Ayla Matalon, Executive Director

Ayla Matalon became the Executive Director of the MIT Enterprise Forum after 15 years of experience in high-tech and venture capital. The MIT Enterprise Forum of Israel is a chapter of the

MIT Enterprise Forum Inc., a global non-profit organization (started @ MIT in 1978) dedicated to promoting the growth and success of high-tech entrepreneurial ventures by connecting ideas, technology and people, providing education and consulting to high technology companies.

Previously an analyst at Steps Investments in Technology and Managing Director of the US-Israel Science and Technology Center, and with relevant experience as a software engineer in both Israeli and foreign high-tech companies (Technion - Israel Institute of Technology R&D Foundation, Daisy Systems, Indigo/HP and Christian Rovsing - DK), Ayla has acquired a profound knowledge of the Israeli high-tech sector and its needs.

Ayla lectures about high-tech entrepreneurship and business development in the MBA programs at the Technion; Tel Aviv University, Faculty of Engineering; and the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center. To date she has taught in 6 academic institutions including 3 MBA programs, and in total, has given close to 50 courses concerning Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Development. She consults to start-ups and early-stage companies, is invested in a few and holds a number of board positions.

Ayla has performed on stage and started a Band of engineers in the early 90s. She has an interest in flying, acquiring a private pilot’s license, having flown in Israel and France. Other areas of interest include education and gender equality. She is the mother of three boys.

Ayla is a cum laude alumnus of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa (B.A. 1980, M.Sc. 1987). She received an MBA (emphasis on Entrepreneurship) from INSEAD, Fontainebleau (1993).