Behzad Kianmahd Joins Tel Aviv University-American Friends Board

Los Angeles — American Friends of Tel Aviv University, a nonprofit organization that supports Israel’s most influential, comprehensive and sought-after center of higher learning, Tel Aviv University (TAU), today announced that Behzad Kianmahd has been elected to its Board of Directors.

Mr. Kianmahd is founder and CEO at Maxim Commercial Capital, a specialty finance company dedicated to providing capital to underserved, small and midsized businesses. Mr. Kianmahd is also a principal at Axiom Investments & Management Inc., which manages numerous companies and investment vehicles.

“We are delighted and fortunate to welcome Behzad to our Board of Directors,” said Gail Reiss, president and CEO of American Friends of TAU. “Behzad is a distinguished leader in the philanthropic and business communities, with a passion for strengthening higher education in Israel and elsewhere. I know he will serve as an important partner as we work to further elevate Tel Aviv University’s visibility and stature on the global stage.”

With over 35 years of entrepreneurial experience, Mr. Kianmahd has been a co-founder and executive of several domestic and international companies spanning various sectors, including general trade, garment manufacturing, healthcare, deep seawater desalination and bottling, real estate development, and finance.

Mr. Kianmahd has served on the boards of for-profit and nonprofit organizations, including Scribes Stats (Essia Health) and Cross Campus, where he currently serves as board chairman. He is also a co-founder and advisory board member of TAU Ventures, a university-sponsored fund investing in early stage startups.

An active philanthropist dedicated to supporting higher education and cancer research, Mr. Kianmahd holds a degree in international finance from the University of Akron, Ohio.

“Behzad is a veteran entrepreneur and dedicated professional who will strengthen an impressive board comprising committed leaders,” said Richard Sincere, chairman of American Friends of TAU’s Board of Directors. “The commitment of our board members allows us to continue to support and advance the most prestigious, prolific and entrepreneurial academic institution in Israel, and we are proud to count Behzad among them.”

American Friends of Tel Aviv University supports Israel’s most influential, comprehensive and sought-after center of higher learning, Tel Aviv University (TAU). TAU is recognized and celebrated internationally for creating an innovative, entrepreneurial culture on campus that generates inventions, startups and economic development in Israel. TAU is ranked ninth in the world, and first in Israel, for producing startup founders of billion-dollar companies, an achievement that surpassed several Ivy League universities. To date, 2,500 U.S. patents have been filed by Tel Aviv University researchers — ranking TAU #1 in Israel, #10 outside the United States and #43 in the world.