Israel Active

I reported previously on Israel’s WSC Sports and its real time, on-demand videos of TV sports broadcasts. Its customers include WarnerMedia, NBA, US Open, PGA Tour and Bundeslig. It has just raised another $23 million to fund its phenomenal growth.

French soccer team Olympique de Marseille has partnered with Israel-based public transit app developer Moovit. The app will direct fans to the stadium via public transportation, bicycle, or on foot, offering directions to specific gates at the team's home stadium and to the club's official store.

Israeli-founded SoundBetter offers an online music production marketplace where musicians can purchase services such as mastering and mixing pieces. It has a community of more than 180,000 registered artists. SoundBetter has just been acquired by US music streaming company Spotify.

Israel’s Elbit has signed a $500 million contract with the US Air Force. Elbit will supply products, including cockpit displays, for Boeing's T-X advanced pilot training system, selected by the United States Air Force to replace its old training system.

Healthcare-focused VC fund Triventures has partnered Israel’s Sheba Medical Center to launch a $40 million seed-stage fund that will focus on digital health and med-tech startups. Triventures ARC’s first investment is Tel Aviv-based Lynx.MD, developer of a secure medical data platform.

I reported previously on Israel’s Metaflow and its Lumen respiratory metabolism tracking device that helps users reach fitness goals. Its runaway crowdfunding success achieved sales of 11,000 devices worth $2.3 million. Metaflow has just raised another $8.5 million.

I reported previously on the consortium of Israel’s OurCrowd, Tnuva and Tempo, plus US Finistere Ventures building a food-tech hub in Kiryat Shmona. The “Fresh Start” incubator hub has now been launched. It plans eventually to invest NIS 1 billion in over 40 advanced technology startups.

Companies are now rewarding successful employees with free trips to Jerusalem – Israel’s capital. They include some 5,000 employees of California’s World System Builder and 3,300 employees of Mexico’s Omnilife.

I continually emphasize that I don’t include politics in this newsletter. So, I was very pleased to see entrepreneur and OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved on CNN explaining how the Israeli tech sector is unaffected by the country’s current political uncertainty.

Another rare positive article on Israel from the UK’s Financial Times. It says the Israeli shekel ranks as the best performing currency, thanks to Israel’s perceived status as an emerging markets’ safe-haven and improved economic fundamentals.