Israeli Startup Expert Eyes India

- Hindol Sengupta

MENTION ‘PERES’ and most people think of Shimon Peres, the former President and Prime Minister of Israel. But there’s another Peres on the country’s political landscape: Nechemia ‘Chemi’ Peres, the late leader’s son, who is seen as the heir to his father’s political legacy. Entering politics will be a big leap for 57-year-old Chemi, who helped shape Israel’s startup boom as the co-founder of Pitango Venture Capital. Based in the Israeli city of Herzliya and named after a local fruit, the $1.8 billion (Rs 11,370.6 crore) fund has investments in 210 companies, including Via, an app-based ridesharing startup, and Taboola, a content search portal. Excerpts from an interview:

YOU RUN A TECH-FOCUSSED VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM. WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT WAVE OF TECH-ENABLED DISRUPTION?