Israel Active

A new Israeli app called FamilyBiz allows families to manage their finances and set budgets and goals during difficult periods. FamilyBiz consolidates in one place data from banks, credit cards, insurance companies, investments, and more, aiming to be the “Spotify” of financial tools.

The Israeli transportation ministry has approved Via’s ride-sharing 10-seater van shuttle service “Bubble” (reported previously) for an additional period of one year. Via’s passengers book rides in and around Tel Aviv through an app, specifying their desired pick up and drop off locations.

A new restaurant bar “Lulu & Co” has opened in Rothschild Boulevard Tel Aviv, serving mainly breakfast cereals. It offers many all-time childhood favorites, plus toppings such as hazelnut cream, salted caramel and marshmallow. Lulu plans to add new cereals each month, plus cereal-based ice creams.

Israel’s MySize (reported previously) has opened a new subsidiary in Moscow to meet the growing demand for its online measurement solutions. MySize recently expanded its operations in and is doubling its size recommendations every month (now over ).

Gilat Satellite Networks has won several recent contracts including $10M for a 5-year project servicing half a million people in rural Latin America (see link below). Others include a Tier 1 mobile operator, Mobile Networks, a leading mobile operator and Telefonica in .

Israel’s drip irrigation pioneer Netafim (reported previously) has won an $85 million contract for another three irrigation projects in India. This time they will benefit 35,000 farmers in Karnataka state, southwest India.

Swiss biotech giant Roche and Israeli Venture Capital fund aMoon are to launch an early-stage investment program named “StarFinder Digital Innovation Lab.” It will support 3 Israeli Life Science startups for 3 years with annual investments, mentoring, contacts and offices.

Non-profit Ogen (reported previously) is to distribute loans backed by state guarantees, as part of a push to help businesses struggling with the coronavirus pandemic. The guarantees enable Ogen to raise additional lending funds from philanthropy, impact investors, and institutional investors.

The Israeli government’s Innovation Authority (IIA) is setting up a fund dedicated for programs that retrain unemployed workers for R&D positions in the high-tech industry. The fund consists of NIS 7 million up to end 2020 and NIS 20 million for 2021 and prioritizes underrepresented Israelis.

It may only be temporary, but Israel’s reserves of foreign currency soared by a record $10 billion in July to a record $157 billion.