Israel Active

Google chairman Eric Schmidt praised Israel’s “culture of entrepreneurship”, its impact on science and technology, innovation and willingness to challenge authority. He also urged Israeli researchers to think big.

Israel’s maritime data and analytics company, Windward, has announced two new high-profile investors. Dan Senor, co-author of “Start-up Nation” and ex-CIA Director General David Patraeus.

Eight years ago, Chen Qide leased from the Yinchuan government 100,000 acres of land in NW China and started planting grapes using Israel's technology. Chen now plans to establish 100 small wineries, with a 10 billion yuan ($1.57 billion) profit target.

In the biggest deal ever for an Israeli medical device company, US-based HeartWare International is acquiring Israeli biotech start-up Valtech Cardio. Valtech shareholders will receive HeartWare stock worth over $900 million, depending on milestones. Valtech makes heart valve surgery devices.

When Israel’s Or Offer left the army, he began selling his mother’s jewelry. Someone said the jewelry resembled that of US designer David Yurman. Or then built a search engine to find similar websites and the hugely popular SimilarWeb was spawned.

On-line car rental company travelauto.com, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is to allow its users to book rental cars for pick-up in Israel. Reps from travelauto.com came to Israel to sign agreements with Israeli rental providers.

Japan’s Samurai Incubate has invested in sixteen startups from Israel, with a target of 100 portfolio companies in three years. The VC firm uniquely focuses on seed and pre-seed startups, offering something no one else does – the opportunity to enter Japan.

I featured 21-year-old Tomer Hen’s MobCo mobile ad company previously . Tomer has just landed the biggest deal of his life as Amazon has chosen MobCo to advertise the launch of its shopping app in India.

Take a look at how Studio BA transformed the inside of a 100-year-old building in Tel Aviv.

This video features Erez Yerushalmi, CEO of Israeli startup Sling, a mobile platform that allows smartphone users to purchase without cash from micro merchants such as street vendors. Here, though, Erez is publicizing the Citi Mobile Challenge, Jerusalem.