Early Life
Oren Zeev was born in Haifa, Israel, on September 23, 1964. He graduated Cum Laude with a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and earned an MBA with Distinction from INSEAD in France. Prior to his career in venture capital, Zeev worked as a Research staff member at IBM and was part of the founding team of IBM's chip design group in Haifa.
Rise to Success
Zeev's journey in the investment world began in the 1990s at Apex Partners. He spent 12 years at Apax Partners, eventually co-heading and heading the Technology Practice in Silicon Valley. In 2007, Zeev established Zeev Ventures, a one-man venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, focusing on early-stage companies. Zeev's investment strategy is notable for its speed and founder-centric approach, which has led to significant returns. His portfolio includes investments in several high-profile companies, including Houzz, Audible, Chegg, TripActions (Navan), Tipalti, and Next Insurance.
Key Business Strategies
Zeev is known for his independent investment style, making decisions without partners or committees, which allows him to move quickly and provide hands-on support to the companies he invests in. Zeev typically invests in companies he knows personally or those referred by entrepreneurs within his portfolio. He prefers to be the early main investor and an active board member or chairman. His focus is on creating real value and working with market leaders. He often takes significant ownership in the early rounds and maintains his holdings through subsequent funding rounds.
Philanthropy
Oren Zeev is actively involved in philanthropy, contributing to various causes through non-profit organizations focused on education, healthcare, and technology initiatives. He is co-founder and co-chairman of ICON, a non-profit organization focused on bridging Israeli and Silicon Valley technology and business.
