Prof. Eugene Kandel (BA, MA Hebrew University in Jerusalem; MBA, Ph.D. The University of Chicago) is an Emil Spyer Professor of Economics and Finance at the Hebrew University. Prof. Kandel published extensively in Finance and Economics.   

In 2009-2015 Kandel served as Head of the National Economic Council and Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister of Israel, advancing many important economic policies and reforms. 

Prof. Kandel is the founder and the Co-Chairman of the Start-Up Nation Policy Institute, a non-profit dedicated to advancing Israel’s innovation policies, aimed at strengthening the ecosystem, and making it more impactful on the Israeli economy and society.  

Uri Gabai is the CEO of the Start-Up Nation Policy Institute (SNPI) and former co-General Manager of Start-Up Nation Central. Prior to his roles at Start-Up Nation Central, Uri served for seven years as the Chief Strategy Officer and Head of the Strategy and Economic Division at the Israel Innovation Authority since its establishment in October 2011.

Prior to that, Uri was a Senior Economist at the National Economic Council in the Prime Minister’s Office. He earned a B.Sc. in Economics and Computer Science and a M.Sc. degree in Economics with a focus on Game Theory, both from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Assaf Patir is the Chief Economist of the Institute, specializing in macroeconomics, monetary economics, and banking. Before joining SNPI, he taught at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He was also an advisor to the Monetary Division at the Bank of Israel and held a visiting scholar position at the Department of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania.

Assaf started his career as a physicist, earning a PhD for his research in String Theory from the Weizmann Institute of Science. He later shifted his focus to economics, earning a PhD from Northwestern University for his dissertation on the macroeconomic impact of consumer loan securitization.

Maya Shaton is a senior researcher at SNPI, specializing in household finance, banking, innovation, law, finance, and behavioral economics. Before joining SNPI, Maya worked as an economist at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington DC. She is also a visiting professor at Hebrew University Business School and teaches in both the Business School and the Economics Department.

Maya holds a PhD in Finance from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, in addition to an MBA. She also earned an LL.M from Columbia Law School. Prior to that, she completed a joint BA in Law and Economics alongside an MA in Financial Economics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Yam Atir is the Head of Government Relations and Public Policy at SNPI. Prior to joining the Institute, Yam served as an adviser to the OECD on youth policy, working with ambassadors, practitioners, and policymakers to formulate long-term policies for the post-COVID-19 era. Before her role in the OECD, she was a member of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s foreign relations team and on the executive team of former President Shimon Peres. Forbes Magazine named her on the 2021 “30 Under 30” list.

Yam holds a BA in Political Science and Communications from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Eynav Ehrlich is a researcher at SNPI. For the past two years, Eynav has led Start-Up Nation Central’s research efforts in the field of human capital, and was responsible for the publication of the annual Human Capital Report. Prior to that, Eynav worked as a freelance researcher, focusing on the fields of finance and fast-moving consumer goods. She also worked as a Program Coordinator for the Citizen’s Empowerment Center Monitor, guiding students thorough their research and publications on the implementation of Israeli government policies. Eynav holds an MA in Financial Economics from IDC Herzliya (Reichman University) and a BA in Economics and Political Science from Tel Aviv University.

Eran Igelnik is a researcher at SNPI. Prior to joining the Institute, Eran worked in the AdTech industry as a group leader, creating products to aid in monitoring ad revenues. In 2020, Eran worked on the Capital Market Authority report dealing with private equity investments. Eran earned a BA in Government and Diplomacy and an MA in Financial Economics, both from IDC Herzliya (Reichman University).

Aaron Gefen is a senior researcher at SNPI, specializing in economics, human capital and education. Before joining SNPI, Aaron worked as an economist for the Israeli Ministry of Interior, the head of Strategic Planning and Data Analysis of the Jerusalem education department. In the past few years, Aaron worked as a business consultant to various companies, and a freelance project manager for in high-profile inter-governmental initiatives.

Aaron holds a BA in Philosophy, Political Science and Economics (with honors) and a MA in Public Policy, both from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In addition, Aaron is a   fellow of the Mandel Leadership Institute and a graduate of the Israeli Cadets for Civil Service program. In his spare time Aaron is a director in a couple of NGOs and writes TheHumanROI blog.

Lital Schwartz is the Head of Marketing at SNPI. Prior to joining the Institute, Lital worked as the media and communications advisor to the Minister for Environmental Protection and a Member of Knesset, and as an editor in Israel’s leading news websites. Lital holds a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Tal Rosen Zvi is a researcher at SNPI. Tal has a BSc in Economics and Matar- an excellence program in the School of Engineering at the Hebrew University. As a student, Tal worked as an analyst at Start Up Nation Central’s research department. Prior to her work as an analyst, Tal worked as a programming teacher at the Appleseeds academy. An Israeli nonprofit with the aim of bridging Israel’s growing Startup Nation to underserved communities in Israel’s social and geographic periphery

Ido Meiboom is an analyst at SNPI and a second-year student pursuing his BA in Economics and History from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Before working at SNPI, he worked as a STEM Instructor at PICO Kids and headed the youth segment of the “Hitorirut” campaign in Jerusalem.

Sharon Kinory is a researcher at SNPI. Prior to joining the Institute, Sharon was a research assistant to the Israeli desk at the economic department of the OECD. She participated in the process of writing the 2022 economic survey about Israel (EDRC). Before her role in the OECD, she was an analyst at the financial risk management unit of the markets department at the Bank of Israel.
Sharon is a 4th year PPE student, majoring in Economics, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Ziv Barel is a researcher at SNPI.

Prior to joining SNPI, as a student Ziv headed operation at “Kanfey Kesef” – a non-profit student organization that works to promote education for prudent financial management.

Ziv holds a B.A in Economics and Accounting, while simultaneously completing her studies for B.Sc in Digital Sciences for High Tech, all from Tel Aviv University.