22 Facts About Chemi Peres

Nechemia Jacob Peres is a venture capital and high-tech entrepreneur.

Chemi Peres is co-founder and managing general partner of Pitango Venture Capital.

Chemi Peres is named after Nechemia Argov, the Military Secretary to the Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, and a friend of his father.

In 1976 Chemi Peres graduated from ORT Technicum high school in Givatayim.

Chemi Peres enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces, and started the flight course at the Israeli Air Force Flight Academy.

Chemi Peres's participation was suspended due to asthma, his medical profile was reduced to 45, which meant that he could not serve in a combat duty.

Insistently, Chemi Peres managed to up his profile, and joined the Armored Corps.

In 1986 Chemi Peres joined Israel Aerospace Industries as an adviser, working on the IAI Lavi project, in the engineering division preliminary design, using his background as an Air Force pilot and a technologist.

In 1988 Chemi Peres joined Decision Systems Israel, now known as DSIT, a high tech company engaged in military and civilian software and systems development, and was responsible for new business development.

In 1992, together with DSIT and others, Chemi Peres co-founded "MOFET Israel Technology Fund", one of the first venture capital funds listed on Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, operating according to the guidelines for early stage investments, issued by Inbal, the Israel Government Insurance firm.

In 1996 Chemi Peres left MOFET, and along with Rami Kalish, they co-founded Polaris Fund II, in partnership with the Dovrat-Shrem Group.

Chemi Peres holds shares in iDigital, the local representative of Apple since 2007.

Today Chemi Peres is on the board of directors of Pitango portfolio companies, such as Via Transportation, Taboola, Venn.

Chemi Peres is on the board of Teva Pharmaceuticals, Idomoo, and is chairman of Webbing.

Chemi Peres has been a board member in companies including Aladdin Knowledge Systems, AudioCodes, BackWeb, Koor Industries, Magic Software Enterprises, Orckit Communications, Precise Software, and VocalTec.

In 2007, Chemi Peres co-founded "Pearls of Wisdom", a wireless sensors' network provider, where he still is chairman.

Chemi Peres is a member of the ORT Israel Friends Association, which promotes science and technology education in Israel.

Chemi Peres is a member of the Executive Committee of Friends of Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya.

Chemi Peres served as chairman of the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce from 2008 to 2011.

Chemi Peres co-founded Israel Venture Association, and served as its chairman from 2002 to 2004.

Chemi Peres holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering and management, and Master of Business Administration degree from Tel Aviv University.

Chemi Peres is married to Gila, and they have three children and one granddaughter.