Ofer Lior, <br>Global Director of Portfolio & Business Development

Ofer Lior,
Global Director of Portfolio & Business Development

Ofer photo 2 resizedAs Director of Portfolio & Business Development, Ofer takes a leading role in supporting the program’s startups, and translating their potential into value for the industry at large. He leads efforts to strategically grow and manage relationships between Intel Ignite’s alumni startups, Intel business divisions, and Fortune 1000 companies, enabling value creation across the deep tech ecosystem.

Ofer’s work involves delivering value for the startups in the program, as well as for Intel itself. For startups, that value lies in Ofer’s deep expertise in sales and business development. In each cohort, he leads a session covering go-to-market strategies, achieving product-market fit, and building an ideal customer profile. The session equips founders to better understand their customer journey, and all the stages of a sales opportunity. It also includes practical guidance on how to approach every opportunity, down to the fine details of leading successful sales calls.

Intel itself benefits from long term strategic engagements with startups. Ofer builds these relationships between Intel and selected startups, leading joint marketing efforts, and feeding companies into Intel’s M&A pipeline. He has driven $3 million deals for Intel by utilizing Intel technology to benefit startups.

 

Establishing the Intel Ignite Customer Advisory Board

Web Summit 2022 - Day Two

Ofer played a crucial role in establishing Intel Ignite’s Customer Advisory Board, working with executives from Fortune 1000 companies, and acting as their doorway to new technologies. This initiative stemmed from the recognition of a gap in the ecosystem. What was lacking, at that stage, was a way for executives to access distilled, curated data about trends in deep tech. As Intel Ignite filters thousands of companies worldwide, it is uniquely positioned to address this need.

In collaboration with other leaders at Intel Ignite, Ofer helped to build a community that connects these executives with curated, pre-vetted startups who meet their specific technology needs – a community that included 40 advisors at its height. This white glove service has helped to make matches between large corporates and tech startups from within the Intel Ignite portfolio, and where necessary, from the broader startup ecosystem.

The relationships formed through the Customer Advisory Board have now delivered over $1 million in deals. Ofer has been involved in all of them, steering the sales process from initial introductions through to deal closure, all with a view to maximizing the value for both parties. He is deeply involved in all stages, including pricing, negotiations, POC and contracts.

This win-win-win helps both corporates and startups, while growing Intel Ignite’s brand and delivering value to the entire ecosystem.

A Career Bridging Business Development and Technology
Intel Ignite team

Before joining Intel Ignite, Ofer held various positions within Intel. These included managing regional business development and sales for data center software solutions, as well as mentoring startups on business development. This laid the foundation for the work he does at Intel Ignite, where he has been a business mentor from the first cohort.

"In my 20 years at Intel, the Intel Ignite team stands out as the most professional, but also the most fun. I especially love working with the founders. They’re the best and most innovative minds on the planet and they’re going to shape the world of technology as we know it in the future. It’s a privilege to work with them and offer my business perspective to help them win."
Ofer Lior
Global Director of Portfolio & Business Development