The lineage of Dan Avida perfectly fits the saying ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’. He was born in an Israeli family of tech experts at the highest level and he learn and grew into a tech genius who has built and scaled so many tech firms into over $1 billion conglomerates.
Before we delve into the background or the biography of Dan, be reminded of some of these tech companies he worked with and scaled up. Some are:
- Decru and EFI
- Opus Capital
- Currently the founder and CEO of Engageli.
Biography Of Dan Avida
Dan was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1967. He grew up in a family of engineers and scientists who instilled in him a passion for innovation and problem-solving. His father, Yehuda Avida, was a professor of electrical engineering at Tel Aviv University and a pioneer of computer vision.
His mother, Ruth Avida, was a biochemist who worked on developing new drugs for cancer and infectious diseases. Dan has two younger sisters, Maya Avida and Noa Avida, who are both accomplished professionals in their own fields.
| Full Name | Daniel Avida |
| Place of Birth | Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Date of Birth | 21 Augsut 1967 |
| Age | 56 years |
| Father | Yehuda Avida |
| Mother | Ruth Avida |
| Siblings | 2 |
| Education | Stanford University |
| Children | 3 |
| Wife | Daphna Avida |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Religion | Islam |
Young Dan Avida started excelling as early as high at the prestigious Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium, where he excelled in math and physics. He also developed an interest in computer programming and robotics and participated in several national and international competitions.
After High School, as demanded by Israeli law, he served in the Israeli Defense Forces as an officer in the elite Unit 8200, the intelligence corps’ technological unit. There, he gained valuable experience in developing cutting-edge software systems and leading teams of talented engineers.
After completing his military service, Dan enrolled at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science. He also met his future wife, Daphna Avida, who was studying industrial engineering at the same institution.
They married in 1992 and moved to California, where Dan pursued his Ph.D. in computer science at Stanford University. His research focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning, and he published several papers in prestigious journals and conferences.
He Founded His Fist Company
In 1996, Dan partnered with Serge Plotkin to founded his first tech company Decru, a company that developed encryption appliances to secure data storage. They created encryption appliances such as DataFort FC series, DataFort E series, DataFort S series, etc.
He served as the chief technology officer and vice president of engineering until 2005 when the company was acquired by NetApp for $272 million.
He then joined Opus Capital as a general partner, where he invested in and mentored dozens of startups in various sectors.
He Founded His Second Company
In 2011, Dan co-founded Engageli with his wife Daphna Avida, and his friend and colleague Oren Zeev, who was also a partner at Opus Capital.
Engageli is a platform that connects experts with organizations that need their advice on various topics, such as strategy, product development, marketing, sales, fundraising, and more.
Engageli leverages artificial intelligence to match experts with clients based on their skills, availability, and preferences. Engageli has raised over $50 million from investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Greylock Partners, Canaan Partners, and many others.
Dan Avida’s Wife and Children
Dan lives in Palo Alto, Santa Clara, California with his wife Daphna and their three children: Adam (22), who is studying computer science at MIT; Ella (19), who is studying biology at Harvard; and Noah (16), who is a junior at Gunn High School. Dan enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, reading, playing chess, and skiing.
Dan Avida is also passionate about giving back to the community and supporting causes that he cares about. He is a board member of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology Alumni Association and the Israel Venture Network (IVN), a nonprofit organization that promotes social entrepreneurship and innovation in Israel.
He is also involved in several philanthropic initiatives that support education, health care, environmental protection, and human rights.
6 Best Quotes Of Dan Avida
- It is not what you did the last million dollars ut what you’re going to do with the next one dollar.
- Never argue with people’s feeling about a business
- Focus on term goals, sometimes at the expense of short-term gratifications
- It is important to treat all employees equally, no matter where they are in the organization, and provide people with challenges and opportunities so they could shine
- Always spend time with your colleagues no matter their role in your company
- Don’t go into negotiations with a backup in mind, if you do, you would jump to it prematurely
FAQs
- What is the difference between Dan Avida and Dan Avidan?
Dan Avidan is an American comedian, singer, and songwriter while Dan Avida is a tech guru and an entrepreneur whom we wrote about in this article.
- Is Dan Avida and Dan Avidan related?
No, the two have no connection. Avidan is a Native American while Avida is from Israel but lives in Palo Alto.