Alan Buch and David Citron have been friends for more than 10 years. Together, they have recently launched TBD VC, a $35 million fund specifically structured to serve Israeli innovation. An unintended meeting at Zikim crossing during the Iron Swords War inspired the establishment of the fund. It has support from an unusual and varied investor base including institutional supporters from both Israel and the U.S., family offices, and well-known Israeli cyber entrepreneurs.

When the Iron Swords War began last October, David Citron was already on continuous reserve duty inside Gaza. At that time, he was a ground troop serving on the front lines. Inspiring our youth Alan Buch, an international wealth and alternative investment management professional, flew in from New York. His purpose in coming was to deliver critically needed medical supplies to Union troops.

Their chance encounter at the Zikim crossing turned out to be a watershed moment. Citron took advantage of a unique opportunity to leave Gaza. Buch, who previously served as a senior executive at a global multi-family office overseeing over $4 billion in assets and had early-stage investments in tech companies such as Spotify, SpaceX, and Hive AI, felt compelled to do more after October 7th.

After October 7th, I couldn't just sit in Brooklyn doing nothing. I got on a plane to Israel and traveled across the country to find ways I could help. I raised donations, delivered gear to soldiers, and one day, at the Zikim crossing, I suddenly saw David. I told him I wanted to increase my involvement in Israel, and we began talking about how we could join forces. Since we're both investors, we decided to channel that energy into a new fund focused on supporting Israeli innovation. - Alan Buch

Buch's desire to contribute meaningfully to Israel, combined with Citron's firsthand experience of the disconnect between combat and civilian life, led them to establish TBD VC. To Be Determined, or TBD for short—for their 2023 National Tour.

After spending so much time avoiding fire and fighting in the streets of Gaza, Citron almost forgot what normal life was like. This was the catalyst for Bennett and Buch to shift their focus towards building a tech industry that was more welcoming to combat veterans.

When you're deep in combat in Gaza, you completely forget what normal life looks like — everything revolves around the mission. That surprise encounter with Alan was unforgettable. It sparked something big. We decided to focus on making the tech world more accessible to combat veterans. During the war, I met thousands of people, and sadly, most weren't connected to tech. We're now working on creative ways to help. One initiative is dedicating a portion of the fund's profits to Back the Warrior, an organization that helps discharged soldiers build careers in tech. - David Citron

Buch’s passion for veterans runs deep. That’s why he’s committing a third of the fund’s profits to “Back the Warrior,” a group that helps discharged soldiers develop careers in the tech industry. This program helps bridge the gap between military service members and the tech workforce. For veterans, it provides an engaging and dynamic space for ongoing career advancement and opportunities.