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?? ????? ???! ??? ??
This year, we decided to celebrate Pride Month a little differently and celebrate entrepreneurship within the LGBTQ+ community, both in business and social entrepreneurship. It's about entrepreneurship that changes the face of Israeli society, especially given the reality we've been living in recently.
At Pitango, it's important for us to be part of the community beyond investments. This year, with the crisis that Israeli society is facing, it requires us to take a moment to reflect inward and connect with the communities we are part of and feel close to. We thought this was a good opportunity to showcase additional aspects of our venture capital activities and open up new perspectives on entrepreneurship, creativity, and social impact.
We partnered with our portfolio company PayEm and with McKinsey& Co, and invited IGY, the LGBTQ+ youth organization, "Merima" - the alumni association of IGY, and "Marshah," the world's first LGBTQ+ professional training college.?
The first conversation was between Itamar Jobani, co-founder and CEO of PayEm, and Maital Guttman, Diversity & Inclusion People Leader at McKinsey & Company. Maital shared her story as a lesbian creator who started a film production company and used films as a way to challenge people's perceptions of others. As she advanced in her career, she understood the importance of influencing individuals but also impacting systems to create change, which led her to McKinsey. Itamar shared his journey as a successful artist in New York and his desire to work and create with people, which eventually led him to the world of entrepreneurship. They both agreed that there is much to celebrate during Pride Month, but there is still a long way to go.
The second conversation was between Aviv Barzilai, Senior Associate at Pitango First, and Liron Ben-Dor, CEO of "Merima" and co-founder of "Marshah."?
Liron explained how as a guide in the IGY movement in Afula, she realized that the support framework for LGBTQ+ youth ends abruptly at the age of 18, with the completion of high school, cutting off the extensive social connections the movement creates. This understanding led to the establishment of "Merima" - the alumni association of the IGY movement, and from there, "Marshah," to provide vocational support for young people who are seeking their way in the world, sometimes without family support.
Similar to the tech industry, the entrepreneurial story of "Merima" is intertwined with Liron's personal story. The challenge of establishing "Merima" lies in reaching out to adult individuals who may not see the need for it. While it is clear why LGBTQ+ youth need a youth movement, the question arises as to why LGBTQ+ adults need a less apparent form of organization. Liron emphasized that many of the infrastructure of "Merima" was built with a future-oriented perspective. Her entrepreneurial philosophy is always future-focused, and she raised the question of whether there is a need to build LGBTQ+ retirement homes.
Aviv also shared his personal story as a guide in IGY and a volunteer in the organization. He mentioned that his involvement with IGY allowed him to reach places he didn't think he would reach, creating safe spaces for people he didn't know. The meaning of this activity on Israeli society is similar and as important to him as the impact of Pitango's work in the Israeli high-tech industry. He connects with unmet needs as an investor, moments when people need something and there isn't necessarily someone who knows how to provide it. He believes in creating situations that allow people to grow and build organizations that foster personal growth.
Like tech companies, IGY, "Merima," and "Marshah" rely on funding. The social and political worlds are not as financially abundant as the tech industry, and people working in these fields do it and the people working in them do so out of a sense of mission and purpose. Pitango supports Igy and Marsha through donating scholarships for community members, based on a full and sincere belief in the work of these organizations.
Concluding with Aviv's words: “Pitango provides a platform for entrepreneurs and for me personally to be part of meaningful business processes that have a significant impact on Israeli society.”?
We invite everyone reading this post to join the Friends of Igy organization. Like all members, you too can make a huge difference in people's lives. All the details are in the link in the first comment, and you can also contact us privately.'"
Happy Pride Month! ??? ??