New York (CNN Business) Morris Kahn, an Israeli software entrepreneur, heard about young engineers in his home country who wanted to build a robotic moon lander and win a $20 million prize.

It was an ambitious plan. Only governments with massive treasuries have ever safely landed a spacecraft on the lunar surface: the United States, China and the former Soviet Union. But, Kahn figured the group might have the gusto to get it done.

"I asked them whether they had any money, and they said 'money....money...What's that?'" Kahn jokingly told CNN Business. "I said, 'Come to my office and I'll give you $100,000. No questions asked.'"

The team, named SpaceIL, initially estimated it would have to raise less than $10 million. A decade later, they've spent roughly $100 million. That includes more than $40 million of Kahn's money and millions more raised from friends and business acquaintances.

"Little did I realize how much it would involve me and what responsibility I would eventually undertake," he said.

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