Our mentors bring years of experience from defense, technology, and business—helping founders turn bold ideas into real-world impact.
Naor Caspi
Fresh Fund
Rotem Rogovsky
SkyPro
Kyle Giddens
Serial Entrepreneur
Shay Meiry
Black Rover
Nadine Melamed
Ex TikTok
David Rokach
SOSA
Yoav Hadad
IDEON Technologies
Assaf Chaprak
Shifters AI
Russ Rapaport
1315 Capital
Shahar Cohen
Aurelius Capital
Our Partners
Partners
We partner with leading organizations across defense, manufacturing, and innovation to accelerate the growth of Israel’s hardware ecosystem.
Ike Bodner
COO
I joined LDS to ensure the greatness taken from the world with David's murder was restored and to be a part of the building of the Jewish peoples future in health, safety and shalom
Ike moved to Israel in 2009. David and Ike grew up together as high school classmates and football teammates– a defensive end and outside linebacker duo. After serving in the Israeli Air Force on Nevatim air base as an F35 Engine Mechanic, Ike married and now lives with his wife in Hadar Yosef, Tel Aviv. He put his work as a drone mechanic at Aeronautics on hold to commit to David’s memory and namesake via the operations at Soldiers Save Lives.
Bucky Apsidorf
CEO
In many ways, David raised me. We played football together, loved cooking together, and traveled in Mexico together. We searched for meaning in life together and talked about everything imaginable together. LDS was taking all that amazing energy that David had and all the pain from October 7th and turning it into action
Baruch’s family made Aliyah in 2012. For Baruch, adjustment to life in Israel took about a decade. Baruch attended YTA high school with David Newman, after which they became roommates and best friends. Prior to David’s death, Baruch worked as the Director of Bioinformatics for Gift of Life. On Friday October 6th, David borrowed Baruch’s car to drive to the Nova Music Festival near Gaza. That was the last time Baruch saw David alive. Baruch’s life changed the day David’s ended.
David Gani
CEO
When I close my eyes I imagine David as he was. Laughing, dancing, cooking, eating, living. David inspired us all. He was giant. In every sense of that word. A larger than life figure who constantly worked out to enlarge his figure. My journey began Friday night October 6th, the last time I saw David. He came home with Noam to get ready for the Nova Festival and I , as any good friend would, made fun of his shirt. Only 24 hours later that same shirt is what helped us to identify David's body. That day changed everything for me. Today Let's Do Something stands for something that I know David would be proud of and I work every day to make sure it stays that way.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, David made Aliyah to Israel with his family in 2012, where he studied at YTA High School and met lifelong friend David Newman. A former software development Team Leader in the Israel Defense Forces, David transitioned to the private sector, bringing his technical expertise to various leadership roles. Now serving as CFO and Vice President at Let's Do Something, David leverages his extensive experience in technology and finance to drive the organization’s strategic goals.
Ilan Shields
Operations Manager
I joined Let's Do Something because I couldn’t ignore the feeling that I needed to do more. While my friends and family were in reservists, fighting on the frontlines, I felt a deep sense of guilt sitting on the sidelines. Joining The Sandbox became my way of contributing by supporting the next generation of Israeli soldiers and innovators building solutions that will save lives. Purpose-driven work isn't just a value for me. It's a responsibility.
Ilan grew up in Toronto, Canada, but he’s always been connected to Israel. After years of involvement in Zionist youth movements and institutions, he made aliyah in November 2024. He holds a degree in Business Management and Organizational Leadership from Ryerson University, and his career has spanned both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. He consulted on operational strategy at Manulife Insurance and directed Camp Moshava Ennismore, Canada’s largest religious Zionist overnight camp. Now based in Tel Aviv, Ilan manages The Sandbox, LDS’s hardware and defense incubator supporting early-stage Israeli startups building real-world solutions.
Julia Ellis
Director of Comms & Partnerships
After losing my dad at 19, I learned a hard truth that became my north star: while so much in life is out of our control, our perspective never is—and no one can take that away from us. That simple truth has carried me through grief, growth, and everything in between. I’m not superhuman—I’m not always optimistic—but life is undeniably sweeter when I choose to be. Faith and perspective don’t erase pain, but they shape how we carry it. How we walk away from something often defines how it lives within us. And at the end of the day, we get what we give to the universe.
Julia grew up in Miami, Florida, in a proudly Jewish and Zionist community. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and moving to Manhattan, she encountered antisemitism in the workplace for the first time—an experience that reshaped her path. It inspired her to pivot her career toward work that uplifts and transforms the lives of others, especially within the Jewish community. With years of marketing experience across the beauty, retail, and media industries, Julia fulfilled her lifelong dream of making aliyah in early 2025. She now proudly uses her skills for purpose-driven impact, leading meaningful initiatives alongside a team of colleagues who have become like family.
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