MARCH 14 • 2024 | 45
University and value the deter-
mination of Israelis in their
continuation to build and
innovate even under the most
stressful situations like war.
“The number of startups
that are emerging (from
Reichman) is huge, and the
investors really understood
that the current challenges
and disagreements (within the
Israeli government) will not
affect our business activity,”
Rom said. “There is trust and
investment in the fund. They
see that even during the war,
we remain focused on busi-
ness. We are not going to let
this venture be threatened by
anything.”
WORKING WITH MIBA
This month, RUNI will
make its first visit to Detroit
as it introduces itself to the
Michigan Israel Business
Accelerator (MIBA).
MIBA CEO Scott Hiipakka
said the welcome mat in
Michigan is rolled
out for RUNI
and other Israeli
business ventures.
Michigan’s busi-
ness focal points
in technological
advancements in
automotive mobility, space,
healthcare, sustainability, food
production, agriculture and
advanced manufacturing mesh
well with Israeli innovation.
Hiipakka has visited with his
Israeli counterparts many
times, including trips since
Oct. 7.
“Opportunities between
Israel’s and Michigan’s busi-
ness innovators are massive
when it comes to growing our
economies,” said Hiipakka,
speaking to an in-person and
virtual audience of Israelis
and Michiganders at a Feb. 14
Israel economic update event.
“We invite Israeli companies
to visit Michigan to build eco-
nomic partnerships and pro-
mote economic and job growth
in our state. The synergy
between Michigan and Israel is
strong and so we’re excited to
harness Israeli innovation and
chutzpah in our state.”
One standouts in RUNI’s
portfolio is PredictDO, an
insurance technology startup
that uses a form of Artificial
Intelligence called machine
learning to empower deci-
sion-making capabilities of
insurance underwriters. The
startup’s algorithm helps large
companies predict conditions
that would make them vulner-
able to class-action lawsuits.
As Jewish university students
navigate increasingly hostile
campuses in North America,
Rom encouraged them to
apply to Reichman University.
She said even before the war,
half the students enrolling at
Reichman are not Israeli.
“The best way for Israelis
and Jews around the world
to cope with antisemitism
on campuses is to work very
hard,” Rom said. “We are
looking to bring brilliant
students from Detroit to
Israel and study on our
campus, where they enroll in
coursework taught in English.
Tuition here is lower than
universities in the United
States. I think that we will
begin to see the shift of Jewish
students begin to enroll in
Israeli universities instead of
American universities where
they can get a solid college
education while feeling
supported and safe.”
Scott
Hiipakka
WITH GARY GULMAN
GARY GULMAN
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GARY GULMAN
GARY GULMAN
GARY GULMAN
GARY GULMAN
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SPOTLIGHT EVENT
J E W I S H F A M I L Y S E R V I C E
Chairs: Gail Danto & Art Roffey
Jordon & Alex Wertheimer
ALSO HONORING
RABBI DANIEL SYME
for his work in suicide prevention
Shining a light on mental health and suicide prevention in our community.
Sponsored by the Reva Stocker Lecture Series
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22
7PM | FLAGSTAR STRAND THEATRE
TICKETS $100
FOR TICKETS AND
SPONSORSHIPS VISIT
JFSSPOTLIGHTEVENT.ORG
OR CALL 248.592.2339
Join us as we welcome
stand-up comic Gar y Gulman
whose authentic stor ytelling and
brilliant humor provide a little
levity around the serious issue
of mental health.