Business and technologyחמי פרס

Chemi Peres

Chemi Peres is an Israeli venture capital investor who co-founded Pitango Venture Capital and has been its managing general partner since 1996.

born 1958Co-founding Pitango Venture CapitalFounding the MOFET technology fundLeading the Peres Center

Born: 17 July 1958, Tel Aviv
Occupation: businessperson
Education: Tel Aviv University
Founded: The Israel Mutual Guarantee Fund (2020)

Chemi Peres was born in 1958 in Tel Aviv

Chemi Peres was born in Tel Aviv in 1958, the youngest son of Sonia and Shimon Peres. He was named after Nechemia Argov, military secretary to David Ben-Gurion and a friend of his father. He finished high school at ORT Technicum in Givatayim in 1976.

He joined the IDF and entered the Air Force flight course, served for a time in the Armored Corps, and later qualified as a helicopter pilot. He flew Cobra attack helicopters. He studied industrial engineering and management at Tel Aviv University and also earned an MBA there.

In 1986 he became an adviser at Israel Aerospace Industries on the Lavi project, and in 1988 he joined DSI in business development. In 1992 he co-founded the MOFET venture capital fund, which he led until 1996. In 1996 he and Rami Kalish founded Polaris Fund II, which led to the Pitango funds.

He has served on many company boards, including Teva since 2017. He chairs the executive committee of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation. He chaired the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce from 2008 to 2011, and in 2020 he was named recipient of the Reinhard Mohn Prize.

He is married to Gila and lives in Ra'anana. In 2022 his son, the illustrator Guy Peres, died of cardiac arrest.

Chemi Peres's life in 10 milestones

1958
Born in Tel Aviv.
1976
Finished high school and enlisted in the IDF.
1986
Joined Israel Aerospace Industries as an adviser on the Lavi project.
1992
Co-founded the MOFET venture capital fund.
1996
Co-founded Polaris Fund II with Rami Kalish.
1996
Fought as a reserve pilot in Operation Grapes of Wrath.
2002
Became chairman of the Israel Venture Association.
2008
Became chairman of the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce.
2017
Joined the board of Teva Pharmaceuticals.
2020
Named recipient of the Reinhard Mohn Prize.

Chemi Peres served in IDF Pilot Course

He trained at the Israeli Air Force Flight Academy, served for a time in the Armored Corps, and became a Cobra attack helicopter pilot. As a reserve pilot he fought in Operation Grapes of Wrath in 1996.

IDF Pilot Course