Yaron Ashkenazi, founder and managing partner of Awz Ventures, the Canadian-Israeli venture capital firm that invests in commercial applications of AI-based, deep-tech, fintech, cybersecurity, and intelligence technologies, told attendees at the reception hosted by the Israel Allies Foundation and The Jerusalem Post in the Capitol on Tuesday that Awz’s portfolio companies have helped identify missing people and the victims, and are assisting Israel in the crucial mission of finding the hostages with their deep-learning AI technology.
“I am proud to stand here as a representative of the Israeli hi-tech community,” said Ashkenazi. “I am proud of the technologies we are building – technologies that are serving democracies and values that protect humanity, that protect good against evil. We, the Israeli hi-tech sector, deliver, no matter what.”
Helping Israeli national security efforts post-October 7
Ashkenazi said that in the course of his professional life, he has served two significant life missions. The first was leading the security team of the prime minister in the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) for 10 years. The second was leading the Israeli and Canadian Society for Yad Vashem – the World Holocaust Remembrance Center – for 20 years.
“It became immediately evident to me on the morning of October 7,” said Ashkenazi, “that my third mission in life is to enable Awz technologies to help Israel’s national security efforts.”
Ashkenazi thanked the assembled lawmakers for the efforts of the United States government in assisting Israel, adding, “I want to take this opportunity to thank the American people for standing with the people of Israel. I want to thank you for standing against evil, for standing with democratic values, for standing for the values of the free world.”