Israeli AI Lab WhiteSage Raises $20 Million to Reshape Industries
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
An Israeli AI lab called WhiteSage has raised $20 million to fund its operations, aiming to transform existing businesses using artificial intelligence. Inspired by Amazon's disruptive approach, the lab plans to acquire companies and integrate AI to rebuild their business models. Led by Assaf Gilboa-Amir, Liran Tam, and Matan Guetta, WhiteSage is backed by the Aleph fund and is set to begin evaluating acquisition targets in the US soon.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli AI lab WhiteSage raised $20 million to transform industries by rebuilding existing businesses.
- The lab, inspired by Amazon's strategy, will acquire companies and integrate AI capabilities.
- WhiteSage is led by Assaf Gilboa-Amir, Liran Tam, and Matan Guetta, with backing from the Aleph fund.
- The venture focuses on leveraging AI to redefine business models, moving beyond incremental improvements.
- The lab plans to begin evaluating acquisition targets in the US in the coming weeks.
A Tel Aviv-based AI research and entrepreneurship group, WhiteSage, has raised $20 million to fund its operations and research engine. The venture, led by Assaf Gilboa-Amir, Liran Tam, and Matan Guetta, aims to leverage artificial intelligence to fundamentally transform existing businesses rather than solely focusing on new startups. The approach is inspired by Jeff Bezos's strategy with Amazon, which rebuilt retail from the ground up for the digital age.
WhiteSage operates as a lab that is half research and half business, with 15 employees in Israel and the US. The Tel Aviv office focuses on research, while the US East Coast office concentrates on market access and implementation. The lab's model involves acquiring existing companies with established assets, customers, and data, and then integrating AI capabilities to rebuild their business models. Strategic partnerships and, as a last resort, building from scratch are also part of their strategy.
The lab has examined approximately 14 theses in sectors like agriculture and insurance, identifying deep insights and mature ideas. It plans to begin evaluating companies for acquisition in the US in the coming weeks and is expanding its research team in Tel Aviv. The goal is to identify how AI can disrupt and redefine business models, moving beyond incremental product improvements to drive significant change.
WhiteSage is backed by Michael Eisenberg and Eden Shochat of the Aleph fund. The company, founded in mid-2023, is still in its early stages and needs to prove its methodology can generate successful deals and growing companies. The CEO, Assaf Gilboa-Amir, previously led research at Bridgewater, and co-founder Liran Tam has a background in senior research roles. Chief Investment Officer Matan Guetta leads the US acquisition activities from New York.