About

About

Si3 (Social Impact Investment in Israel) is UJIA’s innovative initiative that is changing Israel-focused philanthropy. Si3 uses a cutting-edge approach to drive social change in Israel and creatively engage funders in the UK who have not previously directed their philanthropic efforts towards Israel. Si3 funds projects that provide high value social impact and a financial return to better advance UJIA’s social mission to strengthen vulnerable communities in Israel. To leverage your giving to create extraordinary impact as well as to recycle capital, the educational, employment and community development endeavors in which Si3 invests, must repay the investments made in them, and their projects must be scalable and replicable. Si3 is a bold new face of Israeli philanthropy.

To date, Si3 has invested in twelve social impact projects from among 250 applicants, in areas like urban regeneration, micro-finance and other endeavors that are successfully tackling stubborn social issues among Israel’s most vulnerable communities, including Ethiopian, Bedouin, Ultra-Orthodox and children with disabilities. Si3 is the most active Jewish community-led impact investment portfolio in the Israel ecosystem, and it is generating an evergreen pool of capital for social change.

To see how Si3 works, please watch the short animation below:

Why

UJIA established Si3 to invest in organisations in Israel that generate sustainable, measurable and beneficial social impact (SRI) alongside a financial return (ROI). Its target investment areas align with that of the UJIA’s: improving education, generating employment and developing communities. Impact investment of this nature represents a revolution in how the Diaspora gives to, and engages with Israel. It provides donors with the opportunity to participate in Israel’s burgeoning social impact investment scene while leveraging their donations to do more good. Si3 also creates a deeper connection between British Jews and Israel by creating an extraordinarily positive impact on Israel’s most disadvantaged populations.

What

Si3 is UJIA’s innovative approach to philanthropy in Israel. Social impact investment involves the use of repayable finance (debt or equity) to achieve a social as well as financial return. Si3 invests in entrepreneurs, organisations and initiatives across asset classes in Israel that aim to generate a sustainable, measurable and beneficial social impact alongside financial return. Si3 generates an evergreen pool of capital: every pound raised is not only invested in a project delivering social and educational benefits in Israel, but is reinvested by UJIA when the project yields a financial return. In this way, Si3 leverages every philanthropic pound to go further to enable UJIA to achieve its social mission in Israel.

How

Si3 is a platform for broader cross-generational engagement in Israeli philanthropy. UJIA works diligently to identify enterprises that improve the lives of those in Israel who need it most. Selected initiatives receive financial investment, professional assistance from UJIA staff and guidance from British business professionals. Investments are selected from among a large funnel of over 100 applicants a year. Applicants must submit to a multi-stage screening process conducted by an Israel-based team of professionals who are assisted by Si3 Advisors, a UK-based committee comprised of next gen business professionals who engage in the first round of screening and who remain in contact with recipient organizations. Final investment recommendations are made by a UK-based Si3 Investment Committee comprised of UJIA supporters, trustees and leading business professionals who leverage their acumen to help identify the most impactful Israeli enterprises with the strongest business models. With their collective business knowledge and broad experience in the social field, the Si3 team has developed a proven ability to drive quality deal flow, perform due diligence, structure social impact investments and manage Si3’s growing portfolio in order to create a meaningful impact on Israeli society.

“Heter Iska” – a waiver in respect of religious matters and interest on debt have been taken into consideration.

Our Team

Si3 by UJIA is the UK’s leading initiative to drive social impact investment in Israel. Guided by our impact investment policy, the Impact Investment Israel initiative is managed by UJIA professional staff, advised by Dalia Black, a leading impact investment advisor in Israel.

Proposals are reviewed by the Israel-based team who are assisted by Si3 Advisors, a UK-based committee comprised of business professionals. Final investment recommendations are made by a very engaged and committed UK-based Si3 Investment Committee comprised of UJIA Trustees and leading business professionals, working in close coordination with our staff for portfolio coherence.

Professional team

Emily Pater

UJIA Israel Director

Dalia Black

Impact Investment Advisor

Investment Committee

Steven Kaye

Partner, Baystone Associates Ltd; Investment Committee Co-Chair

Alexi Lewy

Principal, Astley Capital; Investment Committee Co-Chair

Louise Jacobs

UJIA Chairman

Adam Plainer

Partner, Dechert LLP

Caroline Randall

Portfolio Manager, Capital Group

Carly Maisel

Director of Strategy and Philanthropy, Viola Arts

Daniel Bloch

Managing Director, CVC Partners

Glenda Levin

Partner, Allocator

Guy Horne

CEO, HSPG

Hillel Zidel

Managing Director, Kennet Partners

Justin Randall

Former CEO and Senior Partner, Gravita

Karen Shike

Venture capital and Technology lawyer

Marc Lester

UJIA Trustee; CEO, WW Computer Systems

Merav Galili, PhD

CEO, Menomadin Foundation

Merrick Wolman

Chairman and CEO, Bellerive Group Holdings

Ruth Green

Counsellor and community activist

The Advisors Committee

Harry Hatchwell

Chair of the Advisors Committee; Manager, Deloitte

Nayla Attas

Programmes Director, Impact Hub

Oli Bailey

Financial Planning and Analysis, BT

Sammy Benson

Head of Operations, Christopher Ward London Limited

Oliver Bradley

Managing Director, Digital Infrastructure Investing, Macquarie Capital

Joe Cohen

Development and Innovation Manager, Dentons

Tom Cantor

Executive, Enra group

Sarah Carr

Investment Director, Bridgepoint

Sam Cass

Business Partnering and Commercial Finance Manager, BT

Ross Chanowski

Social Entrepreneur, NuMarket

Elliot Cowan

Senior Associate, CMS UK

Adam Driver

Executive Corporate Finance, EY Real Estate

Maya Elnathan

Corporate Development, EBRD

Jonathan Feldman

Director, Invesco Real Estate

Charlie Fellerman

Innovation and Strategy, Ki Insurance

Mike Filson

Managing Director, Coverex Brokers Limited

Ben Finestein

Head of Credit Research, Isio

Michal Gaventa

Finance Director, Doddle

Ben Grabiner

Co-Founder, Platoon

Daniel Green

Associate Director, Firethorn Trust

Adam Herman

Regulatory Lead, Visa

Reid Jackson

Venture Capital Investor, OpenOcean

Sam Jacobs

Route to Market, ZX Ventures

Louisa Joseph

Senior Manager, Biomarin Pharmaceutical

Michal Joseph

Investment team, Downing LLP

Harry Kalms

Investment Associate, Coller Capital

Dalya Kurer

Associate, Goldman Sachs

Laurence Leigh

Account Executive, Canaccord Genuity

Lior Lev Ari

Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP

Marc Levy

Public Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement, JLC

Olivia Martyn

Growing Start-ups, Founders Factory

Jonny May

Audit Associate, KPMG

Ben Newton

Investment Manager, Credo Group UK

Ziv Reichert

Associate, LocalGlobe & Latitude

Jonathan Rix

Associate, Partners Capital

Ori Sachs

Global Emerging Markets Analyst, Coronation Fund Managers

Ilan Scorah

Head of Strategy, Voneus Broadband

Symmie Swill

Head of SME Banking, Starling Bank

Sam Talbot

Product Director, The Stars Group

Emily Verhagen

Investment Banking Associate, Macquarie Group

Emma Wolfin

Founders Factory

Itamar Yeshua

Business Developer, Seedlegals