Editing Tel Aviv University (section)

==TAU Ventures==
{{Infobox company
| name = TAU Ventures
| logo = 
| type = [[Limited liability company]] (LLC)
| industry = [[Venture capital]]
| foundation = {{start date and age |2018 }}
| founders = [[Tel Aviv University]] and Nimrod Cohen
| location_city = [[Tel Aviv]]
| location_country = [[Israel]]
| key_people = Nimrod Cohen
| owner =
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.tauventures.co.il}}
}}
'''TAU Ventures''' is a [[venture capital firm]]. founded in 2018 by the university and Nimrod Cohen to invest in early state [[startups]] in Israel; it is headquartered in [[Tel Aviv]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Solomon|first=Shoshanna|title=Tel Aviv University launches VC fund to invest in early-stage startups|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/tel-aviv-university-launches-venture-arm-to-invest-in-early-stage-startups/|access-date=2021-06-22|website=www.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=2018-04-15|title=Tel Aviv University sets up $20m VC fund|language=en|work=Globes|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-tel-aviv-university-sets-up-20m-vc-fund-1001231762|access-date=2021-06-22}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Friedman|first=Ron|date=2021-01-23|title=Amid a decline in early-stage funding, TAU Ventures invites tech startups to its campus community|url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3889232,00.html|access-date=2021-06-22|website=CTECH - www.calcalistech.com}}</ref> In early 2018, Tel Aviv University announced the creation of TAU Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund with US$20 million. Its operational period is a seven-year cycle, tentatively.<ref>{{Cite web|title=TAU Ventures {{!}} univtelaviv.com|url=https://univtelaviv.com/tau-ventures/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624211547/https://univtelaviv.com/tau-ventures/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 24, 2021|access-date=2021-06-22|language=es}}</ref> It is a first of its kind concept in Israel, modelled after similar funds existing in other universities such as [[Stanford University]], the [[University of California, Berkeley]], and [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (MIT).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Nimrod Cohen is the managing partner.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-01-01|title=Japan's NEC and Tel Aviv University set up incubator|language=en|work=Globes|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-japans-nec-and-tel-aviv-university-set-up-incubator-1001217724|access-date=2021-06-22}}</ref>

=== Investments ===
TAU Ventures invests an initial capital of US$500,000 with potential follow-up investments into early stage startups of Israel belonging to various industries such as enterprise solutions, [[fintech]], [[industry 4.0]], and food technology, with a majority being software related.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=Shin Bet widens hunt for innovative start-up solutions|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/shin-bet-widens-hunt-for-innovative-start-up-solutions-573458|access-date=2021-06-22|website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com|date=4 December 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The TAU Ventures ecosystem combines the resources and network of Tel Aviv University, industry connections, and a network of Israeli startup founders. It operates at its co-working office space located in Tel Aviv.<ref name=":2" /> The space consists of in-house experts who mentor and support the portfolio of companies in various aspects of startup growth.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

As of May 2021, TAU Ventures had invested in 17 startups. Some of the more notable companies include Xtend,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|title=Tel Aviv University fund leads $2m. investment in Israeli start-ups|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/tel-aviv-university-fund-leads-15m-investment-in-israeli-start-ups-568067|access-date=2021-06-22|website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com|date=26 September 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> SWIMM,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-17 |title=Pitango, TAU Ventures Invest In Israeli Codebase Tool Startup Swimm |url=https://nocamels.com/2021/01/pitango-tau-ventures-israeli-codebase-startup-swimm/ |access-date=2021-06-22 |website=[[NoCamels]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Gaviti,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2021-04-04|title="מי שנכנס למשרדים שלנו מרגיש מהר מאוד שמדובר בקרן מסוג אחר"|url=https://www.geektime.co.il/had-keren-tau-ventures/|access-date=2021-06-22|website=גיקטיים|language=he-IL}}</ref> MyAir,<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|date=2019-12-25|title=Former Teva VP sets up foodtech startup|language=en|work=Globes|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-former-teva-vp-sets-up-foodtech-startup-1001312384|access-date=2021-06-22}}</ref> Medorion,<ref name=":4" /> Castor,<ref name=":6"/> and [[Hoopo]].<ref name=":6" />

=== Accelerator program ===
Along with its venture capital operations, TAU Ventures operates an accelerator program in partnership with the [[Shin Bet|Israeli Security Agency]] (ISA) which provides a technological platform for founders.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news|date=2018-07-04|title=Israel's Shin Bet spy service partners with private start-ups|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech-israel-shinbet-idINKBN1JU1SU|access-date=2021-06-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Israel's Shin Bet and its future as a cyberwarfare superpower|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/nadav-argaman-passing-the-shin-bet-torch-644002|access-date=2021-06-22|website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com|date=4 October 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> It is a four-month exclusive program that connects startups with the ISA and a US$50,000 grant with no equity clause.<ref name=":8" /> The program is geared to companies developing civilian and commercial technologies and can benefit from various technical expertise, unique databases, technology validation, and other factors.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-09-05|title=ISA and TAU Ventures launch startup accelerator|language=en|work=Globes|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-isa-and-tau-ventures-launch-startup-accelerator-1001235281|access-date=2021-06-22}}</ref> The alumni startups have raised over US$100 million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-10 |title=Israeli Startups Smash Funding Records, Reel In $10.5B In Just Six Months |url=https://nocamels.com/2021/06/israeli-startups-funding-records-10-5b/ |access-date=2021-06-22 |website=[[NoCamels]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Xtend,<ref name=":6"/> Cyberpion, Talamoos,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-06 |title=The Groundbreaking Israeli Tech Turning Heads At CES 2019 |url=https://nocamels.com/2019/01/israeli-tech-ces-2019/ |access-date=2021-06-22 |website=[[NoCamels]] |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Cyabra]],<ref name=":6"/> DigitalOwl,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-14|title=Investors plant Seed: 2 Israeli startups emerge with AI at their core|url=https://www.geektime.com/investors-plant-seed-2-israeli-startups-emerge-to/|access-date=2021-06-22|website=Geektime|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201831/https://www.geektime.com/investors-plant-seed-2-israeli-startups-emerge-to/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Decodea, and NeuraLegion <ref name=":5" /> are some of its alumni.

=== Recognition ===
In 2018, [[IVC Data and Insights|IVC Research Center]] awarded TAU Ventures the citation for being the most active venture capital in Israel.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|title=After a record year for Israeli startups, 16 investors tell us what's next|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/16/israel-vc-survey/|access-date=2021-06-22|website=TechCrunch|date=16 January 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[http://charteredgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/31-jan-2019-most-active-fund.pdf IVC Research Center citation]</ref> In 2019 and 2021, Geektime listed TAU Ventures among the top five and top six of venture capital funds in Israel.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":4"/>