born out of the idea that technology (machine learning, AI & software) could be utilized to empower insurance underwriters to perform at the highest level and consistently deliver superior, accurate and speedy outcomes.
WHAT'S INNOVATIVE?
Kalepa’s AI-powered product, Copilot, can analyze billions of data points to enable commercial insurance underwriters to rapidly evaluate and balance risks, rates and margins. By providing insights and recommendations on every risk, Copilot allows even inexperienced underwriters to make smart, effective and efficient decisions.
SOMETHING TO SHARE:
Kalepa ta kala, where the name of Daniel's company comes from, is an ancient Greek aphorism which translates as “beautiful things are difficult,” or more loosely, “naught without labor.”
YOU MAY NOT KNOW:
Daniel led a team of intelligence analysts in the Israeli Defense Force. His great loves are trekking, photography, golden retrievers and watersports.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - INBAR HAHAM
INBAR HAHAM
CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER, INCAPITAL VENTURES
Inbar has over 20 years of experience in technology and finance. Inbar was one of the first team members at Wix (WIX NASDAQ), and also gained experience in asset management working for a family office. Inbar began her career in venture capital at Magma Ventures, a high performing Israeli VC which was the first investor in Waze and other successful companies. She led business development there for 6 years before founding her own fund, INcapital Ventures.
WHAT'S INNOVATIVE?
Inbar is currently Managing Partner at INcapital Ventures, an early-stage VC that invests in B2B tech companies in high-growth sectors. INcapital focuses on Israeli-founded companies at the point of global scaling, and adds value by creating bridges to the North American market, and leveraging the GPs’ extensive network and experience in scaling and operating technology companies.
SOMETHING TO SHARE:
The book Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss has helped Inbar understand different negotiation strategies and how to use the right strategy in different situations.
YOU MAY NOT KNOW:
Inbar started her career at the Israel Ministry of Defense’s Mission to the USA. She also lives an active lifestyle; she runs outdoors, practices yoga and enjoys nature hikes.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - ARTURO ARDITTI
ARTURO ARDITTI
CO-FOUNDER, ARDITTI+RDT/ARQUITECTOS
Arturo Arditti is a real estate developer and architect. While Arturo has primarily focused on architectural design, he has co-developed select projects, enabling him to combine his creative talents with his real estate acumen. His building designs artfully integrate the most advanced technology, comfort, sustainability and efficiency and are renowned globally (for example, in the Museum of Memory and Tolerance in Mexico City). He has been recognized with more than forty awards in Mexico and abroad and has lectured extensively. Arturo was granted a “Doctorate Honoris Causa” at the United Nations in Vienna, represents Mexico for the AIA, is an ambassador for the “We Are Water” Foundation in Barcelona and serves as a member of the Editorial Board of Glocal and México Design. He is an entrepreneur and has co-developed 1000 condo units and 1 million sq. ft. of corporate space with tenants like Danone, Mazda, Telefonica, Coca-Cola FEMSA and WeWork.
WHAT'S INNOVATIVE?
Arturo has exhibited widely and his work has been internationally recognized, including as the recipient of a WAF Award for The Museum of Memory and Tolerance, an Int. Property Award for the Governmental City of Zacatecas and the CAM-SAM Medal, based on merit for an outstanding career.
SOMETHING TO SHARE:
His favorite book, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, combines his passion for congruent architecture and the study of human behavior.
YOU MAY NOT KNOW:
Arturo was invited to present a Ted Talk on the "Cities of the Future" in May 2022. He loves tennis and is an avid player, hitting the court five days a week. He is also a self-trained fine art photographer and is currently writing a book dedicated to his three children.
Ran believes in the value of networks: companies are given higher valuations by the market not because of tech or number of users, but because they have built networks. Crypto is the world's first value network: the more people use it, the more merchants accept it - and the more merchants accept it, the more people use it.
The crypto market is volatile because it is a young market and therefore illiquid. As it becomes more widely used, there will be less volatility.
To build a crypto portfolio, identify where you believe networks will disrupt incumbents, and estimate how quickly they will do so and how quickly they will grow.
For Ran, Ethereum is even more exciting than Bitcoin. It allows you to put smart contracts (contracts that are executed without any human intervention) onto a blockchain.
Ethereum has given rise to two new industries:
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) - where individuals can transact with a contract that is immutable and unchangeable (independent of any financial institution), lives in a ledger forever and is 100% reliable.
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) - which people are now collecting, including big sports stars and companies like Coke.
Gaming and immersive experiences are the next investment opportunities. Music is a cultural beacon and was where “cool” came from; now, gaming is really pushing culture forward. The Metaverse is what is going to become our reality and gaming is at the forefront of that.
Máuhan believes foundational disruptors are going to hit us in a big way. The lines between users, creators and curators are going to become blurred to an unimaginable extent. This means that content is going to be much more malleable and much more personalized.
Ran believes in the value of networks: companies are given higher valuations by the market not because of tech or number of users, but because they have built networks. Crypto is the world's first value network: the more people use it, the more merchants accept it - and the more merchants accept it, the more people use it.
The crypto market is volatile because it is a young market and therefore illiquid. As it becomes more widely used, there will be less volatility.
To build a crypto portfolio, identify where you believe networks will disrupt incumbents, and estimate how quickly they will do so and how quickly they will grow.
For Ran, Ethereum is even more exciting than Bitcoin. It allows you to put smart contracts (contracts that are executed without any human intervention) onto a blockchain.
Ethereum has given rise to two new industries:
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) - where individuals can transact with a contract that is immutable and unchangeable (independent of any financial institution), lives in a ledger forever and is 100% reliable.
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) - which people are now collecting, including big sports stars and companies like Coke.
Gaming and immersive experiences are the next investment opportunities. Music is a cultural beacon and was where “cool” came from; now, gaming is really pushing culture forward. The Metaverse is what is going to become our reality and gaming is at the forefront of that.
Máuhan believes foundational disruptors are going to hit us in a big way. The lines between users, creators and curators are going to become blurred to an unimaginable extent. This means that content is going to be much more malleable and much more personalized.
