Business and technologyגיא סלע

Guy Sella

Guy Sella was an Israeli intelligence officer and high-tech entrepreneur who co-founded SolarEdge in 2006 and led it as CEO.

1964 to 2019Co-founding SolarEdgeLeading SolarEdge as CEOIsrael Defense Prize recipient

Born: 22 February 1964, Haifa
Died: 25 August 2019
Occupation: chief executive officer, military personnel, military officer
Education: Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
Rank: Sgan Aluf
Founded: SolarEdge (2006)

Guy Sella was born in 1964 in Haifa

Guy Sella was born on February 22, 1964, and grew up in Haifa. He joined the IDF and served in Sayeret Matkal. After his release he spent several years traveling abroad and worked crab fishing in Alaska.

He studied engineering at the Technion. He then returned to career service in Military Intelligence and reached a senior post in the technology unit of the Intelligence Corps. During this service he received the Israel Defense Prize.

After leaving the army he was chief technology officer at the National Security Council and secretary of the national committee on cyber defense. From 2004 to 2006 he was a partner in the venture capital fund Star Ventures.

In 2006 he founded SolarEdge with Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Meir Adest and Amir Fishelov. The company develops power systems for solar energy installations, and he served as its CEO and chairman. It went public on Nasdaq in 2015 at an estimated value of 685 million dollars.

In 2017 he announced he had colon cancer. He stepped down on August 22, 2019, and died on August 25, 2019. He was buried in the Kinneret cemetery and left a wife, Barbara, and 4 children.

Guy Sella's life in 6 milestones

1964
Born in Haifa.
2004
Became a partner at Star Ventures.
2006
Co-founded SolarEdge.
2015
SolarEdge went public on Nasdaq.
2017
Announced he had colon cancer.
2019
Stepped down from SolarEdge and died.

Guy Sella served in Sayeret Matkal

He served in Sayeret Matkal as a fighter and team commander, and was wounded in both hands by accidental fire before returning to operational roles. He later served in Military Intelligence, commanded a technology unit and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Sayeret Matkal