Israel Active

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Japan's Sumitomo Corp has launched a $100 million Israel focused fund - IN Venture, to invest in smart cities, digitization, health care, cyber, IT, energy, and mobilization. Sumitomo Exec VP Toshikazu Nambu said of Israel, “Your way of life forces you to find solutions and that impressed us."

Nine Israeli Covid-19 startups presented to the North California Israel Chamber of Commerce last week.  They included , EchoCare (seniors monitor), , , Expain (cancer data), Grin (remote orthodontics),  Sanolla, Gynisus (AI diagnosys) and Habitu (trials support).

Eight Israeli startups will be virtually attending the UNMET conference in Arizona in May. Their products range from chainless hydraulic bikes to smart-air quality platforms. The founders will pitch to more than 150 global institutions and VC investors.

Israeli founded Flytrex, (as reported previously) delivers food and consumer goods by drones to Iceland and North Carolina. Flytrex has now launched a delivery service to “shelter-in-place” shoppers in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Two Israeli startups have got together. Namogoo blocks unauthorized ads and distracting content that may disrupt customer experience and engagement, specifically content meant to hijack customers. It has taken over Personali, which develops AI-based tools for personalizing user incentives.

Thousands of temporarily unemployed Israelis are volunteering on Israeli farms.  Farmers have incurred severe labor shortages due to coronavirus restrictions on foreign workers entering Israel. Israelis use an app called SunDo from non-profit HaShomer HaChadash to find work.

Israeli innovation hub Welltech1 is calling for Wellness startups that make people happier and heathier to compete for an investment of up to $200,000. Wellness is defined as self-care as opposed to healthcare. The hub partners the Global Wellness Institute that aims to eradicate preventable, chronic diseases.

Israel’s Sonovia began producing its anti-pathogen fabric face masks in March (reported previously). It has now sold 30,000 of the masks, mainly in the United States. The impregnated zinc and copper oxide fabric, blocks viruses and protects even after high temperature washing.

Israel is in a select club with Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece and New Zealand. In all 7 countries the numbers of new coronavirus infections have slowed substantially. Consequently, the Austrian Chancellor suggested establishing trade and tourism links between these nations.