13 Facts About Shai Agassi

Shai Agassi is an Israeli entrepreneur known for his involvement in the electric vehicle industry.

Shai Agassi is the founder and former CEO of Better Place, which had developed a model and infrastructure for employing electric cars as an alternative to fossil fuel technology.

Shai Agassi went bankrupt in 2013, after Agassi spent over $850 million on publicity while deploying fewer than 1000 cars.

In 2003, at the age of 36, Shai Agassi was named one of the top 20 'Global Influentials for 2003' by CNN-Time magazine.

In 2009, Shai Agassi was included in TIME magazine's 100 most influential people list.

Shai Agassi has a bachelor's degree in computer science and has been awarded a large number of patents in software, automotive and energy infrastructure.

Shai Agassi founded TopTier Software in Israel in 1992 and later moved the company's headquarters to California.

Shai Agassi served the company in various capacities including chairman, chief technology officer, and then CEO.

Shai Agassi was directly involved in all critical phases of the company's development, including its strategic plan, technical direction and financing, management of two acquisitions, and negotiation of OEM agreements with companies such as SAP, Baan Corporation, and Microsoft.

Shai Agassi wished to be the next CEO of SAP after Henning Kagermann vacated that space in 2007.

Shai Agassi was appointed to the SAP Executive Board in 2002.

Shai Agassi said it was in talks with more than 25 countries around the world, but only in Israel and Denmark were battery swap stations built.

Shai Agassi was ousted as CEO of Better Place in October 2012.