Chemi Peres: Overcoming Personal Challenges to Build Pitango, Israel’s Largest Venture Fund | E98

Chemi Peres’s journey to success was shaped by both professional challenges and personal loss. After losing his job, he felt humiliated and vowed never to face such a setback again. He pivoted to venture capitalism, co-founding Pitango Venture Capital, Israel’s largest venture fund. Despite his success, Chemi experienced the profound losses of both his father and son. These tragedies fueled his drive to honor their legacies through innovation. In this episode, Chemi joins Ilana to share how he navigated grief and adversity, transforming these experiences into a force for lasting impact.

Chemi Peres is the co-founder and managing partner of Pitango Venture Capital, Israel’s largest venture fund, which has invested in over 250 startups. He is also the Chairman of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, a non-profit dedicated to advancing peace and technology in the Middle East.

In this episode, Ilana and Chemi will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction 

(02:00) Growing Up in a Political Legacy

(05:21) The Challenges in Becoming a Combat Pilot

(07:59) Lessons from the Israeli Defense Forces

(11:59) Transitioning to Aerospace and Career Setback

(20:13) Entering the Venture Capital World

(27:01) Building Israel's Venture Ecosystem

(31:14) Navigating Challenges in Venture Capital

(34:52) Turning Personal Loss into a Legacy of Innovation

(41:27) Healing by Honoring a Loved One’s Dreams

(49:34) How the Peres Center is Shaping Israel’s Future

Chemi Peres is the co-founder and managing partner of Pitango Venture Capital, Israel’s largest venture fund, which has invested in over 250 startups. As the son of former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, Chemi continues his father's legacy by promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. He is also the Chairman of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, a non-profit dedicated to advancing peace and technology in the Middle East.

Connect with Chemi:

Chemi’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chemiperes 

Resources Mentioned:

Pitango’s Website: pitango.com 

Yuka Monsters’ Website: yukamonsters.com 

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