Hanan Lavi, manager of Microsoft's startup accelerator in Israel, is leaving the local accelerator program to manage Microsoft's accelerator at the company's headquarters in Seattle. Lavi worked in various positions at Mercury Interactive Corp. (Pink Sheets:MERQE) and HP before turning to entrepreneurship, and was one of the founders of startup United Parents. He joined Microsoft in March 2012, and was a cofounder of its local accelerator, which was the software giant's first accelerator.
Lavi managed the accelerator for six courses, and following his local success, was called on by the global company to take charge of the accelerator it developed in Seattle, where Microsoft is based.
Lavi will be replaced as manager of the accelerator in Israel by Navot Volk, 36. Volk is joining Microsoft after founding and managing CrossReader, a startup that developed a content recommendations engine, but which never took off, and was closed down. He was also behind the IMP project for building a microcomputer to be priced at $130. An unsuccessful effort was made to raise $100,000 for it in a crowdfunding campaign on the Indiegogo website. Volk was also among the founders of SmartContent, acquired by Emblaze Ltd. (LSE: BLZ).
Microsoft is currently opening registration for its seventh cycle, which companies like BD and Pfizer are expected to join as partners in the health sphere. Participants are expected to include new El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE: ELAL) startup Cockpit.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 5, 2015
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