Israel Active

The EcoMotion 2020 virtual week-long summit has partnered with the newly launched Arizona Israel Trade and Investment Office. It features cutting-edge transportation technologies, smart mobility and autonomous vehicles.

Israel’s Shopic is an AI platform that allows consumers to purchase in large retail chains without having to wait in line at checkouts. Its product is based on computerized vision technology that combines applications and barcode scanning systems.

Recent startup investments include: Shopic raised ; Xsight Labs raised ; raised ; raised ; Immunai raised and raised .

Israel’s global crowdfunding venture investment platform, OurCrowd reports that it has over 350 vacant positions at its 91 portfolio companies. 90 vacancies were added since the start of April. Locations include several Israeli sites, New York, Toronto, California, Brazil and Barcelona.

With gyms and restaurants closed, Israel’s TULU has started a niche business renting equipment and household appliances by the hour. They realize customers do not want to clutter up their small apartments with items they only use occasionally. TULU operates several premises in NYC and Tel Aviv.

Netivei Israel, formerly Israel’s National Roads Company, launched, at EcoMotion, an innovation and strategy division. Its NIS 10 million annual budget will focus on new technologies to handle existing infrastructure, transport management, and initiate extensive research programs.

Although Brazil is still suffering greatly during the coronavirus pandemic, Israeli companies are providing help. They are implementing solutions for healthcare. cybersecurity, telecommunications (due to increased online demand), plus several major R&D projects approved last year.

The Israeli consulate in Shanghai handed out 1,000 seeds to residents outside the Jewish Museum. They were invited to send in selfies with their growing plants for the chance to win free travel visas to Israel.

Israel is to offer NIS 2 billion (NIS 150 million each) in protection to up to 12 institutional investors who invest in early stage Israeli startups. The program lasts for eight years.

Israel’s Innovation Authority is offering Israeli companies 50% of their R&D budget if they partner world-renowned hospitals on healthcare pilot projects. The hospitals include Mayo Clinic, Hartford Healthcare, Thomas Jefferson University and Germany's Charité – Universitätsmedizin.