Igor Tulchinsky, founder and CEO of WorldQuant hedge funds, which manage approximately $30 billion, is establishing a venture capital operation in Israel. Calcalist has learned that Tulchinsky has recruited Maj. Gen. (res.) Saar Tzur to manage the fund, which will focus on investments in early-stage deep-tech companies. Tzur previously served as commander of the Northern Corps, and since his discharge from the IDF at the end of 2024 has advised technology companies as a security expert.
The operation, officially defined as an “innovation lab” and called WorldQuant Genesis, plans to invest up to $1 million in each company and make investments in two to three companies per year. The preferred targets are early-stage research companies combining AI, robotics, and biotechnology. WorldQuant Genesis has already invested in Navairo, an Israeli defense-tech startup developing solutions to counter swarms of low-cost drones.
The move marks a new phase in Tulchinsky’s long-standing engagement with Israel, which until now has been concentrated primarily in research and philanthropy. WorldQuant employs around 50 people in an office in Ramat Gan.
Following the October 7 attacks, Tulchinsky expanded his philanthropic activities in Israel, and is now extending that involvement into venture capital and early-stage technology investing.
“I have been involved in the Israeli innovation ecosystem for a decade and have full and steadfast faith in its potential, both in times of crisis and in times of stability,” Tulchinsky said. “Even against the backdrop of the complex reality, my commitment to Israel and its future remains intact. Israel has an extraordinary combination of world-class universities, military experience and the ability to deal with a complex and challenging reality, which makes it one of the most fascinating places in the world for growth.”
Tulchinsky first rose to prominence on Wall Street as head of the algorithmic trading division at Millennium Management, the hedge fund founded by Israel “Izzy” Englander. In 2007 he founded WorldQuant, which uses quantitative models to identify market inefficiencies across global financial markets.
Today, WorldQuant manages a portion of Millennium’s capital, around $10 billion out of an $80 billion pool, and together the two firms oversee roughly $20 billion for external clients. Tulchinsky’s personal fortune is estimated at $1.7 billion.
Beyond asset management, he has also built WorldQuant Ventures, which has backed more than 100 startups. His funds rely heavily on algorithmic strategies that aggregate large datasets to exploit pricing inefficiencies across markets.
WorldQuant Genesis reflects a broader trend of quantitative and AI-driven investment firms moving closer to frontier technology development, particularly in areas where AI, defense and computing increasingly overlap.
Tulchinsky has also donated approximately NIS 30 million to Israeli initiatives since October 7, including NIS 5 million to resilience and post-trauma treatment centers.