Shai Agassi

Shai Agassi was born in 1968, and he graduated with honors from Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, where he received a Bachelor's degree in computer science. In October 2007 he founded Project Better Place, where he is the CEO. The company is focusing on a green transportation infrastructure based on electric cars as an alternative to the current (rapidly depleting) fossil fuel technology. As outlined in the company's vision: "We see an oil-free future and a healthier, safer planet. In 2008, Project Better Place will start providing an electric alternative to high-consumption professional automobiles, like taxis and delivery vehicles. We will then grow from country to country, metropolis to metropolis. Each step of the way, we'll move closer to making electric vehicles available to the public." 

In 2008 the State of Israel became the first country, and Renault-Nissan the first automaker, to announce their partnerships with Project Better Place to begin a mass deployment of electric cars. Shai Agassi has raised 200 million dollars for this project. 

Being a software entrepreneur, Agassi founded TopTier Software in 1992, which was later acquired by SAP, where he became a Deputy CEO responsible for SAP's overall technology strategy and execution.