Israel Active

Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan's largest trading company, has opened an innovation center in Tel Aviv. The center will help Mitsubishi scout for Israeli companies and technologies in its core areas of interest, including automotive and smart mobility.

I reported previously about Alexander’s Gaza Border Beer, made from wheat that had survived the Gaza fires.  The beer and its campaign were so popular, that it sold more in one week than Alexander normally sells in six months.  The video also won an International “Webby” award.

Tel Aviv restaurant Joz Ve Loz is very unusual. You tell the server your likes and dislikes and you are brought a stream of dishes to eat or refuse. At the end of the meal, you assess its value and pay accordingly.  No tipping.

US cybersecurity giant Palo Alto Networks (a $20 billion Israeli-founded company) has bought Israeli-founded cloud security company Twistlock for “several hundreds of millions of dollars”. Twistlock maintains an Israeli research and development operation in Herzliya.

I’ve reported previously on Israeli live broadcasting and streaming startup LiveU. The company has just been acquired for $200 million in a joint takeover by US Francisco Partners and Tel Aviv’s Israel Growth Partners (IGP). LiveU will continue its Israeli operation.

Israeli giant Elbit’s revenue for the first quarter of 2019 amounted to just over $1 billion. The company completed the takeover of the Israeli Government’s IMI Systems in November.

My last report on Israel’s Supercom was when it won a big contract to build an e-Passport system in Iceland.  Since then it has won contracts in Kentucky, Idaho, North and South Carolina, Africa, Texas, Sweden, Minnesota, Europe, Southern Georgia and Tennessee.

I reported nearly 4 years ago that El Al planned to launch a direct service to Japan’s capital Tokyo.  Not sure what the delay was, but a thrice-weekly operation using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner will commence in March 2020 – just in time for the Tokyo Olympics.

I reported previously that the Israeli government had allocated $27 million to build a food-tech hub in Kiryat Shmona. A consortium of Israel’s OurCrowd, Tnuva and Tempo, plus US Finistere Ventures have now committed up to $100 million to the venture.

I reported previously on Israel’s Playermaker and its AI systems and sensors to improve sporting performance. Famous ex-coach of UK soccer team Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, has invested in Playermaker (also known as Motionize) and taken on the role of operating partner.