Israel Active

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.

Israel’s InvestiNation is a new equity crowdfunding platform, offering accredited US investors access to Israeli early-stage startups in fintech, ed-tech, construction and property technology.

An unnamed US institution just bought $50 million of shares in Israel’s eToro (reported previously). It values the company at a staggering $2.5 billion, turning it into another Israeli Unicorn. eToro’s clients now number over 16 million, who use eToro’s platform to trade stocks, commodities, FX etc.

Israeli medical AI triage platform Diagnostic Robotics (reported previously) used the coronavirus pandemic to successfully change its focus and operations. It split its workforce into two, to reduce the risk of infections and formed a digital health partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Health.

Israel’s Propdo AI develops technology capable of predicting residential real estate property prices. Its algorithm and data-based tools produce a projected valuation of a prospective purchase.  The company will initially operate in the Israeli real estate market.