(London – 7th November): The winner of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER) Internet Prize was announced at a ceremony held last night at the historic Bevis Marks Synagogue in London.

In his speech at the gala ceremony, Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the CER, said: ‘The CER is proud to recognise revolutionary technology and entrepreneurial talent from across the world, which embraces the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam – repairing the world. The winners of this year’s CER Internet Prizes have demonstrated their unceasing commitment to the use of technology as a force of good in society.’

The award, which saw over four hundred start-ups enter, gave cash prizes to digital and web-based ventures that are changing everyday life for the better. The top three entrepreneurs were chosen by a carefully selected judging panel, including the CER president Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, Dr Cornelius Boersch, CEO and Founder of Mountain Partners, Berlin-based businessman Ilja Gorelik and Global Advisors LLC (DST Global) COO Leonid Solovyev.

Presented by Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt and chairman of the CER Board of Patrons Boris Mints, first prize went to Yael Zamir, CEO of Israel-based Embryonics, which uses data from in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) centres across the globe to develop a network and accurate system to monitor and select embryos. The start-up uses cutting-edge AI algorithms that optimises and significantly improves the journey and success rate of IVF treatment.

The second prize went to Elena Sinel, founder of UK-based Acorn Aspirations – an online platform that offers young people the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to become tech entrepreneurs and leaders. Aimed at children between the ages of 12 and 18, the platform hosts bootcamps, incubators and seminars exploring the workings of computer systems, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and data science. Working in teams and supported by a range of mentors, young budding tech enthusiasts produce business plans with the aim to launch their own platform.

Third prize went Yehuda Elram, co-founder and CEO of Israel-based EggXYt – an innovative biotechnology company that revolutionises hatcheries by enabling sex detection of chick embryos immediately after the eggs are laid and before they enter the 21-day incubation process. Through this sophisticated technology, EggXYt saves the lives of over 8,000,000,000 chicks a year by preventing their unnecessary incubation.

This year, for the first time, all winners are invited to the Annual Mountain Partners Networking Event taking place in March of 2020. The first and second prize winners will have the opportunity to pitch to a panel of impressive investors and entrepreneurs.