Leadership across capital and technology
Building at the intersection of AI, investment, and global markets.
Michael Benezra is a private equity executive, artificial intelligence strategist and international investment professional based in the United States. As CEO of Signal87 AI, he leads the company’s strategy to transform complex enterprise documents into structured, actionable intelligence grounded in traceable evidence.
As Partner for North America at Crewstone International Private Equity & Investments, Benezra leads the evaluation of AI technology investments, large-scale commercial real estate opportunities and portfolio strategy across the North American market.
He serves as a principal North American lead for deal origination and advises on AI-driven value creation across the firm’s portfolio. His transaction experience spans technology, life sciences, consumer businesses, and commercial real estate.
Before joining Crewstone International, Benezra served as Director of Innovation for the Northeastern United States at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this role, he led technology-focused economic diplomacy, bilateral negotiations and cross-border transaction development throughout the Northeast.
Benezra worked directly with more than 200 startup companies, several of which later became publicly traded through IPOs. He advised companies on entering U.S. markets and helped facilitate public-private partnerships with multinational corporations. These initiatives supported private investment through the BIRD Foundation, generated hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact, and advanced remote-sensing and AI security technologies.
His international work included negotiating a U.S. shipping initiative involving ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE: ZIM). He also supported expanded bilateral commercial relationships with the Republic of Cape Verde and helped broaden access to COVID-19 vaccines through negotiated partnerships with U.S.-based biotechnology companies.
Benezra’s U.S. government experience includes service with the Department of Commerce’s Office of Policy and Space Commerce, where he supported federal coordination and technology-policy initiatives.
From 2020 through 2022, Benezra served as Executive Director and co-founder of the GK Fund in Boston. Under his leadership, the organization secured institutional support from the Kraft Group, Boston Red Sox leadership, PNC Bank and Wix.com.
Benezra also helped open a rolling $10 million capital initiative through the Berkshire Futures Fund. The program leveraged COVID-19 economic-relief funding to expand access to capital for underserved Black, Indigenous and other minority-owned businesses.
Michael Benezra earned a Master of Arts in American Government from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Policy from the University of Washington.
He was named to the Boston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class in 2021. His civic leadership includes service on the Housing Forward Massachusetts Advisory Committee, the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health Community Board of Advisors, and the Harvard Real Estate Alumni Organization Board of Directors. He also advises and serves on the boards of startup and nonprofit organizations.
Through Signal87 AI, Crewstone International and his broader advisory work, Benezra helps organizations evaluate complex opportunities and use emerging technology to create measurable enterprise value.
Leadership
Michael Chavira
Co-Founder, Signal87 AI
Systems engineer, technology executive, and entrepreneur with more than fifteen years of experience across sensor integration, enterprise architecture, and national-security systems.
Michael Chavira is Co-Founder of Signal87 AI and a co-founder and managing partner at Axiologic Solutions, with more than fifteen years of experience in sensor development and integration, systems engineering, and enterprise architecture.
A graduate of the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, Chavira entered the U.S. Navy through the Officer Candidate School program. He served first as a nuclear officer and later as an intelligence officer.
Before starting Axiologic Solutions, he worked at Applied Synergistics developing intelligent systems for power plants. He later supported Booz Allen Hamilton, applying that knowledge to develop and integrate sensor systems for the U.S. Army and American warfighters.
Recognizing the value of a strong education during his military career, Chavira continued his studies and earned an MBA, a master’s degree in systems engineering, and a master’s degree in finance.
Today, he is driven to create a challenging and engaging entrepreneurial work environment that balances a small-company, idea-driven culture with large-company stability and growth.
Outside of work, he trains for Ironman races around the country and explores different parts of the world.