Women’s Day 2025 – Meet Gili Elkin
Identifying Early-Stage Opportunities
Gili Elkin, Founder and Managing Partner at the venture capital fund ICI Fund. Her role includes identifying investment opportunities in early-stage technology startups, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) solutions with transformative potential in key industries. Beyond finding and evaluating investments, she is involved in guiding entrepreneurs, building growth strategies, and creating strategic connections with global investors and corporations. Her experience in identifying breakthrough technologies at early stages is critical to the fund’s success.
A Fund Focused on Breakthrough Technologies Using AI
ICI Fund is an American fund that focuses on investments in technology startups led by Israeli entrepreneurs, with special emphasis on AI technologies with the potential to change paradigms in critical industries. “We look for breakthrough technologies that use AI to solve significant problems. This includes advanced deep learning algorithms, processed neural networks, generative models, and innovation in NLP to create efficient and successful solutions. Beyond financial investment, we provide close guidance, mentoring, and an extensive network of connections in the US to female entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs to support their growth in the American market.”
A New Opportunity to Solve Significant Problems
The ability of AI to create transformative change in entire industries is what attracted Gili to the market. The understanding that it’s possible to analyze incredible amounts of data, identify hidden patterns, and create practical insights with great business value is fascinating to her. In particular, from her perspective, she is interested in the rapid development of generative models like LLMs along with advancements in Computer Vision have created new opportunities to solve significant problems across all sectors. Gili sees AI as a powerful tool to create value and improve quality of life, and that’s why she’s involved in the field – to invest in AI solutions that improve the future.
Technology and Dreams
Gili shares that Shimon Peres is a figure who deeply inspires her – thanks to his advanced vision and his influence on the Middle East. In her eyes, he wasn’t just a leader with exceptional ability, but also a pioneer in technological innovation. “Peres believed in the power of new technologies to create fundamental change and improve the quality of life for people around the world. He understood that combining advanced technology with peace efforts is critical for success in our region.” His quote, “As long as the number of your dreams is greater than the number of your achievements – you are young,” conveys a powerful message about the importance of continuing to dream, always. For her, this represents a central principle — always continue to dream and aspire to grow, without setting limits for yourself. “As I work in the technology field,” she says, “I persist in dreaming and working toward meaningful change that will advance us toward a better future. Peres’s vision, combining technological innovation with a vision for peace, is a source of inspiration for me, and I believe that through this awareness, we can all work together to make an important change in the world.”
Continuing to Run Even When It’s Difficult
Gili tells us – “My path was (and still is) full of challenges, but I never gave up (and will not give up) and I always look forward, toward the peak I aspire to reach. I don’t look down into the abyss, but keep running all the time, even when it’s difficult. Sometimes I fall, fall a lot, but what’s important is to get up immediately after every fall and continue forward, without compromising on my dreams.” To a beginning female entrepreneur or investor, she wishes to always aspire to reach the place she wants to reach and beyond. She wishes her the ability to see the big picture, choose correctly at crossroads, and not look back. To surround herself with people who will support her on this journey. The most important thing that helped Gili reach where she is today is persistence and belief in her goals, even when facing difficulties. “Stay focused on the goal, learn from experiences, try not to make the same mistake twice, and build meaningful relationships. This is my way to continue developing, and anyone can do it. You must never give up and believe in yourself.”
Women Investing in Women
We asked Gili how she thinks more women can be encouraged to enter the field, and she said: To encourage more women to enter key roles in the field, we must act on several central fronts: Promoting women’s representation in key roles: We need to strengthen the representation of women in senior positions and on management boards. It’s recommended to develop funded programs that provide opportunities to upgrade the tools of women aiming for these positions.
“Women Investing in Women” initiative: An initiative that called for female CEOs to submit their companies for a million-dollar investment opportunity. I established this initiative (in partnership with RUNI Fund, VCacademy organization, and Calcalist) to encourage entrepreneurship in establishing companies, approaching fundraising, and encouraging women to invest in women.
Investing in education and cultivating STEM skills among girls: Educational programs focused on developing STEM skills in girls help increase interest and participation in the technology field. Investing at an early stage allows women to enter technological fields with confidence and essential skills. • Building supportive communities: Creating communities where women can share experiences and challenges is a valuable asset. These communities offer a support system and sense of belonging, allowing women to ask, learn, and develop together.
Addressing unconscious bias: Training leaders and employees to understand unconscious biases in workplaces can improve dynamics. Once we identify the barriers embedded in work, we can promote true equality and give women the opportunities to lead and succeed. Once there are more women at the top, more women will aspire to get there.
When do we meet?
link to our event on March 10th, 2025 (InvesTech)
- use this code: InvestWFW
Gili’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilielkin/
ICI’s FUND LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/icifund/
contact ICI FUND – [email protected]
