Israel’s famed VC Jon Medved, diagnosed with ALS, backed the tech that will improve his life

Jon Medved, a prominent venture capitalist from Israel, recently announced his retirement due to a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease. This unexpected turn of events has deeply affected the close-knit startup community in Israel, where Medved has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of health technology. In an emotional interview with TechCrunch, Medved described the sudden onset of his condition, revealing that he had been feeling unwell before receiving his diagnosis. "I had been feeling a little weird before and they didn’t know what was ailing me," he shared. After several weeks in the hospital, doctors confirmed he had ALS, which gradually deteriorates motor neurons in the brain, leading to severe physical impairments. Despite the grim prognosis and lack of a cure, Medved remains hopeful and plans to utilize the very health tech startups he previously supported to enhance his quality of life. His firm, OurCrowd, which he founded in 2013, has pioneered the crowdsourced venture capital model, making investments accessible to a broader audience. Under Medved’s leadership, OurCrowd has backed around 500 portfolio companies, achieving approximately 74 successful exits, including a recent sale of the infrastructure planning startup Locusview for $525 million. His firm has attracted a diverse range of investors from various backgrounds, ensuring that many ordinary individuals can participate in the wealth generated by venture capital. Despite ongoing conflicts in the region, Israel's tech ecosystem continues to thrive, with significant investments flowing into various sectors, including cybersecurity, AI, and health tech. Medved noted that during a single week in November, $800 million was invested in Israeli startups, highlighting the resilience of the country’s innovation landscape. As he navigates the challenges of ALS, Medved has engaged with technologies designed to assist him, including a digital avatar that captures his voice and mannerisms. This project, developed in collaboration with companies like D-ID and ElevenLabs, aims to preserve his identity as his condition progresses. Reflecting on his journey, Medved expressed a renewed perspective on health and technology. He emphasized the importance of the numerous healthcare investments he has made, which aim to improve lives through innovative solutions. "I felt human pain and disease, but once you are actually engaged in one of these nasty diseases, it changes your perspective," he remarked. Though he steps back from his public role, Medved is determined to continue contributing to the tech ecosystem: "I want to continue to contribute, both to OurCrowd and the overall ecosystem. I’m far from over." His story serves as a powerful reminder of the intersection between personal challenges and the transformative potential of technology in healthcare.