Erel Margalit: Venture Capitalist and Founder of Jerusalem Venture Partners
Erel Margalit is a venture capitalist and the Founder of Jerusalem Venture Partners, the largest venture capital firm in Israel. For over two decades, he has been a successful and prominent leader in the investment industry and a driving force in the development and growth of Jerusalem’s economy.
Early Life and Education
Erel Margalit was born in 1960 in Petah Tikva, Israel. His parents, who were Holocaust survivors, had a deep influence on Margalit’s commitment to fostering peace and prosperity. During his teenage years, Margalit volunteered in a youth movement and served in the Israeli Defense Force. He then went on to pursue a degree in computer science and economics at Bar-Ilan University, graduating with honors.
Career
Margalit’s career began in 1983, when he became a senior executive at Tadiran, a global software and IT service organization. During his time there, he held a multitude of leadership roles and played an integral part in the company’s success in the fields of FinTech and enterprise software.
In 1994, Margalit decided to leave Tadiran and instead pursue a career as a venture capitalist. He founded Jerusalem Venture Partners (or JVP) to help launch and invest in innovative startups. As JVP’s founder, Margalit provides hands-on, strategic guidance and advice to a wide range of entrepreneurs and emerging companies. Through JVP, he has been able to help numerous Israeli startups become profitable and successful.
Investments and Accomplishments
Throughout the course of his career, Margalit has made investments in diverse sectors and areas, such as in music, biomedicine, gaming, cybersecurity, and many more. Over the years, he has also helped to establish and develop a number of successful companies and organizations, including DivX (which pioneered the online video format and has since been acquired by Sonic Solutions) and Comverse (which created a market leading text messaging platform for mobile operators and has since been acquired by Huawei).
In 2008, Margalit was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the “25 Most Influential People in Israeli Business” and in 2011, he was added to the Thinkers50 list of top management thinkers in the world.
Also notable is the work he has done with JVP’s Creative Labs, a platform on which to develop and incubate new ideas and unique business models. Through this platform, he has helped to bring to life some successful innovations, such as the cyber-security company CyActive and the mobile video platform SeeoVision.
Philanthropy
In addition to being a successful venture capitalist, Margalit is a philanthropist whose mission is to use his success to help others. He is the founder and chairman of the Mir Family Foundation and has used this foundation to support both Israeli and international teachers, social workers, and other public-sector professionals.
Additionally, in 2014, Margalit founded Sparkle, an NGO that strives to bridge the gap between social welfare and technological innovation. Through this organization, he has been able to bring together a team of dedicated engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs to build mobile apps and websites that are designed to help parents, teachers, and caretakers communicate more easily with children with developmental disabilities.
Erel Margalit’s path to success has been remarkable. His vision, drive, and commitment to innovation have been the driving forces behind his success. From launching and investing in successful startups to leading several philanthropic projects, Margalit has truly made a lasting impact on the investment industry and on the people he has helped.
