Meet our management

Aviva leads the organization’s overall strategy, operations, and executive decision-making. Aviva sets strategic priorities, drives cross-organizational alignment, and leads planning and impact measurement processes to advance the organization’s mission. Since joining Startup Nation Central in 2021, Aviva has played a central role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction and was a founding member of the Innovation Diplomacy team, fostering partnerships with U.S. stakeholders to advance collaboration in the MENA region.

A native of New York, Aviva moved to Israel in 1996 to study International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 2001, she returned to New York, serving as Senior Director of World Trade Center Business Recovery and Industry Development at New York State’s economic development office, leading post-9/11 recovery efforts. There she managed $800 million in aid for more than 14,000 businesses.
In 2009, Aviva returned to Israel and served as Director of Global Planning at JDC, leading strategic planning for its global operations.

As the CFO at Startup Nation Central, Uriel is responsible for leading the organization's financial strategy and operations, fostering its growth through financial optimization.

Uriel started his career in 2011 at Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer (EY), later served as the Director of Finance for several Electra FM group subsidiaries, and was the CFO of the Tower of David - The Museum of The City of Jerusalem, where he significantly improved the organization's financial health and managed all the financial aspects of the museum renovation. Before joining Startup Nation Central, Uriel was the CFO of the "Ogen" Group, contributing to its expansive social financial work.

While handling his professional roles, Uriel has also lectured in finance courses at IDC Herzliya and the Lev Academic Center and has volunteered as a director and audit committee member for various non-profit institutions.

Uriel, CPA, holds a BA in Accounting and Information Systems from the School of Business Administration at Lev Academic Center and an MBA in Financial Management from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Yariv manages Startup Nation Central’s flagship online business innovation platform, Finder, overseeing the work of the Technology & Development, Data & Insights, and Product & Users teams. Yariv previously served as Managing Director of Value-Focused Investments, an investment banking boutique dealing in cross-border, mid-market mergers and acquisitions focused on Israel and China. Before that, he founded and ran the first Corporate Venture Capital arm of one of the largest insurance groups in Israel. Yariv served as Executive Chairman of Shiluvim, the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Engineering at Tel-Aviv University (TAU), and also on the Steering Committee of the Industry Affiliates Program of the Faculty of Engineering at TAU.

Yariv completed his BSc. in Industrial Engineering at Tel Aviv University and his MBA at Brunel University in London, where his thesis addressed Venture Capital Investments in Life-Science Companies.

Wendy was an integral part of building Startup Nation Central’s infrastructure and professional team, and in connecting Israel’s innovation ecosystem with government and business leaders around the world.

Wendy Singer previously spent 23 years at AIPAC, including 16 years as Director of the organization’s Israel Office, where she and her team curated educational seminars in Israel, maintained relationships with Israeli ministers and senior government leaders as well as US diplomats and Palestinian officials and reported to AIPAC-Washington on policy, security, and political developments in Israel. As a registered lobbyist on Capitol Hill, Wendy was the lead contact for 90 Members of Congress and served as a staff aide for three Members of Congress, focusing on foreign policy issues.
Wendy completed her Bachelor’s Degree in American Government and Politics at Brandeis University.