Wharton & Recanati Connect on Lessons Learned from Israeli Innovation

Students inspecting the tech behind DipTech's world leading technology

Approximately 40 Wharton MBA and EMBA students braved Tel Aviv's winter rain to join 30 Sofaer International MBA students in a joint course titled Lessons Learned from Israeli Innovation.

This course, taught jointly by 3 professors (Prof. David Zvilichovsky, Tel Aviv University; Mr. Stephen Sammut, Wharton; Prof. Davis Hsu, Wharton), is designed to orientate students to the principles of innovation management particularly in Israel and approaches to applying the Israeli experience to other countries, regions, and companies

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The Team:  (left to right) Prof. David Zvilichovsky (Tel Aviv University), Mr. Stephen Sammut, (Wharton), Prof. David Hsu (Wharton)

The Experts: VC Panel with (left to right) Yoav Chelouche, Aviv Venture Capital; Michael Eisenberg, Aleph Fund; Yoram Oron, Founder & Managing Partner Vertex (MBA, 1976); Uri Weinhaber, Thetime; Dr. Benny Zeevi, DFJ Tel Aviv Ventures

Students speak with Reuven Losh, Corporate Vice President Customer Support and Global Infrastructure, Orbotech

Industry Connect 
Central to the course is connecting students with industry and individuals driving Israel's innovative success forward.  2014-15 guest speakers and company visits included: 

• Dr. Orna Berry - Corporate VP, GM for Israel Center of Excellence, EMC Corporation, Former Chief Scientist, Israel’s Ministry of Industry and Trade.
• Ron Yekutiel, Chairman, CEO and Founder, Kaltura
• Tal Slobodkin, Founder and Managing Partner, StageOne Ventures
• Dr. Shimon Eckhouse, Founder and Chairman, Syneron Medical, Ltd
• Dr. Tal Steinhertz, CTO, National Cyber Bureau
• Elad Kushnir, VP Business Development, Playtika

Venture Capital Panel 

• Yoav Chelouche, Aviv Venture Capital 
• Michael Eisenberg, Aleph Fund
• Yoram Oron, Vertex VC
• Uri Weinhaber, thetime  
• Dr. Benny Zeevi, DFJ Tel Aviv Ventures

Company visits

• NICE Systems
• Netafim
• Teva Pharmaceutical 
• Orbotech
• DipTech
• Peres Center for Peace with Mr. Shimon Peres