Israel Active

Israeli cyber security giant Check Point has just acquired another Israeli security company – Lacoon that detects malicious software on mobile devices. Lacoon – whose founders worked in the IDF 8200 security unit – recognizes viruses by their behavior and can prevent any damage or information leak.

Baidu is China’s largest search engine. It has also become an investor in Tonara – Israel’s developer of the interactive sheet music app. Baidu will help the Chinese distribution of Tonara’s “Wolfie” teaching and evaluation tool for music instructors.

Israel’s “make-your-own-website” firm Wix has launched a new service for those working in the music industry. Specially designed tools and templates help groups promote and sell their music commission-free. They can track number of plays by track, album etc. and sales of merchandise.

In my newsletter I reported about the miniature multi-aperture cameras for mobile devices developed by Israel’s LinX Imaging. Well, Apple has just bought LinX for an estimated $25 million. We will probably see LinX cameras in a future version of the iPhone.

Israel’s 24me is the first company to launch a payments facility for the Apple watch - even before the watch has been shipped.

James Packer, the 4th richest man in Australia, has bought a luxury home in Caesarea. He also met Prime Minister Netanyahu and is apparently looking to invest in Israel.

Israel’s Ministry of Economy is developing new Free Trade Agreements between Israel and both Panama and Peru. It already has ones with Mexico and Colombia, as well as a cooperation agreement with Mexico for industrial Research & Development.

At Israel’s Startup Fusion 2015 on 22nd March, over a dozen startups, (including 3 Japanese and 3 Turkish) competed for a $100,000 seed investment to be provided by Samurai Incubate.

Despite the geopolitical turmoil in the rest of the Middle East, Israel's stock market is doing well. The Tel Aviv 25 has gained 6.9 percent in the past month 16.1 percent over the year.

17.2% of Israel’s exports (excluding diamonds) originate in the inland city of Petah Tikva. The city is home to 1,540 exporters – more than twice that of Haifa and nearly three times those in Ashkelon and Tel Aviv.