Noa Argamani mentioned she by no means doubted that she would return house alive when she was held hostage by Hamas.
That optimism was unwavering, she mentioned in a dialog with editor in chief Jamie Heller at Enterprise Insider’s “The Lengthy Play” occasion on Thursday, at the same time as two associates died in captivity and he or she often heard rockets and bombs exploding.
“I used to be on my own in a tiny room,” Argamani mentioned.
She mentioned she discovered one thing to be thankful for within the smallest of comforts, like half a liter of water, a sock, or a blanket.
“I mentioned thanks for all the pieces that I’ve at that second,” mentioned Argamani, who was rescued after 246 days in captivity after being kidnapped within the October 7, 2023 assault on Israel.
She mentioned optimism has turn into a defining a part of how she strikes via the world. Every morning, she mentioned, “I see the playing cards that I’ve in my hand, and I play in one of the simplest ways that I can.”
Argamani mentioned she has mirrored on her particular expertise and sources and the way they align together with her targets. Prior to now a number of years, she mentioned, she has improved her English and sharpened her public talking expertise, taking to the worldwide stage to advocate for the discharge of the opposite Israeli hostages and share her expertise.
On the time she was taken hostage, Argamani was finding out AI in her third yr of faculty, with the thought of changing into a software program engineer or, finally, perhaps a founder. Whereas in captivity, Argamani informed herself she beloved the life she was dwelling and would end her diploma when she returned house.
However after that, a lot modified, she mentioned.
Following an internship this yr, she joined enterprise capital agency Vine Ventures as head of platform. The corporate backs early-stage startups, with a give attention to AI, cybersecurity, and defense tech. She’s now working with Israeli founders and corporations with the aim of serving to them broaden globally and strengthening Israel’s safety via financial success.
Argamani mentioned she nonetheless has a lot to find out about VC. She joined Vine partially due to the connection she developed with its founder and managing associate, Eric Reiner, who helped her advocate for the discharge of the remaining hostages.
For now, she mentioned, she sees the position as her alternative to construct her profession and assist her nation.
“Now I’ve the chance to be on this stage and speak about the entire issues that I have been via, and in addition how I need to construct the longer term,” Argamani mentioned.
