Avi Hasson

Avi Hasson is the CEO of Startup Nation Central. With three decades of tech industry leadership experience from both the private and public sectors, Avi steers the organization’s strategy and day-to-day activities. Prior to joining Startup Nation Central in September 2021, Avi was a General Partner at early-stage venture firm Emerge. Before that he served for seven years as Chief Scientist at Israel's Ministry of Economy and Industry and as the Founding Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA), a key government driver of Israel’s tech explosion over the past decade. In addition to sitting on the board of Tower Semiconductor, he offers his unparalleled knowledge of the Israeli innovation ecosystem as a board member of organizations such as Sheba Medical Center and SpaceIL. Avi completed his B.A. in Economics and Middle Eastern Studies and his MBA at Tel Aviv University