"Invest yourself fully into whatever you do"
Ilan Regenbaum, a friend… whose title/experience I simply cannot sum up in one line!
Currently managing director of Siftech (the startup program at Hebrew University), Ilan previously served as Chief Innovation Officer for the Israel Defense Force’s Spokesperson Unit. Prior to that, he was the Interim Commander of the Israeli Air Force Innovation Department and founder of its Accelerator program. He founded three companies (one of which he sold), worked in venture capital at Greylock Partners IL and Elevator Fund, and graduated from the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University (where he also started semichah but moved to Israel before finishing).
Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Ilan grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, made aliyah five years ago, and lives in Jerusalem.
Several years ago, Ilan and I both spoke at a Nefesh B’Nefesh tech event, and his story blew me away. Just 28 years old, he’s accomplished more than many do in a lifetime, yet he’s incredibly balanced and positive — the kind of guy you want to be around. He runs half-marathons, has been a photographer since age eight, and has practiced martial arts since age three. More importantly, he loves teaching contemporary halachah (i.e., dealing with Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri on Shabbos, kashrus status of lab-grown meat, etc.), speaks all over the world about his IDF experiences, and has been bridging gaps between the oft-divided secular and Orthodox worlds in Israel. It’s no wonder so many (including me) look to Ilan as a mentor and role model.
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