Yanki Margalit built his first computer at the age of 14, started his first business at 15, and was kicked out of school at 17. In 1984 Yanki built KnowPro, a software program that used artificial intelligence to help human experts in their decision-making process. To protect his software against piracy, Yanki developed the HASP, a hardware- based software protection key. With these two products he started Aladdin Knowledge Systems in 1985. Under his leadership as Chairman & CEO, Aladdin grew to become a global company (Nasdaq/ALDN). Since then, Yanki has been busy thinking and speaking about technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, and human evolution, while nurturing a new love affair with molecular biology and biotechnology. Since the mid-nineties, Yanki has supported the creation and development of many nonprofit organizations and social enterprises. Yanki is the chairman of SpaceIL , and is currently engaged in starting a Singularity Incubator that will seek to nourish early-stage technology start-ups that aim to address humanity's major challenges.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)