Don’t buy it, rent it
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.
Driving new transportation technology
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.
Helping Brazil through its Covid-19 crisis
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.
Israel Seed Challenge
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.
Encouraging investment in startups
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.
Incentives to partner healthcare projects
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.
Israelis get back to the land
Israeli entrepreneur Nimrod Berger has found paid employment for 100 Israelis who have no work, due to the coronavirus epidemic. He has made them “crop commanders” - mostly ex-IDF, now elite agricultural workers - who are bringing in the harvest in the absence of foreign laborers.
SAP incubates more Israeli startups
SAP.iO Foundry Tel Aviv has launched its second 12-week incubator (see for previous). This time SAP selected seven consumer products startups. Aiola, Hexa, Pecan.ai, Sampler, SRP, TrenDemon, and TVPage will access SAP tech support, mentors and clients.
Encouraging Israeli startups to focus on Asia
Israeli-based Brilliance Ventures has raised a $20 million fund to focus on Israeli startups with potential for growth in the Asian market. Its initial focus is in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, deep tech, storage, semiconductors, and Industry 4.0 (e.g. smart cities).
CyberArk’s $70 million acquisition
Israeli cybersecurity company CyberArk has acquired California-based “identity as a service” IDaptive Holdings for $70 million cash. Their technologies will be combined to form a powerful security platform.