“`html
Jerusalem – Jon Medved, a pivotal figure in Israel’s thriving startup scene, stepped down from his leadership role at OurCrowd in October after receiving a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Teh unexpected announcement sent ripples through the “Startup Nation.”
A Founder Faces His Toughest Challenge
Medved’s personal battle with ALS underscores the potential of the very health tech companies he championed.
what is ALS? Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and eventually, death. There is currently no cure.
“This has come rather sudden,” Medved told a reporter in an audibly hoarse voice – an early symptom of the disease – during what he described as possibly his last interview. He explained that he had been experiencing unusual symptoms and, after weeks in the hospital, received the devastating diagnosis: “You’ve got ALS, which is a horrible disease, the worst you can imagine.” Unlike many patients, Medved’s initial symptoms manifested as a weakening of his voice, rather than the more typical loss of motor function in his limbs.
Medved is widely credited as one of the architects of Israel’s innovative startup ecosystem, a phenomenon popularized by the best-selling book, Start-up Nation.After relocating from California to Israel in his 20s, he founded and successfully sold several tech companies before shifting his focus to venture capital.
In 2013, Medved launched OurCrowd, pioneering a new model of crowdsourced venture capital. This approach democratized investment opportunities, allowing a broader range of accredited investors to participate in funding early-stage companies.OurCrowd has since grown into a leading global venture investment platform, managing hundreds of millions of dollars and investing in hundreds of startups.
Despite the challenges posed by his diagnosis, Medved remains optimistic about the future of both OurCrowd and Israel’s startup ecosystem. He believes the country’s resilience and innovative spirit will allow it to navigate ongoing geopolitical challenges. “Israel is a tough place, and we’re used to dealing with adversity,” he said.
Medved is now poised to improve Medved’s quality of life.He has commissioned the creation of a digital avatar, powered by AI, that replicates his voice, facial expressions, and mannerisms.This avatar, developed in partnership with OurCrowd AI portfolio company D-ID, voice AI startup ElevenLabs, and the ALS-focused Scott-Morgan Foundation, is designed to help individuals with ALS maintain dialog as the disease progresses.
Medved recently experienced the technology firsthand during a Zoom call with another person living with ALS, who used an avatar to communicate. “So this stuff has become very, very personal to me,” he said.”It will preserve my voice when it goes.”
He anticipates relying on a range of technologies developed by OurCrowd’s portfolio companies, including OncoHost, which uses AI to personalize cancer immunotherapy, and companies focused on next-generation genome sequencing and chronic condition management. “I tell you now as a once-healthy person [who took health for granted] I felt human pain and disease, but once you are actually engaged in one of these nasty diseases, it changes your outlook,” Medved shared.
Despite stepping down from his leadership position, Medved remains committed to contributing to OurCrowd and the broader startup ecosystem. “I’m far from over, ok? I want to continue to contribute, both to OurCrowd and the overall ecosystem. So I fully intend to not go off [quietly] into this good night.” He expressed pride in being part of a movement that is not only driving economic innovation but also developing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
