A Conversation with Yossi Vardi

Tim O’Reilly is the founder and CEO of O’Reilly Media, Inc., thought by many to be the best computer book publisher in the world. O’Reilly Media also hosts conferences on technology topics, including the O’Reilly Open Source Convention, the Web 2.0 Summit, and the Gov 2.0 Summit. Tim’s blog, the O’Reilly Radar “watches the alpha geeks” to determine emerging technology trends, and serves as a platform for advocacy about issues of importance to the technical community. Tim is on the boards of CollabNet and Safari Books Online, and is a partner in O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures.

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Yossi Vardi is one of Israel’s early entrepreneurs. For 39 years he has co-founded, led, and helped build over 60 high-tech companies. Among them: Tekem (1969) one of Israel’s first software houses, Israel Chemicals (chairman 71-74), Alon Energy, Granite Hacarmel, International Lasers Technologies, and others.

Co-pioneered instant messaging, as founding investor and chairman of Mirabilis Ltd. The creator of ICQ, sold to AOL. Numerous investments went public (Answers.com, scopus, granite, International Tehcnologies Lasers ) or have been acquired (Gteko by Microsoft, Tivella by Cisco, Airlink by Sierra Wireless, foxytunes by Yahoo, Starnet by IAC, and more). Member of the Advisory board of Amdocs.

He has served on Boards of numerous state and private corporations including Bezeq, Israel Electric, Amdocs, Advisory board of Bank Israel. Served as advisor to the CEOs of AOL, Amazon, Allied Signal, Siemens Albis. Advised the World Bank, and UNDP.

Extensive government and public career: Formerly Director General, Ministry of Development (at age 27), Director General Ministry of Energy, Chairman: Israel National Oil Company. He is the Chairman Emeritus of the Jerusalem Foundation. Participated in the peace talks with Egypt, Palestinians, Jordan (led the economic cooperation negotiations), Syria.

Awards: Prime Minister Hi-Tech award for life achievements (twice), Industry prize, Entrepreneur of the year, C-E-O Hall Of Fame, Ramniceanu prize. D.Sc Operation Research Technion.