On October 7th, 2023, I survived the massacre at the Nova festival.
A little over two years later, I am building an AI startup in the field of modeling and technical drafting. I know it sounds strange, and you might wonder how I managed to connect these two worlds. But for me, they aren't separate stories they are one and the same.
After escaping the Nova festival, I returned that very same day to my army unit to continue my regular service. I served throughout the war for a year and four months until my release. Then, something I didn't expect arrived: PTSD.
Yes, like many others, I was diagnosed, and it is difficult. It's a slap in the face that you don't initially know how to handle. After some time, however, I decided it was time to start over.
When I began studying architecture at Shenkar, I was looking for a "real recovery process" to run alongside my academic framework. I didn't want to return to the regular pace or pretend nothing had happened. Instead, I wanted to find new meaning something that would truly pull me forward.
I found that meaning the moment I realized I could build a solution to a problem every architecture student knows all too well.
The endless hours of manual computer work required just to transform a simple idea from your head into a 3D model. That is how PlanivoxAI was born the first AI that builds 3D models in SketchUp through natural language. You speak, and it builds.
This isn't just a business idea for me; it is a personal journey. I'm sharing this story because I know I'm not alone. There are so many people around me who have been through trauma, who are looking for their next step, and who need to hear that it is possible to create something meaningful even from the deepest difficulties.
To everyone here — nice to meet you. I'm Tomer, and this is my new beginning.