How can values create value? Join Venture Capitalist and Author Michael Eisenberg as he speaks with global business leaders to explore the values and purpose behind their businesses, the impact of technology on humanity, and the humanity behind digitization. Michael Eisenberg is Co-Founder and General Partner of Aleph, an early-stage venture capital fund with $850M under management in Tel Aviv, Israel. Aleph is an early stage venture capital fund focused on partnering with great Israeli entrepreneurs to build large, meaningful companies and impactful global brands.
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How can values create value? Join Venture Capitalist and Author Michael Eisenberg as he speaks with global business leaders to explore the values and purpose behind their businesses, the impact of technology on humanity, and the humanity behind digitization. Michael Eisenberg is Co-Founder and General Partner of Aleph, an early-stage venture capital fund with $850M under management in Tel Aviv, Israel. Aleph is an early stage venture capital fund focused on partnering with great Israeli entrepreneurs to build large, meaningful companies and impactful global brands.
Mati Gill, CEO of AION Labs, on Funding Life-Saving Startups, Lessons From Working at Teva Pharmaceuticals in Crisis & Life After Getting Shot
Invested by Aleph
1 hour 3 minutes
2 months ago
Mati Gill, CEO of AION Labs, on Funding Life-Saving Startups, Lessons From Working at Teva Pharmaceuticals in Crisis & Life After Getting Shot
On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Mati Gill, CEO of AION Labs, Israel’s first global biotech venture studio. Backed by Pfizer, Merck KGaA, AstraZeneca, Teva, and AWS, AION Labs pioneers a new model for company creation: uniting pharma giants, tech leaders, and investors to collaboratively build AI-first startups in drug discovery and development. Instead of the typical biotech trajectory—where most startups fail—AION ensures founders start with the right problem, data, talent, guidance, and backing from day one. Mati brings a rare blend of experiences across pharma, government, and security. Before AION, he was a senior executive at Teva Pharmaceuticals, leading global public policy and advising the CEO during major restructuring. Earlier, he served as Chief of Staff at Israel’s Ministry of Public Security, and as an IDF reserve officer he coordinated international operations with UN peacekeepers.
Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts!
KEY TOPICS
01:13 Early Life in Ohio and Moving to Israel
04:55 Military Service and Law School: Path to Public Service
06:43 Teva’s Origins and Growth into a Global Leader
11:24 Mergers, Acquisitions, and Teva’s Challenges
13:59 Leaving Teva and Founding AION Labs
14:12 What AION Labs is and Why the Name Matters
18:10 Merck, Teva, AWS, and VC Partners Joining AION
20:22 DenovAI and Antibody Discovery
23:08 Accelerating Drug Development with AI and Pharma Partners
24:43 AI in Gene Editing and the Baby KJ Case
27:39 Why Biology Expertise Must Balance AI
34:01 From Doubt to Investment: DenovAI’s Validation
36:59 Government Support and the Israel Innovation Authority
39:33 Which Startup Could Be AION’s First Mega Hit?
40:17 Core Values: Israel, Family, and Mission
44:21 Why Most Drugs Fail and How AI Can Help
45:59 Enhancement vs. Health: The Ethics of Gene Editing
48:18 Theranos, Transparency, and Governance Lessons
51:25 The One Disease to Cure: Alzheimer’s
55:41 What Teva Taught Mati About Scale and Missed Opportunities
57:01 Being Shot Near Gaza and Lessons from Survival
01:02:05 Public Service: Always on Loan to Israel
01:02:45 Will AI Cure Cancer?
RESOURCES
Follow Mati on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matigill
Follow Mati on X - https://x.com/matigill
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CREDITS
Executive Producer: Erica Marom
Producer: Myron Shneider
Video and Editing: Ron Baranov
Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar
Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring
Design: Rony Karadi
Invested by Aleph
How can values create value? Join Venture Capitalist and Author Michael Eisenberg as he speaks with global business leaders to explore the values and purpose behind their businesses, the impact of technology on humanity, and the humanity behind digitization. Michael Eisenberg is Co-Founder and General Partner of Aleph, an early-stage venture capital fund with $850M under management in Tel Aviv, Israel. Aleph is an early stage venture capital fund focused on partnering with great Israeli entrepreneurs to build large, meaningful companies and impactful global brands.
