US Israel Business Council (USI) is a non-profit business network in New York City that connects Israeli entrepreneurs with American investors and senior executives.
USI provides world class entrepreneurship education in the US as well as mentorship and access to the US market. To that effect, USI engages dealmakers world-wide with an interest in startups and private equity investments between the United States and Israel.
Founded by Gil Galanos in 2010, USI has grown to include over 15,000 members and subscribers, including thousands of active Israeli startups and US investors. Every year, USI works with over 200 companies and 1,000 entrepreneurs to access the US market through major conferences, educational sessions, investor meetings, CEO roundtables, demo-days, and high-level networking for USI members and contributors.
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Gil Galanos Executive Director of Israel & Co., Founder & President of the U.S. Israel Business Council Gil Galanos is the Executive Director of Israel & Co., a young nonprofit that provides opportunities for leaders to visit Israel and experience its culture of innovation and entrepreneurship firsthand. Prior to joining Israel & Co. in 2011, Gil served as Executive Director, and is still acting President, of the U.S. Israel Business Council (USI), a trade association he founded in 2010. USI brings together investors, entrepreneurs and business executives across key growth sectors including Digital Media, Healthcare, Internet, Cleantech, Medical Devices, Mobile, Software, and Telecom to spur innovation and promote business between the U.S. and Israel. From 2006 to 2010, Gil acted as the Deputy Economic Minister to North America for the Government of Israel Economic Mission. In this position, he formed and organized business delegations to and from Israel, provided advisory services to Israeli companies in the U.S., served as a key liaison between Israeli companies and American investors, and developed strategic partnerships between Israeli and U.S. companies and organizations. Gil’s early work experience includes various roles in the Israeli high-tech arena, working for companies such as Comverse Technologies (CMVT) and Intel Corporation (INTC). Gil has a BSc in Information Systems from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Gil lives in New Jersey with his wife and three daughters. |
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Orly Natan Salsberg: Orly Natan Salsberg is the Director of Programs and Development for USI. Ms. Natan Salsberg was a Managing Partner of the Salsberg Group, a company focused on concert, special events and conference production. Ms. Natan Slasberg has worked closely with the New York City Mayor’s office building and mentoring sustainable restaurants, including opening one of her own, Cafe Notte, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The Salsberg Group incorporated responsible social policy and sustainable operation policies in all of its ventures.In 2012, after selling her companies, Ms. Natan Salsberg pursued her dual passion towards Israel and business. In 2013 She joined the team of Israel & Co., a New York based non-profit, as a senior advisor. Shortly after, Ms. Natan Salsberg was hired by the U.S. Israel Business Council, USI, as a strategic consultant. Ms. Natan Salsberg is an active philanthropist focused on environmental issues as well as entrepreneurial incubation projects for minority and women-owned business. Ms. Natan Salsberg holds an MBA from Columbia University, L.L.M. from Touro Law School and a J.D. from The School of Management, Law School in Tel Aviv. She is also a member of the New York Bar and the Social Venture Network. |
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Shahar Sadeh: Shahar Sadeh is the director of the Fuel Choice Initiative US Prize Competition at USI. Shahar is an accomplished scholar-practitioner in the fields of Environmental Diplomacy and Environmental Peacemaking. She is currently an adjunct professor at the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies at Columbia University where she teaches Environmental politics in Israel. Shahar is also directing the Faculty Engagement Initiative at the JCRC-NY. Her degrees were received from Tel Aviv University. Shahar’s interest in environmental diplomacy is not mere academic. In 2007 she co-founded and coordinated the “Van Leer Jerusalem Forum on Environment and Regional Sustainability”, which focused on creating and enhancing cooperation between Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian environmental experts (scientists, non-governmental and governmental actors), building capacity and deepening the knowledge on shared environmental problems and opportunities. Shahar worked with many NGOs in Israel and played a part in various environmental initiatives in the region. |
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Amanda Thornton Amanda is the Events Manager at USI. Before joining the US Israel Business Council, Amanda planned events and worked on marketing for a security software company where she grew their event programs by 40% in one year! In addition to USI, Amanda also works with the non-profit, Israel & Co. as a key team member, organizing and managing all areas from office systems, to events and meetings, to maximizing productivity for the Executive Director, Gil Galanos. She received her B.S. in Recreation Management with a minor concentration in Marketing from the from the University of Hampshire. |
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