CTECH: Latest Israeli Innovation & Technology News Feb. 11, 2025
Check Point and Wiz join forces to challenge Palo Alto in cloud security. The strategic partnership aims to create the industry’s most comprehensive cloud protection solution. Read more
Intel names Israeli executive as interim head of data center and AI unit. Karin Eibschitz Segal takes the helm following Justin Hotard’s departure to lead Nokia. Read more
Cybereason CEO accuses Mnuchin, SoftBank of forcing company toward bankruptcy. Eric Gan’s lawsuit claims investors blocked crucial funding to tighten control over the firm. Read more
AI-driven marketing startup Voyantis raises $41 million for smarter customer targeting. The company uses predictive analytics to help businesses acquire and retain the most valuable customers. Read more
Israeli tech eyes Wall Street: Will the IPO freeze finally thaw in 2025? After years of stagnation, Israeli tech firms are signaling a shift as they prepare for public offerings. Read more
Ilya Sutskever’s Safe Superintelligence expands in Tel Aviv amid $20 billion funding talks. The AI startup has moved into new offices and is hiring engineers, though its technology remains under wraps. Read more
Meta lays off 5% of its Israeli workforce in latest job cuts. Tech giant dismisses 40 employees as it moves forward with 3,600 global job cuts announced in January. Read more
Mobileye’s stock rallies as robotaxi rollout with Lyft set for 2026. First autonomous taxis to launch in Dallas as Mobileye moves closer to full autonomy. Read more
Monday.com’s stock surges as revenue nears $1 billion. The Israeli software company reports 33% growth and unveils new AI-driven products. Read more
From startup CEOs to corporate employees: The reality of post-exit life. After selling their companies, founders often face a surprising challenge: adjusting to life inside a large corporation. Read more
How Intel ruined an Israeli startup it bought for $2B—and lost the AI race. Habana Labs was supposed to challenge Nvidia. Instead, Intel drove it into the ground. Read more
Rapyd’s valuation drops 65% to $3.5 billion as it seeks $300 million in new funds. The Israeli fintech unicorn plans to use part of the funds for a payments sector acquisition. Read more
The hidden dangers of Waze: When crowdsourced maps become a security risk. Waze’s mapping system, edited by volunteers, is updating Israeli military locations—potentially aiding enemy surveillance. Read more
Cyberstarts founder Gili Raanan enters sports world with minority stake in Hapoel Tel Aviv. Raanan is investing NIS 10 million in the basketball club, joining Ofer Yanai’s ownership team. Read more
Take it or Levitt: A Nobel Prize winner’s winding road to the top. Prof. Michael Levitt talks about his unconventional life path, from childhood in South Africa with a single mother, emigrating to England, and finding logic in the chaos of nature. Read more
Intel’s layoffs continue as workforce shrinks by 23,000 in two years. The semiconductor giant’s global workforce has dropped sharply since 2022, far exceeding initial layoff projections. Read more
Cybersecurity startup NanoLock collapses, seeks court-appointed trustee. The Israeli firm, once backed by $27 million in funding, cites war-related financial strain and cash flow crisis as it halts operations. Read more
Google to pay millions in Play Store settlement in Israel. Court-approved agreement grants refunds to users misled by auto-renewing app subscriptions. Read more
Unicorn HiBob awards stock options to reservist employees who served in the war. The HR tech firm granted 1,800 stock options to 47 employees who served over 30 days in reserve duty. Read more
Opinion | Tech salaries are falling – Here’s why that’s not a bad thing. Alarming headlines have recently reported on the decline in wages in high-tech; The truth is that in the long term, this trend could be good for Israeli high-tech. Read more
From importing computer parts to a $160 million exit: KSP’s founders cash in on retail empire. Altshuler Shaham leads the charge as KSP founders sell a significant stake at a $650 million valuation. Read more
Outbrain and Teads complete merger, cutting 200 jobs globally. The $625 million deal aims to save up to $75 million annually by 2026 through role reductions. Read more
Flō Optics raises $35 million Series A to replace traditional lens coatings with printed tech. The Israeli startup aims to substitute traditional wet processes with pixel-level precision technology. Read more
Israeli defense industry targets new threats with cutting-edge drone defense systems. A comprehensive showcase of defensive technologies provides hope for stronger national security against drone incursions. Read more
Tabnine cuts 18% of workforce in restructuring effort. Layoffs affect marketing teams in Israel and the U.S. as company pivots to enterprise growth. Read more
Deel secures $300M secondary transaction at over $12B valuation, hits $800M revenue run rate. With a major secondary transaction and strong revenue growth, Deel is positioning itself for a potential IPO. Read more
Unicorn AppsFlyer lays off 100 employees in strategic restructuring. CEO Oren Kaniel says company will focus on AI and scalability as part of long-term growth plans. Read more
Innoviz cuts 9% of workforce in latest round of layoffs amid financial struggles. Lidar manufacturer reduces expenses by $12 million but still faces investor disappointment and slow revenue growth. Read more
Palo Alto uncovers DeepSeek AI’s dark side: Dangerous instructions on demand. Researchers demonstrate how DeepSeek’s chatbot can be manipulated to provide harmful content. Read more
Bigabid raises $25 million Series A to boost gaming adtech growth. The round, led by MobilityWare, will fuel expansion and enhance ad-based gaming models. Read more
