Israel Active

Israel-based startup Pixellot has sold its video production systems to Chinese Premier League’s Jiangsu Suning Football Club as the first of its deal with China Sports Media. Pixellot’s automated multi-camera system gives a panoramic view of sports events for coaching purposes.

Tel Aviv University is to set up an early-stage startup venture fund, the first of its kind by an Israeli university. It has already raised some $20 million to invest in startups mainly by university graduates or students. The university will also provide its labs, knowledge and its network of contacts.

Tiny Israel ranked second after the US for the number of deals involving cybersecurity companies between 2013 – 2017.  Israel was ahead of the UK, Canada and China. New York data firm CB Insights also named six Israeli companies in its list of 29 pioneering “cyber defenders”.

If you need to get around a city in Israel you can catch a bus / minibus, call a taxi or rent a bike.  Car2Go (GoTo Global) operates its Mobike service which provide bicycles that you can pick up from a bike stand, pay for, scan the QR code and you’re ready to go. Then drop off the bike at a stand near your destination.

Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems has opened a Berlin office to help expand its activities in the German market. The office will serve as its technological, industrial, and commercial base in the country. Elbit employs around 12,500 people worldwide, of which 10,000 are in Israel.

I reported previously on Israel’s Invertex which uses 3D imaging and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to scan your feet, so you always buy the right size shoes.  Now Nike, Inc. has acquired Invertex to help “create the most compelling Nike consumer experience at every touch point”.

UK low cost carrier easyJet plc will next year begin flying twice-weekly from Tel Aviv to three French cities - Lyon, Bordeaux and Nice. Tickets are already available online.

Israel’s latest 5-shekel postage stamp depicts many of Israel’s achievements during its 70 years. Spot the UBS memory stick, smartphone tech, cherry tomatoes, drip irrigation, plus successes in academia, science, sports, agriculture, music, film and business.

ASL Airlines France is to begin return flights in July between Paris and Tel Aviv for just $275 – about half the cost of an El Al ticket.  Paris is the second most popular destination for Israelis after Istanbul and despite the large number of airlines, there is still a shortage of seats.

Latin America’s largest airline, Latam, has announced that it will begin direct flights between Sao Paulo, Brazil and Tel Aviv by the end of the year. The thrice-weekly, 11-hour flight will bring Brazil’s 120,000 Jews, and pilgrims from the world’s 2nd-largest Christian population, closer to Israel.