Wassim Rasamny

Wassim Rasamny is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. In addition to being an investor in global biotechnology and medical device companies, Rasamny is the Executive Vice President and co-founder of Century Motor Company, and the co-founder of the Kayany Foundation. He is also a investor for “Look Away,” a dark comedy film that has yet to be released.
Rasamny is also an artcollector and currently serves on the board of directors for Friends of Kayany, a public charity based in the united states committed to educating Syrian refugee children.
Early Life
Rasamny was born in Lebanon to Rashid Rasamny, a Lebanese businessman, and Joheina Rasamny, a philanthropist. His parents were major benefactors of the Druze orphanage in lebanon, and helped co-found the Rasamny Younis Motor Company where Rasamny was a member of the board from 2007 to 2010.
Wassim’s family moved to New York City in 1976, at the onset of the Lebanese Civil War. While living on New York’s Upper East Side, he attended New York University, where he graduated with a degree in economics.
Work and Career
After graduating, Rasamny co-founded the family’s real estate development business in Connecticut in the mid 1980’s.
Rasamny became involved with the automotives industry in the 1990’s, when he became an Executive Vice President and co-founder of Century Motor Company, the only distributor of hyundai vehicles in Lebanon since 1993 and most recently hyundai heavy industry.
Rasamny began investing in biotechnology in the 2000’s, and in medical device startups most recently. He developed an interest in art collecting by virtue of growing up within close proximity of the Upper East Side’s museum mile lane.
Philanthropy
In 2013, Rasamny helped co-found the Kayani Foundation, a Lebanese based non-profit organization committed to educating syrian refugees. The organization has received numerous awards and recognition for its work, notably being chosen for the 2016 Lennon Ono Grant For Peace and the 2016 MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship, among others.
Rasamny and the Kayany Foundation are currently organizing a 2017 art auction to benefit programs aimed to educate young syrian refugees children. Rasamny has indicated that the event will exhibit works from several artists and galleries around the world.
Rasamny is also a member of the board of directors for the Friends of Kayany, a U.S. based NGO that works in relation to the Kayani Foundation. According to the Friends of Kayany webpage, Rasamny was “instrumental in organizing” the 2013 Syri-Arts art auction benefitting syrian refugees children.
The page also mentions that Rasamny provides ongoing funding for several high school and college Lebanese students every year, including nursing scholarship tied to the Ain owe Zain hospital in Lebanon.
Rasamny, following on his parents’ legacy, has also provided several renovations and scholarships for the Druze Orphanage in Lebanon and the Druze Orphans and Charitable Organization.

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