BGU | Fundraising Handbook

research technologies and attract large companies to the area. The collaboration with MIT and the launching of Synergy7 in Beer-Sheva’s Innovation District are just two examples of the exciting and promising opportunities afforded with the Innovation District’s establishment. Yazamut 360° Entrepreneurship Center While the University has a long history of promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, the two concepts moved into the spotlight in 2019 with the establishment of the Yazamut 360° entrepreneurship center. In just a short time, Yazamut 360° has become known for its unique, groundbreaking programs aimed at sparking and fostering leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation. These programs are transforming technology and research findings into applications and products, researchers into entrepreneurs, students into leaders whose education is complemented by a 21 st century skillset, and community members into e-commerce entrepreneurs. BGU now ranks in the top 50 undergraduate programs worldwide in the production of entrepreneurs according to PitchBook. This achievement reflects Yazamut 360°’s ability to promote an entrepreneurial approach across the entire BGU community (students and staff alike). Today, entrepreneurship is considered one of BGU’s most important pillars, and this area will have increasing importance and prominence in the future, with the construction of the Drahi Innovation and Entrepreneurship Building and BGU’s commitment to expanding its efforts to cultivate entrepreneurship and innovation. This growth will build on the strong foundation provided by Yazamut 360°’s outstanding programs, some of which are described below. Cactus Capital and the Cactus Academy: Empowering Student Entrepreneurs and Educating Tomorrow’s Venture Capitalists An entirely student-run venture-capital fund, Cactus Capital offers BGU students with big dreams but limited resources the opportunity to launch a startup or social project while pursuing their degrees. Thanks to a $2,000,000 fund established by the Office of the President, Cactus Capital’s team selects a portfolio of 7-8 student startups per year, each of which receives up to $30,000 in seed funding. Startup founders also receive mentorship from some of Israel’s most talented VC and startup founders as well as legal consulting, skills-based workshops, networking, and workspace.

Founded to train undergraduates to identify investment opportunities and evaluate early-stage companies, Cactus Academy’s semester-long course includes a comprehensive introduction to technological entrepreneurship, VC, and analysis, and combines workshops with lectures from industry leaders. Upon completion, alumni can serve as analysts and mentors for Cactus Capital companies. Thanks to the academy’s business acumen, Cactus Capital today boasts one exit, one clinical trial with a major hospital, five startups accepted to leading global accelerators, four proofs of concept with corporations and municipalities, and more than $4,000,000 from venture capitalists, angel investors, and government funding. Communities: Nurturing Entrepreneurship from the Bottom Up Yazamut 360°’s student-led entrepreneurship clubs offer every BGU student the chance to develop entrepreneurial skills, receive academic and professional guidance, and network with other entrepreneurial students in areas that align with specific interests or identities. Importantly, this experience provides community members with a valuable addition to their otherwise limited resumes. Examples include WE (“Women Entrepreneurs”), which seeks to spark women’s entrepreneurial potential and grant them practical skills in launching a startup, and BrainTech , which aims to turn the Negev into the center of neurotech and neuroscience in Israel. Other communities focus on fields such as space tech, food tech, climate change, formula racing, and social action. Currently, nearly 15% of BGU students are involved in Yazamut 360°’s 18 different communities, several of which have gone on to become national and international student and alumni networks. WE community founder Keren Hod was even selected as one of the 2021 Forbes Israel’s “30 Under 30” for pioneering entrepreneurship among college-aged women. LEADERS: Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Academic Development A year-long, highly selective course for academic credit, LEADERS enables a diverse cohort of outstanding undergraduates from every faculty the chance to launch their own company. Through coursework, workshops, mentorship, guest lectures, and training in cutting-edge technology, LEADERS – a program run jointly with BGU’s Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management – provides skills in building business models and

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ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP