Israel Active

Israeli global investment platform Ourcrowd held a webinar on how Israel’s Government, healthcare and technology startups are combating the coronavirus. It featured PulmOne, SightDX and MigVax. Some 1000 medical, media and investment professionals attended. And me. See the slides here.

The Israeli Innovation Authority (IIA), the government's tech investment arm, is making available NIS 500 million for Israeli startups that have a good chance of succeeding in the long run, but are currently suffering from a shortage in funding and need immediate investment.

This week Israeli startups InnovoPro raised , Granulate raised , Orchestra raised , MyndYou raised , Arti raised , and Gauzy raised some .

The previous newsletter stated that Israel’s treasury sold $5 billion in long-term bonds to help alleviate the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, the issue was so oversubscribed, that a record $25 billion was raised, highlighting international confidence in Israel’s economy.

Israel has issued NIS 22 million of its NIS 50 million fund for Israeli startups countering the coronavirus. They include NEAT Applied Technologies (air flow in ventilators), Ezmems (sensors for ventilators) and NanoScent (scent detection of infection).

Despite the economic crisis, Israel’s Vast Data has raised ; raised ; raised ; raised . raised ; raised ; raised and raised .

ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), owner of MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon, has taken over Israel’s pay TV channel provider Ananey Communications. The two companies will also set up Gazella - a new fund focusing its investment on Israeli media and tech-related businesses.

Despite the global economic slowdown, Israel-headquartered VC firm Entrée Capital has raised $100 million for a new, third Israel-focused fund. It will target early-stage Israeli founded startups active in the fields including deep tech, SaaS, fintech, quantum computing, AI, AR / VR and healthcare.

Israeli start-up Yemoja, cultivates customized, pharmaceutical grade microalgae on demand. It utilizes unique, high precision, fast-track photobioreactor technology. Yemoja aims to develop these marine “super-crops”, boosting the entire microalgae value chain with new varieties and yields.

Israel’s Elbit Systems has been awarded a contract worth $15 million to provide command and control (C2) systems for the Tactical Reconnaissance System (TASYS) of the Swiss Armed Forces. It will help generate a common operational picture and facilitate rapid and effective decision making.