Israel Active

The Israel-US Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation is granting $2.3 million to 3 US-Israeli security projects. Israeli startups involved are Blue White Robotics (drone control), S.H. Goren (indoor GPS for first responders) and Cawamo (video security).

The BIRD Foundation granted $8 million to another 9 joint US-Israeli projects in Jan. They include Advanced MemTech (oil-water separation), Agroscout (drones to detect crop diseases) and MDI Health Technologies (personalized medication). Also to DosentRX, GaitBetter, Raicol Crystals and three more.

Israeli ad-tech company Perion Network Ltd has taken over Israel-founded data analytics firm Content IQ for $73 million. Perion will integrate Content IQ’s 51 New York and Tel Aviv employees into its local offices. The acquisition will also help Perion comply with new “cookie” laws.

Nestlé SA is setting up a food-tech innovation arm under its Israel-based subsidiary, Osem Investments. Nestlé, with an annual turnover of $100 billion, sees Israel’s huge potential and expects to help at least two Israeli startups enter the global market by the end of 2020.

Investment in Israeli startups continues in 2020. Israeli cybersecurity startup Snyk has completed a $150 million funding round, at a company valuation of more than $1 billion – another Unicorn.

Israel’s Appsflyer provides marketing analytics and more to help companies with mobile app products. Appsflyer has just raised $210 million in funds, giving the company a value of $1.6 billion and the status of a Unicorn – a company with a market value over $1 billion.

Israel’s WeBuy is beta-testing the first on-line, on-demand platform for local shopping. It connects customers to local businesses selling only those products and services they are looking for.  Shoppers receive offers for those items and communicate with the seller.  Plus, they earn reward tokens.  

This article describes the contribution that Israel’s Teva makes to GDP and employment in 19 of the 60 countries that it operates in. It is in addition to the medical benefits and the world’s largest generic medicine manufacturer’s role in keeping personal and national treatment costs down. It saved the US Healthcare system $41 billion in 2018 and contributed some $15 billion to US GDP.  

ELTA Systems, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, has been awarded a $125 million contract to supply an “Iron Dome” radar defense system to the Czech Republic. The deal strengthens Israeli-Czech relations and those with other NATO countries.

Israeli carrier Israir Airlines is to launch a new weekly route from Tel Aviv to the Armenian capital, Yerevan. It also plans to launch seasonal routes from Tel Aviv to Palma de Mallorca in Spain and the Latvian capital Riga.