Yaron Edel grew up in Jerusalem and Istanbul lives in Tel Aviv and is married to Hadas.
He has two cats. A lover of Hip Hop, Yaron discovered entrepreneurship while creating the first ever Hip Hop parties in Jerusalem in the late 90’s and early 2000.
Yaron received his law degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, after serving in the 931st Battalion of the Nahal Brigade in the 2nd Lebanon War.
Yaron works at the Israel Innovation Institute as the Head of Education.
Yaron also currently serves as a captain in the reserve forces and is the founder of “Project Resisim,” an organization which provides safe spaces and tools, for soldiers who have endured combat, allowing them to share their stories.
If that wasn’t enough, he also serves on the board of Jerusalem Village, which helps young new immigrants to find their place in Jerusalem, and the alternative theater group Hazira.
What are you working on these days?
I work at The Israel Innovation Institute, as Head of Education.
My responsibilities are building and executing programs, implementing disruptive technology in Education, working with EdTech companies, the Ministry of Education and local municipalities.
My job is working with teachers and principals helping them understand how technology can change the way we learn, how technology offers them new pedagogical abilities and encouraging them to implement these new abilities on a wide scale.
Technology is not the end all solution in education, though it’s impact can be exponential.
On a volunteer capacity, I founded and am CEO of “Project Resisim,” an organization which provides safe spaces and tools, for soldiers who have endured combat, to share their stories.
We build communities of Israeli Veterans, encouraging them to share their Army experience.
We built a website which serves as an online library of combat stories, have hosted 2500 people during our events and more than 150 volunteers assist to build our activities.
What was your first position In the Startup-Nation?
Eight years ago I started working at PresenTense, helping grow the Jerusalem Social Entrepreneurial scene.
PresenTense gave me “on the ground” experience being part of the “Hetorerrot” movement in its early days.
While working for PresenTense I learned about how to build a lean startup, design
theory, fundraising and value proposition.
Skills I was already implementing in my life, not knowing these were essential for any entrepreneur.
I worked closely with social entrepreneurs, helping them get their startup off the ground. This experience was key in helping me become who I am today.
What was your first job ever?
Security detail for head of opposition, Benjamin Netenyahu
What life event or moment affected your life the most?
My army service is what affected my life the most.
The combat and battles I experienced affected me deeply, on a very personal level.
I developed anger and rage over time, but six years ago it started to change.
I learned to channel those feelings into something more productive.
It lead me to founding Project Resisim with my wife and a group of friends.
I also organized talks with army unit, and a year ago I even self-published a book of short stories about the army
Best advice you received or would like to share?
The thing that is most frustrating about loneliness, is that you are never alone in the feeling.
After finishing my army service, and surviving the Second Lebanon War, I found myself confronted with ingrained memories from combat.
Day after day, or more accurately night after night, the memories haunted me, leading to sleeplessness, that then translated into anger and frustration.
I felt I had no one to talk to, even those closest to me couldn’t understand.
Later, as an entrepreneur, I found myself confronted with no deal flow, in a communication crisis with my partners, and quickly edging on burning out.
The everyday struggles gave me no room to heal from previous trauma. I could barely recover from emotional, and economical damage.
I had no opportunity to slow down and blow off steam. I felt all alone.
Looking back on those times, I’m sure that I was not alone.
My advice is to find yourself a friend, a mentor, a guide, a partner, a family member, a person with whom you feel comfortable and respect their opinion. Talk. Let the words flow.
Hear the sound of your own voice. Don’t be afraid of the consequences. Ultimately, the experience will be a positive and rewarding one.
Follow Yaron Edel
Project Resisim
Project Resisim (Facebook)
Innovative Education Israel
