Israel Active

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.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam is leading a 23-person plus delegation to Israel. They will meet Israeli researchers, venture capitalists and government representatives. Industries involved include life sciences, high-tech, biotech, and health care.

SmartBus already helps Israelis arrange 40,000 trips per month, whether a regular route (such as a workplace shuttle) or a one-time ride to an event. In Israel, about 1,600 drivers participate in the scheme. Now in four languages, the app is being rolled out California,

Israel’s Mifold has now had 20,000 orders for its innovative folding car booster seats. It also has released a video of a child attaching his seat belt to the booster seat.

Israel’s TAHAL Group signed a $74 million agreement with the Government of Karnataka State in India, for the design, construction and operation of a water supply system for 131 villages in the state. It includes 600km of pipeline, a treatment plant and eight reservoirs.

Israel Railways has begun laying the tracks of the high-speed railway line between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv - the first in Israel to run on electricity. The 56km link will have five tunnels, eight bridges and cost around NIS 7 billion (about $1.85 billion).

Construction of the Tel Aviv light rail system has officially begun. Workers started excavations near the Allenby Street-Yehuda Halevi Street intersection, where one of the light rail stations will be located. The project is expected to take six years to complete.

Israeli venture capital firm Yozma is opening a campus for startups in Pangyo Valley, Gyeonggi, Korea. It is also forming a 200 billion won ($169.3 million) start-up fund called Korea Yozma Fund.

The Indian government has launched a venture capital (VC) fund. Dubbed the India Aspiration Fund, the 20 billion rupee ($306 million) fund hopes to emulate Israel’s Yozma program. Today Israel has a thriving VC ecosystem.