ICI - Key Persons
As a Partner at ICI Fund, Adam supports ICI Fund's portfolio growth in the US market. As a strategy consultant for start-up and early-stage companies, Adam focused on developing financial projections, business plans, and strategic partnerships for young technology companies. Earlier in his career, Adam worked at The Boston Consulting Group and LEK Consulting, as well as a stint in investment banking. He also has a significant operating experience, having held officer positions at a number of technology start-ups. He was the CEO of VubIQ (millimeter wave wireless), Turnaround CEO of Vertaport (XML software), CFO of ibidlive (real-time online auctions), and COO/CFO of Digital Legends (digital entertainment).
Adam received his AB cum laude in Economics from Harvard, and his MBA from Stanford. He is a licensed pilot, and currently chairs The Breakfast Club - a weekly speaker series held at The Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles. A two-sport varsity athlete in college (water polo and crew), Adam now surfs whenever possible.
Job Titles:
- CEO and Co - Founder, Kando
- Portfolio Growth Partner, ICI Fund / CEO, Kando
As the Portfolio Growth Partner at ICI Fund, Ari supports the screening of companies for investment and supports the growth of CEOs at the portfolio companies. Ari is also the Co-founder and CEO of KANDO, protecting public health and the environment though wastewater. Ari is an expert in wastewater monitoring and treatment technologies with more than 15 years' experience in the field of wastewater management. As the VP of DHVMED, Ari led multidisciplinary environmental projects, while managing international teams. In his role as VP Environmental Technologies at the Ministry of Environment, Ari oversaw the company's strategy and vision, managed teams of local and international engineers, was responsible for national and international consulting projects and led the Israeli environmental policy. As the Process Manager and CTO of Jerusalem Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ari was in charge of field operations. Ari also served as a consultant to the Israeli Environmental Ministry Director-General in the area of industrial policy making. Ari holds a B.SC in Biology and Environment from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Management professional training for Senior Managers from Hamil Israel. Ari served in the commando unit of Israel's IDF.
Job Titles:
- CEO and Co - Founder, Viridix
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- CTO and Co - Founder, Eureka
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- CEO and Founder, Rangers.Ai
Job Titles:
- Industry Advisor
- Industry Advisor, ICI Fund Neurosurgeon, Owner
Dr. Bernard (Ben) Guiot, MD is a Neurosurgeon in Jacksonville, Florida. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Canada). He specializes in complex surgical treatment of the Spine. Dr. Guiot received his MD from University of Ottawa School of Medicine in Canada where he also completed his residency in Neurological Surgery. He continued with fellowship training at both McGill University in Adult Deformity and at the University of Florida in Reconstructive Spinal Surgery. Dr. Guiot employment history includes University of Florida, Department of Neurosurgery, Assistant Professor. Gainesville, FL; University of South Florida, Department of Neurosurgery, Associate Professor. Tampa, FL; South Denver Neurosurgery, Neurosurgeon/Partner, Denver, CO.
Job Titles:
- CTO and Co - Founder, Predicta
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor, ICI Fund President, United Water and Sanitation District
- President, United Water and Sanitation District
Bob Lembke is the President of United Water & Sanitation District; the Owner of 70 Ranch; and the Managing Principal at The Bromley Companies. Bob received his LLM degree in Taxation from the University of Denver - Sturm College of Law; his JD, LAW from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law; and his BS, Business, from the University of Colorado, Boulder, Leeds School of Business.
Job Titles:
- CTO and Co - Founder, Illustria
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor, ICI Fund CEO, SafeNet
- CEO, SafeNet
Brad Hawkins entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in the development and growth of several companies with his roles of owning, leading, and operating: an investment management company for 20 years, a financial life training and coaching company, an international LED light manufacturing company based in Hong Kong, an oxygen delivery company throughout the Colorado Vail Valley, a software development company, event centers and wedding venues, and a software-based cybersecurity company. He has also invested in and advised several companies around the world. Brad has authored 5 books, as well as 10 online financial courses. He has sat on the board of several companies and non-profit organizations. His education is a theology degree from CFNI in Dallas Texas and a second degree in Business Administration and Finance from Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Co. He and his wife Latisha of 30 years are both Colorado native, they have two boys and two girls that range in age from 22 - 30.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Former CEO, Boston Consulting Group
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Executive Chairman of Kindbridge Behavioral Health
- Industry Advisor, ICI Fund / Former COO, Monarch Casino & Resort
David Jacques Farahi has been the Executive Chairman of Kindbridge Behavioral Health, as well as, Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) since April 2023 and May 2022 respectively, after having served as Chief Operating Officer of Monarch Casino & Resort (Nasdaq: MCRI) from 2012 to 2021. As Chief Operating Officer of Monarch, Mr. Farahi oversaw all operations at the company's two resorts, including its more than 2,000 team members. He was also directly responsible for the company's investor relations and business development efforts. Mr. Farahi's key operational priority was to improve the guest experience through a Money Ball-style, analytics-based approach to every department from table games to spa, with a particular focus on slot machines, leading the company's efforts to develop new KPIs and leverage data visualization tools.
In 2022, Mr. Farahi was named a Non-Executive Director of PlayAGS (NYSE: AGS). Also in 2022, Farahi commenced teaching an introductory course in Gaming and Sports Book Operations at Metropolitan State University of Denver as an Adjunct Professor. Mr. Farahi earned an MBA from Columbia Business School with concentrations in both Real Estate and Finance. He also holds a BA in Economics and International Studies from Northwestern University.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor, ICI Fund Retired OBGyn
Dr. Marilyn is a retired OB/Gyn who owned her private practice and was a part of a corporate HMO. She is currently involved in several nonprofits and has a strong interest in financial management. Dr. Marilyn received her MBA degree at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management and her MD degree at Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo and at Tulane University School of Medicine.
Job Titles:
- VP Business Development, Innosphere Ventures
- VP of Business Development for Innosphere Venture
Emily is the VP of Business Development for Innosphere Venture, Colorado's leading technology incubator supporting high-tech companies that have the potential to grow exponentially in the industries of health innovation, bioscience, energy, advanced materials, and software/hardware. At Innosphere, Emily is responsible for investor relations, entrepreneur education classes in Fort Collins and Denver, the monthly "Innovation After Hours" series, and serves as the project manager for the NoCoBio Cluster, which is Innosphere's bioscience program. Along with managing Innosphere's public relations, she also works with Client Companies on their overall marketing strategies. As a former employee of the City of Fort Collins Economic Health office, she is passionate about economic development, and is a current Larimer Small Business Development Center (SBDC) consultant. She is an alumna of Leadership Fort Collins and is currently taking the 2016 Leadership Northern Colorado class. She grew up on a ranch in Julesburg, Colorado and moved to Fort Collins to get her B.A. and M.A. in Communication Studies.
Job Titles:
- CEO and Co - Founder, Genda
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- COO and Co - Founder, Genda
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- Chief Architect and Co - Founder, Suridata
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- COO and Co - Founder, Feminai
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Industry Advisor, ICI Fund Retired Senior Counsel, Hogan and Lovells
Gary Jay Kushner knows the food industry inside and out as he has been a part of it for more than 40 years. His clients were some of the largest food corporations in the world as well as their trade associations. Because of his extensive exposure to the industry at all levels, Gary approached his clients' challenges from the perspective of a food industry executive. Gary helped address regulatory compliance issues, advising on product development, labeling, advertising, inspection, and representing clients in enforcement proceedings before government agencies and the courts. Gary has participated in the development of virtually every law and regulation affecting the food industry in the last four decades. He analyzed legislation considered by the U.S. Congress and state legislatures and regulations proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and other federal and state government agencies. He evaluated the legislative and regulatory impact on the food industry from farm to table. Gary's insight allowed him to anticipate how these initiatives might change the way his clients do business so they can plan most effectively.
Gili Elkin - Founder, Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- General Partner
- Managing Director
Managing Director, ICI Fund | Board Member: Kando, Genda, Suridata, Tailor-Ed, Illustria, illumex, Pelles.ai
Gili is a co-founder and General Partner at ICI Fund. Gili's vision is to secure our future by supporting Israeli AI companies and partnering with exceptional founders to make an impact.
Gili sits on the boards of Kando, Genda, Suridata, Tailor-Ed, Illustria, illumex and Pelles.ai. She is a Board Observer on the boards of Eureka and Viridix. Gili served on the Board of Directors of the B'nai B'rith of the Rockies as Vice President. Previously, Gili was the Managing Director at SynTech Bioenergy, a smart-energy company located in Colorado. Gili is an Israeli lawyer, worked at Naschitz Brandes, ADV., an Israeli Corporate law firm, consulted at Ernst & Young and was the founder and CEO of wordprom.com. Gili earned her LLB and BA (in Law and Business) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and her MBA from the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Gili loves snowboarding and is melted by high-quality dark chocolate.
Job Titles:
- COO and Co - Founder, Suridata
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Partner, Woodbury Business Group
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Co - Founder
- CEO and Co - Founder, Illustria
- CEO and Co - Founder, Illustria EIR
- Entrepreneur in Residence, ICI Fund CEO & Co - Founder, Illustria
As Entrepreneur in Residence at ICI Fund, Idan is involved in finding incredible founders to join the ICI Fund community and in the screening of potential portfolio companies. EIRs who have raised rounds A, actively take Observers Board Seats at Portfolio companies of ICI Fund.
Idan is the Co-founder and CEO of illustria, which offers a proactive security solution that repels malicious code components and prevents them from compromising development processes and company computers.
Idan has vast experience in both startup and corporate environments, with exposure to international markets. Idan served seven years as a Captain at the Israeli Naval Academy leading soldiers and officers in complex classified operations.
Idan has grit, is driven by strong passion and is all about getting things done.
Job Titles:
- CTO and Co - Founder, Pelles.Ai
Job Titles:
- CEO and Co - Founder, Feminai
Job Titles:
- CEO and Co - Founder, Suridata
Job Titles:
- CEO and Co - Founder, Eureka
Job Titles:
- Entrepreneur Advisor
- Entreprenuer Advisor, ICI Fund CEO and Founder, Zitter Health Insights
As an Entrepreneur Advisor, Mark supports ICI Fund's portfolio companies' founders with their growth in the US market.
Mark Zitter was the founder of Zitter Health Insights, a market research and data firm focused on access to medical technologies, which he sold in 2019. He was the founding CEO of Vital Decisions, a telephone counseling company for patients with serious illnesses, that he sold in 2012. He advises startup and growth companies through the advisory committee for Riverside Partners and the Israeli venture fund ICI as well as several independent healthcare companies. Mark also advises Stanford BioDesign's new policy fellowship program. He is chairman emeritus and founder of the Zetema Project, which convenes a diverse group of US healthcare leaders to enhance the national healthcare conversation. He served as the healthcare advisor and meeting facilitator for Convergence California, a bi-partisan coalition focused on achieving universal healthcare coverage for Californians.
Mark chaired the board of SFJAZZ, the nation's leading presenter of jazz, and contributed to the development of the SFJAZZ Center, the first freestanding center for jazz in America. He serves on the Board of Governors of the Commonwealth Club, the country's oldest and largest public affairs forum. There Mark chairs a series on end-of-life issues as well as hosting other healthcare-related programs. Mark is board chair of Reel Medicine Media, a non-profit media company aiming to humanize medical care at end of life. He also serves on the Governance Committee of the San Francisco Jewish Community Federation, the Leadership Council for Convergence, and the Board of Boundless Junior Agility Camp.
Currently, Mark is developing the Aristeia Foundation, a non-profit fellowship program aimed at improving skills of social sector leaders. He founded a Learning Group on systemic racism for his Stanford class and coordinates educational programming for SERGE, a private national entrepreneur's group. He has worked with not-for-profits on Board development and published articles in Stanford Social Innovation Review on chairing NFP Boards, managing Boards in a virtual environment, and running effective hybrid meetings.
Mark lives in Piedmont, CA with his physician-film maker wife and their mini-poodle. They have three adult children scattered around the US. His hobbies include convening, jazz and classical music, pescatarian cooking, and voracious reading.
Job Titles:
- VP R & D and Co - Founder, Pelles.Ai
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor, ICI Fund Public Pension Trustee
Prior to retirement in 2015 was the Executive Vice President & CFO of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago (JF) a position held for 36 years. JF is one of the largest human-services / social-welfare / education / healthcare charities in the US. Since retirement serves as Board Member of, and consultant to, both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. MBA from Booth Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago. Created Jewish Federation Investment Program and Jewish Federation Tax-Exempt Bond Program, both of which are billion-dollar programs serving Jewish Federations nationally. Currently serves on the Boards of: Make Every Vote Matter, Jewish Democratic Council of America, Illinois State Board of Investments, Ness Healthcare, and Han Capital. Has previously served as Chairman of the Board of First Nonprofit Insurance Company, Board member of Michael Reese Foundation, Board Member of Howard Area Community Center, member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Nonprofit Advisory Committee, and Board member of numerous private foundations.
Mike is a Partner at ICI Fund I. Mike supported the founding of ICI Fund and acted as a part-time General Partner until he brought Tim Jones. Mike has more than 25 years executive-level experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Mike is the CEO of Innosphere Ventures - a 501 c3 technology incubator with more than 40 client companies working in key technology sectors: cleantech, biosciences, digital health and enterprise software. One of the major roles Mike plays at Innosphere Ventures is helping emerging technology companies get connected with the expertise they need to raise capital, refine their business model, or shape their strategy.
Job Titles:
- COO and Co - Founder, Viridix
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Stockbroker
- Advisor, ICI Fund CEO, Second City
- CEO, Second City
Nestor Guzman, is a Stockbroker and a Commercial Real Estate Entrepreneur. He is a Member of AIPAC's National Council and he served on the boards of many organizations. Among his many contributions, Nestor contributed to the renovation of the first synagogue in Phoenix; and transformed King David School into the Pardes Jewish Day School campus. Nestor serves on the Jewish Community Relations Council; and he was a member of the Rockefeller Foundation, Latin America. Nestor studied at Cornell University.
Job Titles:
- COO and Co - Founder, Pelles.Ai
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Diplomatic Advisor, ICI Fund Director General, Israeli Office, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Ofer Bavly (born in Switzerland, 1965) is Israel's first third-generation diplomat, the son and grandson of Israeli Ambassadors. Mr. Bavly grew up in diplomatic postings in Geneva, Yaoundé, Paris, Boston and Rome, and then served for four years in the Israel Defense Forces, where he reached the rank of Captain in the Military Intelligence Branch. Mr. Bavly earned dual B.A. degrees from Hebrew University, in International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies. He joined the Israeli Foreign Service in 1991 and served at Israel's Embassies in Madrid and in Rome.
In the years 2005-2006, Mr. Bavly served as Policy Advisor to two Israeli Foreign Ministers. From 2007 to 2011 he served as Consul General of Israel to Florida and Puerto Rico. Mr. Bavly is a Vice President of JUF and Director General of its Israel office since 2012. Mr. Bavly serves on the Board of Trustees of the Lewinsky-Wingate Academic College, on the Advisory Board of SAHI and on the Board of the Jewish Agency's JReady.
Mr. Bavly is a photographer who has presented three exhibits of his works in Jerusalem and in Miami, benefiting different non-profit organizations. He speaks fluent Hebrew, English, French, Spanish and Italian as well as basic German and Arabic. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife Ayala and they have three adult children.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor, ICI Fund / Former Executive Director, Office of Economic Development and International Trade, State of Colorado
- Chief of Staff to Colorado 's Governor John Hickenlooper
- Medical Supply Team Leader for the State of Colorado 's Covid Innovation Response Team
Patrick Meyers is a graduate of the University of Colorado (Denver) and the University of California (Hastings) School of Law. He served in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service from 1978-1984.
While at Hastings, Pat served as a clerk and intern for the U.S. Attorney's Office (Civil and Criminal Division) and Department of Justice Antitrust Division, San Francisco. After graduating from law school, Pat clerked for the Hon. Justice William Erickson of the Colorado Supreme Court, and thereafter was an attorney with Moye Giles in Denver. He specialized in franchise, appellate, and transactional law. Pat was a Special Assistant Attorney General representing the State of Colorado in criminal appeals from 1992 through 1994. He has written numerous articles and has taught various continuing legal education courses.
In 1993, Pat was elected as a director for the Quiznos sandwich chain, then a public company. In 1997 Pat started the general counsel's office at Quiznos, and subsequently became an owner of the company until January 2012. Pat served at various times as the head of Quiznos Legal, Finance, Administration, IT and HR. Pat subsequently became a Partner, Managing Director and the Chief Legal Officer for Consumer Capital Partners. Pat was an owner of CCP's newest venture, Smashburger until the chain's sale in 2018, and up until October 2016 was a director for CCP, as well as a board member for Smashburger and chair of the CCP and Smashburger audit committees. Pat also served on the compensation committees of both companies and the investment committee for CCP.
In December 2017, Pat was appointed the Chief of Staff to Colorado's Governor John Hickenlooper and served in the role until the Governor's term ended in 2019. Pat was a Senior Advisor to now Sen. Hickenlooper and was a board member of his Senate campaign. Pat was Chief Operating Officer of Gov. Hickenlooper's U.S. Presidential Campaign.
In March 2020 Pat was appointed the Constrained Medical Supply Team Leader for the State of Colorado's Covid Innovation Response Team, where he led the team obtaining PPE and other medical supplies for the State. In 2021, Pat was awarded the Colorado Governor's Citizenship Award for his work on the Covid Response Team.
In March 2021, Pat was appointed by Governor Polis as the Executive Director of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (until February 2023) and as the Chief Economic Recovery Officer for the State of Colorado, where he was responsible for American Rescue Plan Act, IIJA and IRA implementation. Pat was also the Interim Chair of the State's Middle-Income Housing Authority. In August 2023, Pat retired from the State and is currently operating his family office.
Pat has previously served or is serving on the Commissioning Committee for the USS Colorado, Board of Advisors for Quest Hospitality Ventures, as a trustee for the University of California (Hastings) Foundation, the Downtown Denver Partnership Board, the advisory board of The Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship, and as an H.B. Meek Executive in Residence at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, the University of Colorado (Boulder) Parent Leadership Society Board and as a Trustee for the University of Colorado Foundation. Pat and his twin daughters are also directors of the Meyers Family Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor, ICI Fund / Retired Lawyer and Tech Geek
Bob Weaver is a retired tech geek. He worked at Fidelity Comtech as VP for Advanced Technologies; at ‣ionSky as a CTO; and at Net Infrastructure in the IT Department. Bob taught at Drexel University as a Professor. Bob is also a retired lawyer. He worked at Federal Trade Commission as Staff Attorney. Bob served at the US Army in Specialist Fifth Class. He got his PhD degree in Computer Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder; his Master's degree in Economics from Cleveland State University and his JD in Law from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Consultant, Innosphere Ventures
Scott has a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rochester (NY) and an MBA in Finance and Economics, also from University of Rochester - Simon School of Business. He spent his first 20 years in a variety of Marketing roles. Between 99-2010, Scott held the GM/VP level - leading a variety of different organizations, both based on Loveland in and Colorado Springs. He typically had responsibility for 200-300M in annual revenue, profit/loss and oversaw around 2-300 people. After that, between 2010-2014, Scott held a number of different staff positions related to biz strategy and marketing. Scott fully retired in 2014, which lasted 2 yrs. In 2016 he joined Innosphere as COO and has been in that role for 4 full years. Some of Scott's hobbies include music (he play's guitar and bass), riding his bicycle (he's ridden most of the scenic areas in CO, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Arizona, NM, and many other states), and traveling, both international and US. He is married and has been blessed with identical twin daughters who are/were competitive swimmers and still are involved in teaching and coaching swimming. Go Buffs!
Job Titles:
- CTO and Co - Founder, Genda
Job Titles:
- CTO and Co - Founder, Feminai
Job Titles:
- CEO and Co - Founder, Predicta
Job Titles:
- Client Director, Innosphere Ventures
- Innosphere Client Director
As an Innosphere Client Director, Thomas helps support high-tech businesses and startups that are client companies of the non-profit technology incubator, Innosphere. Innosphere supports Colorado entrepreneurs that are building high-growth companies in digital health, bioscience, energy & advanced materials, and software/hardware industries. Thomas advises these companies through the critical stages of validation, startup, and growth, helping them accelerate their path to success.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- COO, Innosphere Ventures
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Industry Advisor / President, Andres Construction
Job Titles:
- CEO and Co - Founder, Pelles.Ai
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Industry Advisor, ICI Fund / Director, Houston Water
Job Titles:
- COO and Co - Founder, Kando