Israel Active

Almost 53,000 visitors attended IBC (International Broadcasting Convention) 2013 in Amsterdam and the Israeli pavilion was a constant hub of activity. Over 140 countries were represented and more than 100 meetings took place between Israeli exhibitors and UK representatives alone.

Monty Munford was a scruffy, money-less itinerant when he attempted unsuccessfully to enter Israel in 1987. He has since smartened himself up and held no grudges when visiting last month. Instead, he was very impressed with how smart Israel has become with all its successful start-ups.

Four start-ups in the Israeli pavilion at TechCrunch Disrupt SF include EventWith, Numbeez, Peer2 and Navin (mentioned above). Watch the video to see what they have to offer.

Israel’s Ormat Industries has extended its agreement to supply California with electricity from its 46MW geothermal power plant at the Heber complex in Imperial Valley.

The popular Israeli smartphone application GetTaxi now has over a million users in Israel, London and Moscow with an average of 20,000 daily orders. GetTaxi has just launched in New York, for business customers to order luxury black cars in advance at a pre-arranged price.

Yoram Ettinger provides some detailed examples of multinational companies that benefit from their Israeli research and development centers.

Although it may not reach a value of $1 billion, Israeli content recommendations company Outbrain reckons its advanced algorithmic engine will raise $100 - 200 million when it goes public later in the year.

LV= Ltd., the UK's largest friendly society and leading financial mutual, has extended its services contract with Israeli financial services software developer Sapiens International in a $10.5 million deal.

Israel-based One Hour Translation (OHT) provides online professional translation of documents for half of the Fortune 500 companies. Each month OHT translates 100,000 projects for 15,000 business customers. OHT’s 17,000 professional translators work in 75 languages.

When passengers flying through New York’s main airport complained about missing valuables, the Israeli airline monitored the baggage handlers. El Al caught the luggage thieves stuffing their clothes with thousands of dollars of goods, and recovered several items later in their homes.