Israel Active

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in selling mode at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. “We produce more conceptual products per capita than any other nation in the world. “We have no choice – to survive we had to innovate.”

The PM then spoke at Israel’s first-ever cyber-technology show, Cybertech 2014. “Hackers are killing the Internet, and Israel is one of the few players that can save it” he said. Bloomberg has also picked up on this fact, noting that Israel now has over 200 computer security companies.

Software AG acquired Sabratec in 2005. In 2007, the company bought SPL and Jacada. Together, the Israelis’ free and open start-up culture combines with the German company’s well-organized and methodical culture to make Software AG’s Israeli R&D center into a very effective unit.

(Thanks to Stuart Palmer) Haifa’s Mayor Yona Yahav has signed an agreement with tourism officials from 3 major Chinese cities. 200,000 workers from Shanghai, Sanjin, and Chengdu will be offered low-cost vacation packages to Haifa.

(Thanks to Atid-EDI) Tel Aviv-based Jinni has teamed up with California’s Ooyala to deliver a “new level of video personalization”. TV providers can deliver personalized channels, recommending films and TV shows suited to your mood. Jinni is also now expanding into Spain.

28 “angel” investors will descend on Herzliya in February to meet Israeli start-ups looking for funding. Nathan Low, President of the Investment Bank Sunrise Financial Group, has organized the event. Low has made 60 angel investments in Israel and has also set up the Ziontech fund.

Hillel Fuld regularly helps start-ups over lunch at Jems in Petah Tikva by dining, listening, coaching and connecting the dots with those who want to share their plans and receive his advice. Hillel also mentors and lectures at the IDC, plus at accelerators such as Google, Microsoft, and The Junction.

Former CNN host Larry King and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology are establishing the Israel Silicon Valley Chambers of Commerce. King and Technion President Professor Peretz Lavie will serve as the presidents of the ISVCC.

Israel's trade deficit fell to NIS 51.7 billion in 2013 from NIS 70.4 billion in 2012. Imports of goods fell 8 percent and imports of fuel fell 15 percent mainly due to the start of Israel’s natural gas production from the Tamar field.

(Thanks to Atid-EDI) Israel’s Checkmarx was the 2nd fastest growing security company in the 2013 Deloitte EMEA Tech Fast 500, with over 2,200% revenue growth in 5 years. It is used by four of the world's ten largest software companies and three of the world's four largest IT consulting firms.