Former Meta Executive Returns to Galilee, Leads International Investment Firm Amid Rising Regional Tensions

Bar Clara Mendes McConnon left a lucrative senior management role at Meta in Ireland to return to her hometown in the Upper Galilee following the events of October 7, 2023. Now CEO and managing partner of Value Gateway, the international arm of Value Advanced Investments managing assets worth about 4 billion shekels, she connects global investors with Israeli private market opportunities in real estate, defense, infrastructure, and high-tech sectors.

Mendes McConnon’s background includes overseeing $450 million in annual business growth for global clients in Israel and Southern Europe at Meta. Despite her academic studies in communications, international relations, and marketing, she emphasizes practical experience over formal degrees. After violent pro-Palestinian demonstrations erupted in Ireland post-October 7, she co-founded the Israeli Action Coalition to promote Israel’s narrative and organize support rallies.

Her husband, an Irish musician, supported the decision to relocate despite losing local friends and family ties. They returned to Israel in early 2025, settling in the Galilee, where Mendes McConnon views her work as a "modern Zionist mission." She highlights the need for more residents and improved infrastructure in the region, noting that many skilled individuals are moving north despite challenges.

Value Gateway focuses on later-stage companies valued at $100 million or more and established funds, with current investor interest in security, medical technologies, AI, and machine learning. Mendes McConnon believes that Israelis returning from abroad can adapt to the Galilee’s commute and lifestyle, helping to revitalize the area amid ongoing regional security concerns.