"AI takes human capabilities and supercharges them”
"AI takes human capabilities and supercharges them”
Itzik Ben-Bassat, CEO of theGist and an advisor to Insight Partners founder Jeff Horing, is optimistic the power of AI can be leveraged for good
"Every type of technology has accelerated our ability as humans to progress from ordinary to professional. Just as machines were created to carve wood faster, empowering ordinary workers to become experts, today AI takes human capabilities and supercharges them," said Itzik Ben-Bassat, CEO of theGist and an advisor to Jeff Horing, founder of VC Insight Partners.
TheGist, which raised $7 million in pre-Seed funding last November co-led by StageOne Ventures and Aleph, was founded in 2022 by Ben-Bassat, Itay Dressler, and Nir Zohar. The company is developing smart AI and machine learning tools to enhance the employee experience by focusing on simplifying the content of internal data and communications.
Ben-Bassat was previously involved in founding and growing companies of the likes of Blizzard, OpenWeb, and Wix. Dressler (CTO) is the former VP of Engineering at OpenWeb, Co-founder and CTO at Salaryo, and VP R&D at Gong, while Zohar is the COO and President of Wix.
"All my investments have been in AI for years. When I began my career, there were dire predictions about the Internet and Y2K, but they didn't materialize. There have always been skeptical projections about technological changes, but I focus on the ways in which AI can benefit us,” said Ben-Bassat. “Companies like AIVF, assisting with artificial insemination, and Prisma Photonics, mapping systems above and below the ground, exemplify the capabilities AI offers. AI is already here, and we should embrace its potential to help us.”
TheGist recently launched its flagship product which provides employees with a personalized focus on relevant issues within the organization. TheGist's platform facilitates seamless transitions between content, topics, and work tools, addressing the challenge of constant interruptions and low-priority distractions. By enabling employees to concentrate on their main tasks, the platform aims to counteract the decrease in productivity and product quality, as well as the prevalent burnout feeling resulting from information overload.
Ben-Bassat began working with Horing back in 2009 and was one of the people who advised him to invest in Wix. “I convinced him to invest in Wix due to his expertise in preparing companies for an IPO. Jeff made the investment, which became his first in an Israeli company. Since then, he has shown interest in investing in other Israeli companies, making Insight the most active fund in Israel. I continue to advise Jeff and represent him in various companies," added Ben-Bassat.
