Israel is to spend NIS 28.3 billion to overhaul its railway system over the next 4 years. NIS 12 billion will electrify the system (see previous newsletter). The rest will go to add new lines, expand and build new stations … Continue reading →

The Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation approved another $7.5 million in funding for nine new projects between U.S. and Israeli companies. BIRD has financed 926 projects with over $10 billion in its 38-year history. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bird—israel-us-binational-industrial-rd-foundation-to-invest-75-million-in-9-new-projects-563811211.html

Michael Shah’s Delshah Capital secured nearly $82 million through the first phase of the firm’s bond issuance on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. In doing so, Shah became the first non-Jewish developer to tap Israel’s corporate bond market. http://therealdeal.com/2016/01/08/delshah-raises-82m-on-israeli-bond-market/

US media giant Netflix has bought its first Israeli television show. It has acquired the youth drama “The Greenhouse” (HaKhamama in Hebrew), created by Giora Chamizer. The US version will be set in California, although filmed in Israel. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-netflix-buys-its-first-israeli-television-show-1001099053

Since I wrote about Israel’s Unitronics (see Mar 2015) it has built five automated parking facilities in North America including two in New Jersey and one in California. It has just won a $4.5 million deal to build another facility … Continue reading →

Israeli startup FBFM (Football Fans Marketplace) is developing an online marketplace to allow football (soccer) fans worldwide to invest in their favorite players and clubs. Fans provide loans to clubs for players and then receive a portion of any future … Continue reading →

Israel’s Omen Casting Group is opening a new high pressure die casting factory in Richmond, Indiana, USA, creating up to 100 new jobs. Omen will manufacture aluminum parts for drivelines, steering components and oil pumps at its new facility, to … Continue reading →

Israelis Jenny Belotserkovsky and Michal Tavrovsky founded Jews for Entrepreneurs (JFE) to advance their own startups and help connect them to the Silicon Valley ecosystem. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-a-jewish-awakening-in-silicon-valley-1001097051

Spain’s internet development agency Red.es, together with trade and investment body ICEX and trade association Adigital, have organized the first digital mission of Spanish tech startups to Tel Aviv in March. They will visit leading Israeli digital economy players. http://www.telecompaper.com/news/spanish-startups-organise-first-digital-mission-to-tel-aviv–1124218