More than 150 high-profile entrepreneurs, civic and faith leaders, philanthropists and young professionals gathered in Los Angeles Jan. 30 for the first-ever Masa Innovation Forum.
Hosted by Masa Israel Journey, the event, allowed participants to explore innovations and development from a range of industries, including entertainment, technology and health care. The goal is to merge Israeli innovation with American potential.
“Israel is the quintessential twenty-first-century economy, powered by innovation and an extraordinary wealth of human capital,” Masa Israel North America CEO Shalom Elcott said. The Masa Innovation Forum is providing young professionals across the U.S. with exclusive networking opportunities with top business leaders from America and Israel.”
Many CEOs and experts of their field were in attendance including co-founder and CEO of online fashion site Zeekit, Yael Vizel. Vizel spoke about what Israel and American can learn from another through working together.
“The Israeli perspective towards business is to focus on the challenge, and the American perspective focuses on the opportunity,” Vizel said. “We teach each other different behaviors that make us both better.”
During the event, Masa also announced the genesis of a new entity called the Masa Innovation Fund, which will provide venture capital to support startups founded by Masa participants and alumnus.
One of the Masa Israel alumni at the event was Arya Marvazy, who is currently the managing director of JQ International. At one of the panels, he told the audience his perspective of being an Iranian-American Jew and having Masa Israel as a resource.
“I thought I would have no life as an openly gay man in my community. In Israel I got to live this life, and over the course of three and a half years, I began to come out,” Marvazy said. “The Masa experience made it possible.”
Shalom Elcott, said in a statement that young people’s innovations and developments need to be fueled for the sake of Israel and America’s economic future.
“By engaging partners in philanthropy, business, and the social sector, The Masa Innovation Fund seeks to make a transformative impact for young adults, Israel, and the Jewish People,” Elcott said.
Elcott will serve as the President of the Masa Innovation Fund in addition to serving as Masa Israel’s North American CEO.
