Israel Active

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.

Israel has recruited local start-up Qlarium to screen providers of medical equipment to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Qlarium, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to give an intelligence picture about the reliability of suppliers, including the Chinese market.

As part of Israel’s economic rescue plan, the Finance Minister is selling $5 billion of bonds to international investors. It includes $1 billion of 100-year bonds – the longest dated bonds in Israel’s history. They won’t be unsold - they are underwritten by Barclays, Citibank, BofA and Goldman Sachs.

Israeli startup Bringg already provides delivery management software for the likes of Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Walmart. Its version for small businesses has been launched early, due to coronavirus, and Bringg is offering it free to food and beverage companies.

Nataly Yousef of Israel’s Pitango Venture Capital writes about 5 business areas that are currently thriving despite the coronavirus pandemic. They are Health & Wellness, Grocery Deliveries, Remote Learning, Remote Working apps and On-line Entertainment.