RUNI Ventures Named Most Active VC in Israel

Hello everyone, my name is Hila Rom and I am the co-founder and CEO of RUNI Ventures- the venture capital fund of Reichman University. The fund is a pre-seed fund that invests in exceptional entrepreneurs, providing them with both the first investment in the venture and an exclusive set of resources, support, and networking that will help them build the next generation of Israel's tech companies. It is no secret that we established the fund during one of the most difficult years in the State of Israel, and we had to deal with many challenges during its recruitment and construction. At the same time, we have managed to bring in leading first-class investors in Israel and around the world who share our full trust in Israel's entrepreneurs, who the past year have proven to be second to none in innovation, creativity, determination, and resilience! Today, less than two years after the foundation of the fund, and after a year of reserve duty by a significant part of the team and entrepreneurs, I am proud to share that we have been ranked by KPMG and IVC as one of the active funds in Israel for 2024, and this week we made the investment in the 10th portfolio company. As someone who has over 20 years of management and entrepreneurship behind it, I have no doubt that we are facing a period of tremendous prosperity of innovation and developments that will create a global impact in many industries, and this is a wonderful time to invest in Israeli high-tech and strengthen its position as the engine of the economy. The fund's activities are led by two talented alumni: Tomer Golan, Director of Supply and Operations, and Romi Oppenheim, Director of Value Creation, who work day and night to locate, support, and accompany the entrepreneurs in whom we invest, and we are always happy to get to know, advise and assist each founder.

President of Paraguay Visits Reichman University

Meet Reichman University alum Amit Mekel, the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Paraguay. Mekel is a graduate of the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy. He shared, "The relations between Israel and Paraguay are deeply rooted in shared culture and values, and we are working at all times to deepen cooperation in areas such as education, science,

technology, energy, agriculture, and more. On October 7, during my tenure as deputy head of Israel's mission at the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles, I served as a voice explaining Israel's position in the face of the challenges of the time, including showing the IDF's horror films to elected officials and senior members of the Latino and black communities. I visited churches and emphasized the importance of international support, especially from the Christian

community, in understanding our struggle and legitimizing the IDF's actions. Now, the historic visit of Paraguayan President Santiago Peña Palacios to Israel marks a significant step in the history of diplomatic relations between us. As part of the visit, he inaugurated the opening of the embassy in Jerusalem, a step that will further strengthen the ties between the two countries. I am proud to continue on this path, to strengthen the status of the State of Israel, and to support important and moral ties with Paraguay."

In a meeting held last week at the university with students, Prof. Boaz Ganor, President of Reichman University, presented the President of Paraguay with a certificate of appreciation for his contribution to the advancement of strategic relations between Paraguay and Israel, for strengthening the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, and for the historic decision to move the Paraguayan embassy to Jerusalem.

Meet Deputy Dean of the Dean Recanati School of Medicine

Meet Prof. Asnat Walfisch, Deputy Dean of the Dina Recanati School of Medicine at Reichman University. Prof. Walfisch is MD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Specialist in Maternal Medicine and High-Risk Pregnancy, and Director of the Helen Schneider Women's Hospital, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center. Prof. Walfisch, 51, is married to Dr. Celis Tagger (cardiac surgeon) and is the mother of three children: Roni (a second-year medical student), Yonatan (a combat soldier) and Itamar (a high school student) and lives in Tel Aviv. Prof. Walfisch completed her medical studies with honors at Ben-Gurion University, did her residency in gynecology at Soroka Hospital and Sheba Hospital, and subspecialty at the University of Toronto, Canada in the field of high-risk pregnancy. In the past, she managed high-risk pregnancy units at Hillel Yaffe Hospital and Soroka Hospital, as well as the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital. For the past two and a half years, she has been the director of the Women's Hospital at the Rabin Medical Center.

Prof. Walfisch has more than 150 scientific publications in the international press in the field of perinatal epidemiology, pregnancies at risk, and the relationship between the course of pregnancy and birth and the future health of the mother and the offspring. Prof. Walfisch is a scientific consultant at several start-up companies in the field of femTech – developments in the core of women's health. In addition, in the past, she hosted the program "Only Health" on Channel 12 and "A Doctor's Word" on Channel 11, along with other projects in the Israeli media.

Prof. Walfisch shares, "Women's health and medical education are my life's missions and the reason I get up every morning. I see both of these missions as a true mission and I feel fortunate for the privilege, and the weight of the responsibility, at the same time." She adds for prospective students, "Medicine, unlike perhaps other professions, is a way of life and a deep identity. This means devotion to one's identity as a doctor at any moment, in time, and in any place. Sometimes it's unbearable, but it's an opportunity to touch the core of life and do good – and it's worth everything."