Loading people...
Gil Ben-Artzy is a Founding Partner at UpWest, a seed-stage venture capital firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before launching the fund, he served as Vice President of Corporate Development at Yahoo, where he directed global mergers, acquisitions, and investments, and previously worked as a consultant at Boston Consulting Group. Through UpWest, he has backed more than 80 cross-border startups, recently closing a $70 million fourth fund in 2022 to support Israeli founders entering the United States market. His early-stage investment portfolio includes notable enterprise software and cybersecurity companies, highlighted by the 2021 initial public offering of SentinelOne and the growth of unicorn startup HoneyBook. Holding degrees from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Wharton School, Ben-Artzy currently focuses on bridging international startup ecosystems by funding early-stage artificial intelligence and B2B technology ventures.
Gil Ben-Artzy stands as a pivotal figure in the early-stage venture capital landscape, serving as a General Partner and co-founder at UpWest. With a keen eye for disruptive innovation and a deep understanding of technological trends, he plays a crucial role in shaping the firm's investment strategy and supporting its portfolio companies. UpWest is renowned for its unique model, often backing Israeli founders who are building global businesses from the ground up, primarily targeting the vast opportunities within the U.S. market.
At UpWest, Gil Ben-Artzy's investment focus is primarily directed towards the pre-seed and seed stages, where he seeks out groundbreaking startups in critical sectors. His areas of expertise include B2B SaaS, enterprise software, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, deep tech, cybersecurity, and developer tools. He is particularly interested in companies that leverage cutting-edge technology to solve complex business problems, create new market categories, or significantly enhance existing industries. Gil's approach is hands-on, working closely with founders to refine their product vision, scale their operations, and navigate the challenges of early growth.
Before co-founding UpWest, Gil Ben-Artzy built an impressive career marked by significant contributions in product management and engineering. He held leadership positions at major technology companies such as Yahoo! and Microsoft, where he gained invaluable experience in developing and launching innovative products at scale. This operational background provides him with a unique perspective as an investor, enabling him to deeply understand the technical and market challenges faced by entrepreneurs. His journey from a product leader to a venture capitalist underscores his commitment to fostering technological advancement and supporting the next generation of innovators.
While UpWest's portfolio is a collective achievement, Gil Ben-Artzy has been instrumental in identifying and nurturing many of the firm's successful ventures. The UpWest portfolio includes companies that have gone on to achieve significant milestones, such as SentinelOne (cybersecurity), HoneyBook (business management for freelancers), Lumigo (observability for serverless applications), and Firebolt (cloud data warehouse). These investments reflect Gil's strategic vision for backing companies with strong technological foundations and ambitious global aspirations. He is known for his ability to spot potential early, offering strategic guidance that extends beyond capital, helping founders build resilient and impactful businesses.
Gil Ben-Artzy's leadership at UpWest continues to drive the firm's mission of empowering exceptional founders. His blend of operational experience, strategic insight, and dedication to early-stage innovation makes him a highly respected figure in the venture capital ecosystem, particularly for startups looking to bridge the gap between Israeli ingenuity and global market success.
Gil Ben-Artzy primarily invests in early-stage (pre-seed and seed) technology companies. His key investment focus areas include B2B SaaS, enterprise software, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, deep tech, cybersecurity, and developer tools. He often backs Israeli founders building global businesses.
Gil Ben-Artzy works as a General Partner at UpWest, a venture capital firm he co-founded. UpWest is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and is known for its focus on supporting Israeli entrepreneurs.
