Experienced executive with a track record of leading innovation and entrepreneurship processes. Board member or chairman in a majority of Incubit's portfolio companies. Former CEO of BGN Technologies Ltd, the Technology Company of Ben-Gurion University. Director of Pharma Israel, the Multinational Pharmaceutical Companies Association, Novartis Consumer Health, Gerber Baby food Israel, and A VP at Vitamed Pharmaceutical Industries. Holds an Executive MBA from the University of Bradford, UK, and a B.A. in Economics & Management from Ruppin Academic Center. Former Board member at DT Innovation Labs at BGU, Inno-Negev, Capital Nature, SenSoil, CDI Negev, BGR Robotics, MultiPhy, PixelScan, ITTN, Protea, CartiHeal, Rotec, BotanoCap, AmorphiCal, xAct medical, Ringelblum, Bio-Negev, MediLogos, BaseCamp, CyberSpark, and many others.
CTO, Incubit
VP, Corporate Chief Scientist at Elbit Systems
Appointed as Elbit Systems’ Corporate Chief Scientist in 2016, and as a Vice President in 2018. He joined Elbit Systems in 2016 following his retirement from the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD). From 2007 until his retirement, he served as a Lt. Col in the IMOD’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) as head of the system multi-technology project and as head of the sensors department in Israel Missile Defense Organization. Prior to that, he served in several technological and management positions in the DDR&D, which he joined in 2001. Between 1996-2000 he was an entrepreneur and CEO of startups companies. Dr. Stopel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the Israel Institute of Technology - Technion, an MBA from Tel-Aviv University, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering – Physical Electronics from the Tel-Aviv University.
Ella Shamsonov joined Elbit Systems in 2015, serving first as operational controller, then as financial control manager, and finally as senior FP&A manager, in which role she manages the financials of complex and multidisciplinary R&D projects. In-parallel, she is also the CFO of Incubit Ventures. Ella holds a B.Sc. in industrial engineering.
Responsible for managing the portfolio company's relationship with the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA). As an OCS coordinator at Incubit Ventures and beforehand Maayan Ventures for the last 19 years, Anat has become an expert at interacting with the IIA's Technological incubator program. In addition to her interpersonal skills, Anat has experience with investment funnel management, supports, and coordinates the Deal Flow process at Incubit.
Responsible for managing the operations and logistics of Incubit in addition to being the company's administrative manager. She provides solutions to the portfolio companies on logistic issues and is responsible for purchasing and negotiating with service providers for Incubit and project companies. Michal is also responsible for monitoring the budget and handling payments, and scheduling diaries and visits to the offices. Michal holds BA in Behavioral Sciences and Economics from Ben Gurion University.
Responsible for managing the accounts of Incubit’s and its portfolio companies'. Prior to her current position, Varda served in a similar role at Ofakim Ventures. Her experience includes work at various accounting firms where she handled financial reports and auditing for private and public companies. Varda holds a degree in Tax Consulting.
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Incubit
EVP Strategy Innovation & CTO at Elbit Systems
Elbit Systems’ Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer as of 2016. From 2008 until his current appointment, he served as Elisra’s vice president and chief technology officer as well as general manager – radar solutions business unit. Prior to that, he served in several management positions in Elisra, which he joined in 2000. Before joining Elisra, Mr. Yehuda served as an officer in the IDF, holding command positions in the Intelligence Corps. Mr. Yehuda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Tel-Aviv University and a Master of Science degree in Neural Computation from the Hebrew University. He is a graduate of Harvard University Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Mr. Yehuda is Incubit’s chairman of the board of directors, as from 2014.
Joseph Gaspar
Board of Directors, Incubit
Elbit Systems’ Executive Vice President as of 2008 and as Chief Financial Officer in 2001. He was appointed as a corporate vice president in 2000 . From 1975 until 2000, Mr. Gaspar held several management positions at Elop, including marketing and BizDev corporate VC, and general manager of Elop’s optronics product division and co-manager of an Elop subsidiary in the United States. Mr. Gaspar holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Technion in Electronic Engineering with advanced studies in digital signal processing and communication.
David Stavitsky
Chairman of the Investment Committee, Incubit
Corporate Chief Scientist and Senior VP of Elbit Systems, in charge of Technologies Development, Internal R&D, and Intellectual Property since 2001. For the past few years, he has been a member of Capital Nature’s investment committee. He was recently nominated as a board member of Opgal and SCD. David holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering since 1979 and has vast experience in many fields of Engineering and Science. From 1995-2001 he led the Remote Sensing Division of Elop, in charge of Space and Airborne Reconnaissance cameras’ development and production as well as Airborne, Shipborne, and Vehicle-borne Electro-optical stabilized payloads. He serves as a delegate representing Israel at the European Commission for Transport and Aeronautics. Among the pioneers of the Israeli Space program, he received the Israel Defense Award in 1995.
Ilan Pacholder
Investment Committee, Incubit
Executive Vice President – Mergers and Acquisitions of Elbit Systems in 2009, in addition to his position as Executive Vice President – Offset and Financing to which he was appointed in 2008. During 2007, he served as vice president and chief financial officer of Tadiran Communications Ltd. Mr. Pacholder served as corporate secretary and vice president – finance and capital markets of Elbit Systems from 2003 - 2006. From 2001 - 2003, he served as vice president – of finance. Mr. Pacholder joined Elbit Ltd. in 1994 and held various senior positions in the finance department. Prior to joining Elbit Ltd., he served as the chief financial officer for Sanyo Industries in New York. Before that Mr. Pacholder worked for Bank Leumi in New York and held the position of vice president in the international and domestic loan departments. Mr. Pacholder holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and economics from Queens College in New York and an MBA in finance and investments from Adelphi University.
Eyal Eshed
Investment Committee, Incubit
Serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in leading Hi-Tech companies from the initial concept to a successful company. Currently, Eyal serves as a chairman, board member, and investor at several Hi-Tech companies and as the CEO of SpeakingPal which he co-founded. Eyal was the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Omnivee, where he led from a concept to commercial success. Eshed was involved in Multiple prize-winning companies that were successfully acquired. Earlier in his career, Eyal was a project manager and a software developer at Chromatic Networks, acquired by Lucent Technologies – a major deal valued in billions of dollars. Eyal’s strong technology background is coupled with astute managerial capabilities. In addition to managing SpeakingPal, Eyal serves as an advisor, mentor, and public speaker. Eyal holds a BA in Computer Science with summa cum laude, from IDC, and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
Itai Kohavi
Investment Committee, Incubit
Founder, CEO of Comfy Interactive (IPO), Neat Group (acquired and became Orbitz Israel), WEbook.com (acquired by Vantage). Founder: Microsoft Ventures Academy- Tapas MBA. Business Creativity Guest Lecturer at various universities in the US and in Israel.