Winners | Benny Zeevi Women's Health Innovation & Research Grant

Benny Zeevi

The pioneer of women's health technology

A leader in Medicine and Innovation

Dr Benny Zeevi was born and raised in Tel Aviv, alongside his identical twin brother, Avi, and older sister, Idit. He studied medicine at Tel Aviv University as part of the prestigious Academic Reserve program, graduating with honors, before enlisting in the military as a physician. His military journey began during his studies when he served as a medic in a mortar company during the Yom Kippur War in Sinai. He later became a battalion physician in the Armored Corps, and alongside his medical officer training, also completed an armored officers' course. In the reserves, he rose to the rank of brigade physician, and during the Lebanon War- where he served in reserve duty for approximately seven months-he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, in recognition of his bravery in combat. Even within the military sphere, Dr Benny Zeevi was a pioneer in medical innovation. He established the first military field hospital, and developing protocols for mobile military hospitals., significantly enhancing battlefield medical care.

Advancing Pediatric Cardiology

Dr Zeevi specialized in both cardiology and pediatrics, training at Beilinson Hospital and continuing at Boston at Children's Hospital, one of the world's leading pediatric medical centers. An outstanding physician, he left a lasting impact on countless children and families, who remember him to this day. At the forefront of medical innovation, Dr Zeevi, a founding member of Schneider Children's Hospital, the country's first dedicated pediatric hospital. From its inception he played a vital role in the development of the hospital and later became an exceptional interventional cardiologist for children and infants. He introduced advanced catheterization techniques that he had mastered abroad, significantly improving pediatric cardiac care.

As an expert in pediatric cardiology, Dr. Zeevi made significant contributions to medicine. Between 1990 to 1998, Dr Zeevi served as Director of the Pediatric Sedation Unit at Schneider Children's Hospital and completed a fellowship at Harvard University Children's Hospital. His groundbreaking work led to over 60 published scientific articles, and in 1993, he was awarded the Lieberman Award for his pioneering contributions to the treatment of congenital heart diseases in children.

Promoting and Investing in Life Sciences and Biomedicine

Dr. Zeevi was instrumental in fostering Israel's life sciences and biotechnology industries. Following a distinguished career in medicine and pediatric cardiology, he transitioned into the world of high-tech—first joining CardGuard before becoming a leading investor. His contributions to the industry were immeasurable. As a globally recognized leader in the field, he cultivated a network of devoted professionals and investors who returned to Israel time and time again to collaborate with the local ecosystem. Dr Zeevi led major investment funds and played a transformative role in every company he was involved with. As Managing General Partner at Run Young Capital, Tel Aviv Venture Partners, and DFJ Tamir Fishman Ventures, he spearheaded hundreds of investments in Israeli life sciences and Biomed companies. Between 2012 and 2015, he served as Co-Chairman of the IATI Association, coordinating activities in cleantech and life sciences. He also chaired the Annual Biomed Conference and DigitalHealth.IL Conference, bringing thousands of investors and entrepreneurs to Israel and fostering a thriving ecosystem of medial innovation.

Educating the Next Generation of Innovators

Dr. Zeevi was deeply committed to mentoring and educating future entrepreneurs. At Tel Aviv University's Faculty of Management, he founded Israel's first executive program for entrepreneurs in biotechnology and medical devices. For 15 years he led this program, shaping the next generation of innovators in the life sciences sector. His professionalism, meticulous attention to detail and deep sense of humanity made him an extraordinary mentor. He generously shared his vast knowledge, inspiring and influencing individuals and organizations across multiple fields.

Benny's Legacy in Women's Health

Dr Benny Zeevi was a visionary who recognized the transformative potential of the Femtech* industry long before it gained mainstream attention. As one of the first leaders to champion innovation in women's health, he founded the Femtech* conference to address critical gaps in research, data, knowledge, healthcare solutions, and tailored treatment for women's health.

His efforts not only raised awareness but also inspired groundbreaking advancements in the field. His legacy continues to influence the future of innovation in women's health, ensuring that progress in this vital area remains a priority.

We hope that his legacy will continue to inspire and influence the future generation of innovators in Women's Health.

A Lasting Legacy

Through his remarkable contributions to pediatric cardiology, life sciences, and women's health, Dr. Benny Zeevi's impact transcends generations. His pioneering spirit, dedication to innovation, and commitment to mentoring others leave an enduring legacy—one that will continue to inspire future leaders in medicine, technology, and beyond.

* Femtech, an abbreviation for for Female Technology, is Technology Designed for Women which focuses on the health and well-being of women. Femtech is a term that refers to diagnostic tools, products, services, wearables, and software that use technology to address women's health issues. The term FemTech was first coined in 2016 by Ida Tin, the co-founder of Clue, a menstrual health application. Since then, this concept gained recognition, leading to increased development in this field.

2025 Grant Winners

Congratulations!

We are proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the Benny Zeevi Women’s Health Innovation & Research Grant!

Congratulations to our winners who will each receive a grant of 25,000 USD from the Benny Zeevi Foundation

Startup Winner:
FeminAI

The first self-administered, AI-powered breast cancer screening patch, enabling women to detect breast cancer from home.

FeminAI directly addresses one of the most persistent challenges in women’s health: low adherence to breast cancer screening. Despite being the leading cancer in women worldwide, screening rates remain suboptimal, driven by fear, discomfort, stigma, lack of access, and cultural or religious barriers. Our solution enables any woman, anywhere to perform a private, painless, and accessible breast health scan from home: no clinic, no technician, no delay.

Feminai is poised to:

1. Increase Early Detection: Earlier identification of abnormalities leads to earlier intervention, less aggressive treatment, and significantly improved survival rates.

2. Empower Women with Agency: Self-scanning shifts the control back to the woman, enabling proactive monitoring.

3. Expand Reach Across Diverse Populations: Feminai is designed to serve women often excluded from standard screening programs.

Research Winner: Rabin Medical Center
Beilinson Women's Hospital

Researching the impact of a virtual service for high-risk pregnant women using advanced state-of-the art diagnostic and monitoring technologies.

Pregnant women requiring hospitalization or follow-up in maternal-fetal clinics ( high risk pregnancies) often remain in hospital for extended periods of time, resulting in separation from families, daily routines and significant emotional distress. The virtual maternal-fetal medicine service will provide an equivalent standard of medical care for eligible women, while allowing them to remain at home with their families.

The virtual service is made possible through newly developed, tested and approved technologies for fetal monitoring and at-home fetal ultrasound as well as remote patient monitoring enabling input of vital signs, virtual follow ups and clinical data documentation.

The Benny Zeevi Grant was established to support those pushing the boundaries of what is possible in women’s health. We are honored to support these teams as they move to real-world impact.

The 2025 Grant Cycle is now closed. Thank you to all the innovators who applied, stay tuned for roll call of 2026 applications.