BGU | PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2025

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PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2025

240+ STARTUPS AND VENTURES

Participants

in the Cactus Capital program

MILLION INVESTED IN YAZAMUT 360 0 COMPANIES $40

YAZAMUT 360 0 Helmed by Prof. Carmel Sofer and Dana Gavish, Yazamut 360 0 , BGU’s Center for Entrepreneurship, is a powerful engine for attracting high-quality students who are passionate about innovation and business creation. Since its establishment in 2019, Yazamut 360 0 has been training the next generation of innovators, serving as a bridge between academia and industry through a combination of hands-on programs, collaborations with key players in the ecosystem, and a commitment to fostering entrepreneurial thinking. In recognition of its status as a leader in entrepreneurial education, the Center received the 2024 INSA Innovation Award. Adapting to the realities of wartime, Yazamut 360 0 ensured that no student missed out on its programs due to military service. Reservists were supported through recorded sessions, study materials, and Zoom meetings directly from the field. Despite challenges posed by the war, Cactus Capital, our student-led venture capital fund, broke an all-time record this year, receiving 134 student startup investment applications in a single semester. One of the standout initiatives launched this year was Nahlaq Al Mustaqbal (Foreseeing The Future), a unique podcast course in collaboration with the Office of the VP for Inclusion & Diversity and BGU Radio that teaches entrepreneurship to Arabic speakers. The Center also introduced AI training for its staff, in preparation for integrating AI tools into student learning. Additionally, a new course in collaboration with the Oazis accelerator was launched to support graduates in their entrepreneurial journey. The Center’s Negev Prime e-commerce program hosted Israel’s first-ever nationwide sellers’ conference in Tel Aviv. Yazamut 360 0 began a long-term collaboration with industry partners in a groundbreaking desert-tech accelerator focused on water and food security. It is also expanding its reach internationally, launching a global program to share its award-winning entrepreneurship education model with universities, innovation centers, and Jewish communities worldwide. The Ira M Ingerman Entrepreneur of the Year award was given to Gilad Ovadia.

2,000 PARTICIPANTS IN YAZAMUT PROGRAMS

200 GRADUATES FROM THE LEADERS PROGRAM 8,000 MEMBERS IN 21 ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITIES