Prof. Dan Galai

Prof. Dan Galai is a distinguished academic and investor renowned for his expertise in financial markets and risk management. He serves as the Abe Gray Professor of Finance and Business Administration at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where he has been a faculty member since 1975. Prof. Galai has also held visiting positions at prestigious institutions such as INSEAD, UCLA, and the University of Chicago, contributing significantly to the field of finance through his teaching and research. In addition to his academic pursuits, Prof. Galai is an active investor and entrepreneur. He is the founder and chairman of Sigma, an investment firm based in Israel, which focuses on a diverse range of asset classes, including private equity, venture capital, real estate, and hedge funds. Under his leadership, Sigma has engaged in various investments across multiple industries, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to portfolio management. The firm's investment strategy encompasses multiple stages, from seed funding to buyouts, and spans a wide geographical focus, including the United States, Israel, and several European and Asian markets. Prof. Galai's contributions to finance extend beyond academia and investment. He co-invented the Volatility Index (VIX), a key measure of market risk and investor sentiment. His extensive publication record includes numerous articles and books on topics such as risk management, corporate finance, and financial markets. His work has been recognized with awards like the Pomerantz Prize for excellence in options research, highlighting his significant impact on the field of finance.