For Elliott Broidy, the morning of September 11, 2001, started like some other. However by the tip of that fateful day, the course of his life had shifted irrevocably.
“I bear in mind watching the towers fall and feeling this overwhelming sense of helplessness,” Broidy recollects. “That feeling of vulnerability was profoundly horrifying. I knew I needed to do one thing – one thing significant that might assist shield folks.”
Photograph Caption: Elliott Broidy
Broidy is a serial entrepreneur who has based, invested in, and, in some circumstances, managed as CEO, greater than 160 corporations, principally centered on protection, nationwide safety, or legislation enforcement.
These weren’t Broidy’s unique pursuits. However 9/11 was the catalyst for a brand new sense of urgency and goal.
“I began researching, studying every little thing I might about counterterrorism, protection methods, and technological gaps,” Broidy explains. “I needed to be a part of the answer.”
Broidy’s dedication to nationwide safety prolonged past the borders of america. On the time of the 9/11 assaults, one other nation was on the forefront of his ideas – Israel, which was enduring the Second Intifada, a brutal wave of terrorist assaults that claimed 1000’s of lives. In the course of the Second Intifada, buses, cafes, nightclubs, and even a Passover Seder grew to become targets of suicide bombings and mass violence.
“Israel has at all times confronted an existential risk,” Broidy says. “It has not recognized sooner or later of peace in its complete existence. I noticed the parallels between what occurred in america on 9/11 and what Israel – our shut ally – was coping with on a near-daily foundation. The concept of creating know-how that might assist save lives in each international locations – that resonated deeply with me.”
In 2003, Broidy realized that, due to the violence and instability introduced in regards to the Second Intifada, Israel was dealing with a considerable discount in international direct funding. In response, he based Markstone Capital Companions, LLC, an $800 million fund invested nearly solely in non-high-tech corporations in Israel. Broidy needed to display his dedication to the Israeli folks and present that mass murderers shouldn’t be allowed to dictate the lives and futures of the nation.
He vividly remembers a visit to Tel Aviv in 2005, the place he met with victims of terrorist assaults and their households. “Listening to their tales made it much more private. It’s one factor to examine these tragedies, however to sit down throughout from somebody who misplaced their cherished one in a suicide bombing – it’s one thing you don’t overlook,” he displays.
For Broidy, the drive to innovate is fueled by these human connections. “Know-how is vital, however on the finish of the day, it’s about defending lives and preserving freedom. That’s the actual mission.”
Within the years that adopted, Broidy based and scaled a number of corporations specializing in protection and legislation enforcement know-how, from superior surveillance methods to AI-driven risk detection platforms.
Broidy’s help for Israel, particularly within the aftermath of the Hamas assaults of October seventh, additionally has impressed his dedication to combating antisemitism and to donating to greater than 100 Jewish organizations and suppose tanks that concentrate on counterterrorism.
Right this moment, his corporations proceed to push the envelope, creating options that improve the protection and safety of allied nations. “I’m happy with what we’ve constructed, however there’s at all times extra to do. So long as threats evolve, so should our know-how and our dedication to staying forward.”
When requested what recommendation he would give to aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to enter the protection house, Broidy’s reply is easy: “Discover your ‘why’ and let it information you. For me, it was 9/11. For others, it may be one thing else. However should you’re pushed by a real goal, the work will at all times matter.”
