Summary:
Jon Medved transitions from CEO to Chairman of OurCrowd after being diagnosed with ALS, focusing on strategic growth and global expansion.
Cali Chill appointed as Acting CEO and COO, bringing seven years of experience and leadership in investments, including roles as Chief Investment Officer.
OurCrowd has invested over $2.6 billion and backed major companies like Anthropic, Databricks, and SpaceX, positioning it as a top venture capital platform.
The firm aims to democratize venture investing by expanding access to accredited investors and leveraging AI for greater scale and innovation.
Despite challenges, including Medved's health and geopolitical issues, OurCrowd reported strong performance with exits worth tens of billions during difficult periods.
Leadership Transition at OurCrowd
OurCrowd announced on Tuesday that its founder, Jon Medved, will transition from CEO to Chairman following his recent diagnosis with ALS. As Chairman, he will focus on strategic initiatives, including OurCrowd’s global expansion and support for portfolio companies across multiple industries.
At the same time, the company has appointed Cali Chill as Acting CEO and Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Medved's Statement on the Transition
“We are now beginning the process of transitioning Cali Chill to CEO, and I will serve as Chairman,” said Medved. “After 13 years as CEO, this transition is necessary, partly due to my health, and it will allow me to move the company to its next phase with strategic changes. Cali has been with the company for seven years and is the architect behind many of our investments. He led our investment committee and helped make us one of the leading venture capital firms in the world.”
Medved continued: “A few months ago, I was hospitalized and diagnosed with ALS, a serious and terrible disease. Everything still works, but it’s very difficult for me to breathe. I’m improving and fighting it, and I still work 8–10 hours a day, which allows me to continue treatment. I believe that God gave me the strength to keep working and achieve important things, especially now, when Israel is changing and there is enormous potential for peace.”
Reflecting on the company’s performance, Medved added: “Even during the war, we did great, there were exits worth tens of billions of dollars during the most difficult period for the country. Our market went up, and all of it happened during the war. I’m eager to see what happens in peacetime.”
Cali Chill's Background and Vision
Chill has been with OurCrowd for seven years, holding senior leadership positions across legal operations, funds and investment strategy. He most recently served as Chief Investment Officer and Chair of OurCrowd’s Investment Committee. Under his leadership, OurCrowd has invested in major companies, including Anthropic, Databricks, Scale AI, Safe Superintelligence, Kodiak Robotics, Quantum Machines, Groq and SpaceX, as well as leading funds such as NEA, Draper Associates and Lightspeed.
“I am honored to assume the role of Acting CEO and COO at this pivotal time for the company,” said Chill. “I know firsthand the power of the platform we’ve built, the professionalism of our team, and the global community we’ve created. I look forward to working with Jon and the management team to continue fulfilling our vision - to make the world of venture capital and alternative investments accessible to more investors than ever before.”
Chill shared his personal story: “I grew up in Israel after immigrating at the age of one and a half. I studied law at Bar-Ilan University and worked as legal counsel for high-tech firms including Answers.com, which later sold for $900 million. When I returned to Israel, I joined Jon as legal advisor and later headed our funds division. Since 2022, I’ve focused entirely on investments. We’ve backed top-tier funds and late-stage deals, and we’re seeing growing monetization and secondary activity across our portfolio.”
OurCrowd's Impact and Future
Since its founding in 2013, OurCrowd has become one of the world’s leading venture capital investment platforms, with over $2.6 billion in investment commitments to date. The firm provides accredited investors with access to venture capital and alternative investments, areas once reserved for institutional players.
Under Medved’s leadership, OurCrowd became Israel’s most active venture investor and a significant global force in tech innovation.
“OurCrowd will continue to democratize venture investing,” added Medved. “As the private market expands, OurCrowd must grow strategically to maintain our leadership in the sector. We will expand access to the most compelling companies and funds of our time while continuing to champion early-stage innovation. We will also leverage the artificial intelligence revolution to reach investors at much greater scale.”
“OurCrowd is at the forefront of democratic access to investing, offering access not only to leading venture capital and alternative asset class funds such as Draper Associates or Neuberger Berman, but direct investments ranging from early-stage startups, and incubators, to sought-after growth companies such as Groq, SpaceX, Anthropic and Databricks,” Chill added. “By providing curated professional access to global venture and other opportunities, OurCrowd is bridging the gap between institutional sophistication and individual investor participation.”
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