Mark Gelfland, a STEM-minded financial systems pioneer, spoke at the STEM² Summit on advancing hands-on STEM initiatives internationally in Ethiopia, Israel and other countries.
Mr. Gelfand’s career includes computer wearing the hat of programmer, engineer, businessman, investor, and philanthropist.
In 1985, he founded Intex Solutions, Inc., which has patented the standard calculator for the international structured finance markets.
During the past 10 years, his physics and electronics backgrounds are the foundation of his many philanthropic STEM enrichment projects (e.g., hands-on science & engineering centers, university STEM outreach, technical conferences, school labs, virtualized computing labs) for youth in the U.S., Israel, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya, and Rwanda.
His physics background also guides the portfolio of technical startups established by his private investment company Plan B Ventures, LLC.
He co-founded Ethiopian-based exporting farm Green Mark Herbs, PLC.
He is the founding impact investor of Today Tomorrow Ventures, a new company, a hybrid that combines philanthropic and business sensibilities, capitalizing on opportunities within selected areas in East Africa.
Mr. Gelfand earned his B.S. in Physics from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1973, has three sons who are also engineers, and he still tinkers with electronics and chemical engineering near his home in Massachusetts.
Kids everywhere like the hands-on stuff. I'm sorry. It's a lot more fun for them than reading a book. I want them to read books, but you need some incentive to read a book.