Israel Active

Israel’s At-Bay is one of several Israeli companies addressing the modern-day area of cybersecurity insurance, where companies need to be protected financially against cyberattack. (see for previous reporting). In addition to providing insurance, At-Bay helps companies improve their IT security.

Israel’s Gett and Israel’s Carbyne have partnered to make a safer taxi service, linking Israel’s 10,000 Gett taxis to Carbyne’s 911 gateway. Passengers press a button to provide location details and enable either live video or silent chat to medics, police or the IDF.

Israeli-founded BigID uses advanced machine learning and identity intelligence to help enterprises better protect their customer and employee data. BigID has just raised $70 million, giving it a market valuation of $1 billion and the financial industry status of a “Unicorn”.

Maia Dori is a new Olah (immigrant to Israel). She has already set-up a startup called Rebook - an English book subscription service that offers members the opportunity to rent English books on a monthly basis.  Many books (fiction and non-fiction) to choose from. Mentioned in the Jerusalem Post.

Israel’s Incentives Solutions (reported previously) is launching JOOPY Tech, a high-tech version of its incentives and commission planning and management systems. It has been tailored for the complex commission arrangements for compensation and benefits in the high-tech industry.

In a pilot project, Israeli supermarket chains Shufersal, Victory and Hetzi Hinam are labeling locally produced fruit, vegetables, fish and meat ‘Israeli agriculture’. Surveys and research show most Israelis want to know the source of their produce and to buy “blue and white products,” i.e., products made in Israel,

Start-Up Nation Central reports that capital raised by Israeli startup companies is breaking records in 2020 despite the Covid-19 crisis. Israeli companies raised $9.5 billion in the 11 months of 2020, eclipsing 2019’s $7.7 billion total for the whole 12 months.

Israel’s myInterview allows companies to see and hear recruitment candidates without the need for face-to-face meetings - useful in these coronavirus times. Candidates record videos to promote themselves and the recruitment team can watch, review and agree whom to invite to a live interview.

Israel’s reserves of foreign currency soared again last month. At the end of November, Israel held nearly $167 billion of foreign currency – over $6 billion more than at the end of October.

The Israeli government has approved plans to lower housing costs throughout the country. Housing units subsidized by the government will be listed alongside properties on the free market. It will create competition and lower the cost of living for eligible Israelis on low income.