Barak Ben Eliezer

Barak Ben-Eliezer is the co-founder and managing partner of Winnovation, the private-investment fund associated with Israeli industrialist Sami Sagol (founder of the Keter Plastics group). Winnovation, founded around 2011, describes itself as a privately owned venture fund focused on transforming early-stage companies into global leaders in their domains, with a portfolio spanning deep-innovation medical companies through to cutting-edge video and software solutions. Ben-Eliezer brings more than two decades of experience working with cutting-edge innovation to the role.

His career combines defense R&D leadership with the technology industry. He is the former commander of the Israel Defense Forces' elite Talpiot R&D program, and was previously vice president of storage-technology company XIV, which was acquired by IBM. He has also served as a special advisor on strategy and technology to the Israel Police Commissioner and to the National Security Council.

Beyond investing, Ben-Eliezer is active in science and education initiatives: he is one of the founders of the "President's Program for Nurturing Israel's Future Scientists and Inventors" and founded the "Einstein Network," described as a global network focused on the future of mankind. Academically, he holds a BSc in mathematics, physics, and computer science, and has pursued an MA in the history, philosophy, and sociology of science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

He sits on the boards of several portfolio companies, including AnimaBiotech and Vocalis Health, reflecting Winnovation's hands-on, board-level involvement with the startups it backs.

• Invests through Winnovation in early-stage Israeli companies, aiming to turn them into "global leaders of their domain."
• Sector-agnostic within deep tech, but with a clear tilt toward areas where Israel's ecosystem gives companies an edge: medical/health innovation, AI and software, cybersecurity, and video.
• Prefers science- and engineering-driven ("deep innovation") businesses over purely commercial plays — consistent with his Talpiot / physics-and-math background.
• Takes an active, board-level role in portfolio companies rather than passive checks.
• Backed by patient, strategic capital (a family/private-equity vehicle tied to Sami Sagol) rather than a fixed-life institutional VC fund.