Jerusalem – March 10, 2021 – OurCrowd, the leading venture investing platform and Israel’s most active venture investor, today announced the appointment of Dr. Hasanat Dewan as Chief Innovation Officer. Dr. Dewan will oversee the development and deployment of OurCrowd’s strategic next-generation platform, supporting a broad-based network of stakeholders and enabling investors unprecedented access to venture capital and other private markets.
Dr. Dewan has served in senior Technology Executive roles for major global financial institutions including E*TRADE Financial Corp., BNY Mellon, Russell Investments Group, Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, and Morgan Stanley.
Dr. Dewan will oversee the development and application of innovative processes, tools, and technology to support the growth of OurCrowd’s business. He will spearhead deep data analytics and AI projects to create differentiated products, services, and platforms intended to provide a unique value proposition for clients, investors, partners, and stakeholders.
“OurCrowd’s vision of developing a next-generation AI-driven capability, to advance its mission of providing broad access to the global VC investment market via a high-value fintech platform is compelling,” Dr. Dewan said. “OurCrowd’s goals of sharing these benefits with the broader global AI ecosystem and creating an impact on multiple facets of the global stakeholder network is a major part of what attracted me to join the OurCrowd family.”
Dr. Dewan led the buildout of the Digital Engineering business and practice at Cognizant BFS. His recent roles include SVP and Head of Technology Development at E*TRADE Financial Corp.; Divisional CIO at BNY Mellon, leading Enterprise Delivery and Architecture; Head of Global Technology and Operations (GTO) at Russell Investments Group; and Managing Director and CTO at Merrill Lynch, with a leading role in the buildout of electronic trading capabilities.
Dr. Dewan received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Columbia University, and a B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Computer Science and Physics from Brandeis University, where he was also a Wien International Scholar.
Dr. Dewan’s innovation plans include the recruitment of a core research and development team selected from top global AI hubs to advance the next generation of OurCrowd’s fintech platform. In the process, he will implement the broader vision held by founder Jon Medved, launching an ecosystem inclusive of innovation, education, industry connectivity, as well as public and private partnerships, creating a synergistic “Network Effect.”
“OurCrowd’s goal of providing broad access to venture investments will take a quantum leap under the stewardship of Dr. Dewan. We are assembling a Global AI Ecosystem Advisory Board to assist us in sharing the benefits of OurCrowd’s AI innovation with multiple stakeholders. We are analyzing the best place to base our next-generation innovation team and we will announce our decision shortly,” OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved said.
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About OurCrowd: OurCrowd is a global venture investment platform that empowers institutions and individuals to invest and engage in emerging companies. With $1.5 billion of committed funding, and investments in more than 240 portfolio companies and 25 venture funds, OurCrowd offers access to its membership of 80,000 individual accredited and institutional investors, family offices, and venture capital partners from over 195 countries to invest alongside, at the same terms. Rated by PitchBook as the most active venture investor in Israel, OurCrowd portfolio companies have been acquired by some of the most prestigious brands in the world, including Microsoft, Uber, Canon, Oracle, Nike, and Intel. To register visit www.ourcrowd.com.
Press Contact: Leah Stern, Partner, Global Communications, leah@ourcrowd.com, +44 747 019 6826
