Israel Active

Israel’s Wilk (formerly Biomilk – see previously) has received a US patent for its animal-free cultured milk and cell-based infant formula. The processes are based on a decade of proprietary research by Dr. Nurit Argov-Argaman of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Some American Jewish tech workers won’t ever return to their US office. Instead, thanks to the new flexible policy that many firms have employed because of Covid-19, they’ve moved to Israel. Even a Facebook Vice President is among those taking the plunge.

Yeruham and its first woman mayor (see previously) are keen to put the once neglected Negev town on the hospitality map. One of the initiatives is Culinary Queens in which non-profit Atid BaMidbar (Future of the desert) empowers women to run home-based food businesses.

The Amir Center in Jerusalem’s King George St, dubbed “the ugliest building in the city”, is set for demolition later this year. Innovative when built in 1961, the prize-winning design integrated prefabricated building parts, allowing an entire floor to be finished in a day.

From May 20, Israel has dropped the time-consuming mandatory PCR test for passengers arriving at Ben Gurion airport. Also, non-Israelis will be allowed to take a rapid (antigen) test at an authorized site in the 24 hours before boarding their incoming flight as an alternative to a PCR test within 72 hours.

Israel’s underlying unemployment rate dropped to 2.9% in April from 3.7% in March, the lowest in 50 years. There were 120,000 job seekers and 150,000 vacancies. The overall rate, including those affected by the pandemic, dropped to 4.4% in April from 4.8% in March, the lowest since 2020.

Israel’s Remilk (see previously) is to open a 750,000 square feet cow-free milk production facility in an eco-park in Kalundborg Denmark. Its proteins will make cheese, yogurt, ice cream etc., in volumes equivalent to that produced by 50,000 cows each year.

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California now hosts the global or U.S. headquarters for 32 Israeli-founded Unicorns – privately held companies valued at $1 billion or more. 17 of those companies became Unicorns in the last 12 months.  Most are in Silicon Valley.  Meanwhile, New York City hosts 26 Israeli Unicorns.

Israel’s Omri Casspi has transitioned from retired NBA basketball star to Venture Capital Fund manager. He has just launched "Sheva", a new VC fund, raising $30 million of its $50 million target, for investing $1 - $2 million in each of 20 early-stage startups.