John Frankel, founding partner of ff Venture Capital answers: “What does it mean to be Jewish?” in our latest #0dot2 video.

Frankel founded the firm in 2008 and has been a Seed and Early-Stage investor since late 1999. Mr. Frankel focuses on advising and growing technology and technology-enabled companies across emerging industries, including artificial intelligence, cyber security, drones, enterprise software, crowdfunding and data analytics, among others. He has served on the boards of more than 35 companies and has led investments in more than 80 companies.

In speaking with B’nai B’rith at ffVC’s New York City office, Mr. Frankel discusses ancestry, culture, tradition, religion and living a Jewish life through one’s behavior. He said, “in tech, people say and people ask what would Steve Jobs do? What would Elon Musk do? But in matters Jewish, I reference back to my parents and to my grandparents.”

Prior to founding ffVC, Mr. Frankel worked at Goldman Sachs for 21 years in a variety of roles that involved technology development, re-engineering and capital markets. Mr. Frankel started his business career in London with Arthur Andersen, having earned a Master of Arts from New College, Oxford, where he studied Mathematics, Philosophy and Logic. He is a Fellow Chartered Accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. John also sits on The NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s Board of Overseers.

B’nai B’rith International has launched the Zero.Dot.Two Initiative (#0dot2) ahead of its 175th anniversary to discuss ideas around Jewish identity, to educate social media users about Judaism as a proactive way to combat anti-Semitism and to promote the Jewish connection to the State of Israel through the voices of many online influencers. With approximately 14.4 million Jewish individuals alive today, we represent approximately 0.2% of global citizens.