Meet our management

As CEO, Avi charts Startup Nation Central's strategy, sets its goals, and oversees execution across multiple teams and verticals. He ensures that the 120-person organization adheres to its mission of being the prime driver and facilitator of Israeli innovation that boosts growth and generates global impact.

Avi draws on more than 30 years of innovation leadership experiences, in both the private and public sectors. Before his role at Startup Nation Central, Avi served as Chief Scientist at Israel's Ministry of Economy and Industry and as the Founding Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority, the government agency tasked with planning and executing innovation policy in Israel and a key driver of the Israeli innovation ecosystem’s rise to dominance over the past decade.

Additionally, Avi spent over a decade as an early-stage investor at Gemini Israel Funds and Emerge venture capital firms, identifying promising startups and helping them scale.

After completing his military service in the IDF’s 8200 intelligence unit, Avi spent the first decade of his career working for several communication technology companies.

Throughout his career, Avi was a member of the leadership and advisory teams of several for-profit and non-profit organizations. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Sheba Medical Center, SpaceIL, and Tower Semiconductor, recently acquired by Intel.

Avi holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Middle Eastern Studies and an MBA from Tel Aviv University.

Chico manages the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the organization, including overseeing the work of the Finance, HR, Legal, IT, Knowledge Management, and Productions departments.

Chico joined Startup Nation Central after having worked for more than 20 years as a reporter and senior editor in Israel’s top news organizations. Before joining Startup Nation Central, Chico managed the Israel Broadcasting Authority’s news radio station and served as deputy editor-in-chief at the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC). During his years in journalism, Chico covered a variety of topics, including foreign relations, health, environment, transportation, and aviation for Israeli television stations Channel 2 and Channel 10.

Chico completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media Studies & Management at the College of Management in Israel and his Master’s Degree in Law at Bar Ilan University.

As Chief of Staff at Startup Nation Central, Aviva supports the CEO in shaping strategic goals, working with executive leadership to ensure cross-organizational alignment with the overall strategy and translating the CEO's vision into actionable plans. She drives best practices for efficiency and impact measurement, leading planning and decision-making processes to ensure consistency with the broader mission. Since joining in 2021, she has been a founding member of the Innovation Diplomacy team, fostering partnerships with U.S. stakeholders to advance collaboration in the MENA region.

A native of New York, Aviva moved to Israel in 1996 to study International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She returned to New York in 2001, where she served as Senior Director of World Trade Center Business Recovery and Industry Development at the NY State Governor’s economic development office, overseeing post-9/11 economic recovery efforts and managing $800M in aid for over 14,000 businesses. In 2009, Aviva returned to Israel and was Director of Global Planning at JDC, leading strategic planning for its global operations.

Aviva lives in Modiin with her husband and four children.

As the VP of Finance at Startup Nation Central, Uriel is responsible for leading the organization's financial strategy and operations, fostering its growth through financial optimization.

Uriel started his career in 2011 at Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer (EY), later served as the Director of Finance for several Electra FM group subsidiaries, and was the CFO of the Tower of David - The Museum of The City of Jerusalem, where he significantly improved the organization's financial health and managed all the financial aspects of the museum renovation. Before joining Startup Nation Central, Uriel was the CFO of the "Ogen" Group, contributing to its expansive social financial work.

While handling his professional roles, Uriel has also lectured in finance courses at IDC Herzliya and the Lev Academic Center and has volunteered as a director and audit committee member for various non-profit institutions.

Uriel, CPA, holds a BA in Accounting and Information Systems from the School of Business Administration at Lev Academic Center and an MBA in Financial Management from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Yariv manages Startup Nation Central’s flagship online business innovation platform, Finder, overseeing the work of the Technology & Development, Data & Insights, and Product & Users teams. Yariv previously served as Managing Director of Value-Focused Investments, an investment banking boutique dealing in cross-border, mid-market mergers and acquisitions focused on Israel and China. Before that, he founded and ran the first Corporate Venture Capital arm of one of the largest insurance groups in Israel. Yariv served as Executive Chairman of Shiluvim, the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Engineering at Tel-Aviv University (TAU), and also on the Steering Committee of the Industry Affiliates Program of the Faculty of Engineering at TAU.

Yariv completed his BSc. in Industrial Engineering at Tel Aviv University and his MBA at Brunel University in London, where his thesis addressed Venture Capital Investments in Life-Science Companies.

Yariv connects Israeli innovation with global corporations, governments, and investors to tackle global challenges. Joining Startup Nation Central in 2022, he initially led Innovation Diplomacy, leveraging Israeli tech to enhance geopolitical relations. Previously, Yariv spent 13 years in the Ministry of Economy, promoting Israeli innovation as Commercial Attaché to the UK and US Midwest. He also has experience in financial and partnership roles in cybersecurity. Yariv holds a B.A. in History and an MBA and is a proud father of three.

As VP North America at Startup Nation Central, Shirlee Klein leads efforts to build strategic, cross-sector partnerships that strengthen ties between Israel and North America. She brings over 15 years of experience working across philanthropy, innovation, and nonprofit leadership. Prior to joining Startup Nation Central, Shirlee served as Deputy CEO of the Patrick and Lina Drahi Foundation, where she oversaw international initiatives in education, innovation, entrepreneurship, arts, and culture. She was previously Executive Director of the Clore Israel Foundation and Vice President of Partnerships at the Rashi Foundation, managing international philanthropic collaborations. Shirlee also held senior roles at Save a Child’s Heart, the Reut Institute, and Lev Ohev.
She holds an MBA from Tel Aviv University, an M.Ed. from York University, and a B.Ed. from McGill University. Originally from Toronto, Shirlee moved to Israel in 2008 and returned in 2023.

Dana joined Startup Nation Central in 2018 to build and lead its Human Resources function from the ground up. As VP of Human Resources, she positioned HR as a strategic driver of the organization’s success, embedding a people-first approach into its culture and operations. She oversees organizational development, leadership growth, talent acquisition, and employee engagement, aligning HR strategy with the company’s evolving goals.

Before joining Startup Nation Central, Dana was a founding team member at Gvahim, where she spent eight years as Deputy CEO and VP of HR. . In this dual role, she was instrumental in shaping the NGO's vision and impact, helping skilled immigrants integrate into Israel’s job market through innovative career programs.

Earlier, she served as Recruitment Manager in a leading tech unit at the Office of the Israeli Prime Minister and held a senior HR role at Keinan-Sheffy, one of Israel’s top recruitment and organizational consulting firms.

Dana holds a B.A. in Sociology and Human Resources from the University of Haifa and an M.A. in Labor Studies from Tel Aviv University.

Wendy was an integral part of building Startup Nation Central’s infrastructure and professional team, and in connecting Israel’s innovation ecosystem with government and business leaders around the world.

Wendy Singer previously spent 23 years at AIPAC, including 16 years as Director of the organization’s Israel Office, where she and her team curated educational seminars in Israel, maintained relationships with Israeli ministers and senior government leaders as well as US diplomats and Palestinian officials and reported to AIPAC-Washington on policy, security, and political developments in Israel. As a registered lobbyist on Capitol Hill, Wendy was the lead contact for 90 Members of Congress and served as a staff aide for three Members of Congress, focusing on foreign policy issues.
Wendy completed her Bachelor’s Degree in American Government and Politics at Brandeis University.