“The best opportunity for Mississippi”
Governor Phil Bryan declared his recent Mississippi State business development mission to Israel as the best such trade trip he’s had as governor. He is now planning an “Israel/Mississippi Business Summit” in April to bring Israeli companies to the Magnolia State.
Singapore discovers Israeli hi-tech
Temasek, a $200 billion investment company owned by the Singaporean government, is placing $5 million in the Ramot Momentum fund operated by Tel Aviv University’s Ramot technology transfer company. It is the first official investment by Singapore in Israel, although telecom giant SingTel recently opened an R&D center following its purchase of Israel’s Amobee.
El Al direct flights to Boston
El Al airlines is commencing a direct route from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion to Boston’s Logan airport in June 2015. El Al will run three flights a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Microsoft buys Israeli company for $200 million
Global computer giant Microsoft is acquiring Herzliya-based cyber security startup Aorato for around $200 million. Aorato’s founders served in the IDF cyber security unit and have developed a firewall that learns and predicts behavior to counter web attacks.
Automated fraud system gets cash boost
(Thanks to Nevet – ) Israeli startup Forter has raised $15 million to launch its new R&D center to support its automated three-layered fraud detection mechanism. For the US venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates it was its first investment in Israel.
Supermarket to sell everything at 5 Shekels
Israel’s Cofix coffee shops sell coffee, sandwiches, juices etc all for NIS 5 ($1.30) an item. Cofix now plans to open 20 branches of “Super Cofix” in April 2015, selling 600 basic food products (plus non-food items) for a uniform price of NIS 5 each. It apparently includes meat!
A billion dollar company in the making
Israeli start-up ThetaRay uses complex maths for the early detection of security breaches, enabling the shutdown of systems before damage can be done. Its customers and investors include GE, Hapoalim and Citi. It is in talks with Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley and has big ambitions.
Record year for Israeli companies on Wall Street
2014 has already set a record in offerings by Israeli companies in the US capital market (IPOs and secondary offerings by public companies). So far 26 Israeli offerings have raised an all-time record of $3.6 billion, breaking the previous record of $3.3 billion set in 1999.
Israelis bring “magic” to Los Angeles
The 2014 Israel Conference in Los Angeles covered Israeli activity in everything from cybersecurity to the Hollywood film and television industry. One of the purposes of the conference was to “show the power and strength of how the Israeli economy is touching the world.”
Israeli-UAE sporting tie-up?
Leading UK soccer club Arsenal FC has signed a sponsorship agreement with Markets.com the online Forex, CFD and binary options company. It is a little ironic that Markets.com is owned by Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi and Arsenal’s home ground is the Emirates Stadium.