CTECH Israel Technology News Brief
Analysis | The U.S. demands Israel takes its side in the new Cold War with China. The U.S. secretary of state’s irregular visit to Israel last week was meant to signal that the trade war with China is escalating in the wake of Covid-19. Read more
Interview | Covid-19 crisis sidelined individual rights and hurt relations between police and the public. Yoav Sapir, Israel’s National Public Defender, witnessed how quickly justice was eroded under the state of emergency—cops that acted out of order, courthouses that shut their doors to the needy and undue surveillance of citizens— but he still believes that Covid-19 is an opportunity to make improvements. Read more
How Asma Assad transformed from ‘Desert Rose’ into Syria’s ‘Iron Lady’.
The first lady who used to feature on the cover of glamour magazines now makes headlines for pulling the strings in the war-torn nation. Read moreThe road to economic recovery: Digital bridges and overpasses.
Covid-19 is an opportunity for Israel to create its own ‘New Deal’ and become a digital powerhouse. Read moreIsrael launched $565 million program to protect institutional investments in tech.
Each of the 6-12 institutional bodies selected for the program will be eligible to up to 50% put option protection for its investment of up to $85 million in Israeli early stage startups. Read moreOpinion | Covid-19 might be the best thing to happen to the blockchain industry.
Blockchain technology has a lot to offer, and the Covid-19 spotlight can increase its adoption in various sectors including supply chain, healthcare, finance, and taxation. Read moreInterview | Covid-19 crisis sidelined individual rights and hurt relations between police and the public. Yoav Sapir, Israel’s National Public Defender, witnessed how quickly justice was eroded under the state of emergency—cops that acted out of order, courthouses that shut their doors to the needy and undue surveillance of citizens— but he still believes that Covid-19 is an opportunity to make improvements. Read more
Breathalyzer to diagnose coronavirus is latest disease-fighting device to emerge from Israeli defense tech units.
Military technology units at Israel’s Ministry of Defense continue to develop technologies aimed towards helping hospitals and hospital staff, from developing a breathalyzer to diagnose coronavirus, to creating a mask equipped with a steam blower for medical professionals, among other technologies. Read more
Checkmarx to lay off dozens of workers, proving even unicorns aren’t immune to Covid-19. A month after completing a $1.15 billion exit, the Israeli-based cybersecurity company is “restructuring.” Read more
Interview | Covid-19 may have made Brazil miss a beat, but Israeli tech firms can still join the party. “Things have their own rhythm here, which unlike Israel, isn’t a fast rhythm,” says Israel’s Sao Paulo trade attaché Itzhak Reich. Read more
In the Covid-19 era, these companies choose reassignment over layoffs. As the financial crisis brought on by the pandemic brings many companies to let skilled personnel go, many opt to utilize their existing workforce in new ways, hoping to preserve it for the day after coronavirus. Read more
Netivei Israel to invest NIS 10 million a year in local startups. The purpose of Netivei Israel’s new division is to increase the use of technology in the transportation infrastructure. Read more
Opinion | Board members? 7 keys to protecting your company and your self during the pandemic. When a company is on the verge of insolvency directors and CEOs become subject to more enhanced scrutiny under Israeli law. Read more
Interview | Covid-19 may have made Brazil miss a beat, but Israeli tech firms can still join the party. “Things have their own rhythm here, which unlike Israel, isn’t a fast rhythm,” says Israel’s Sao Paulo trade attaché Itzhak Reich. Read more
Exclusive | Elbit is strong-arming suppliers into giving up 5-10% of payment.
According to all the suppliers who spoke to Calcalist, they did not receive similar requests from state-owned defense contractor Israel Aerospace Industries or Rafael. Read morePorsche to incorporate Israel-based Tactile Mobility tech in future cars.
Senior executive hints Porsche will never go fully autonomous but is gearing up to meet the future. Read moreIn the Covid-19 era, these companies choose reassignment over layoffs. As the financial crisis brought on by the pandemic brings many companies to let skilled personnel go, many opt to utilize their existing workforce in new ways, hoping to preserve it for the day after coronavirus. Read more
Interview | Sued Cybereason employee says company lied about him to prevent move to competitor.
After resigning from his position at cybersecurity company Cybereason, Yonni Shelmerdine had to see his former employer in court, facing allegations of trade secret and intellectual property theft that he says sullied his good name. Read moreNetivei Israel to invest NIS 10 million a year in local startups. The purpose of Netivei Israel’s new division is to increase the use of technology in the transportation infrastructure. Read more
Opinion | Board members? 7 keys to protecting your company and your self during the pandemic. When a company is on the verge of insolvency directors and CEOs become subject to more enhanced scrutiny under Israeli law. Read more
Former Israeli watchdogs launch startup to monitor human rights violations in tech. CRT has formulated an ethical code and methodology through which technologies are examined to make sure they adhere to international human rights and privacy guidelines and prevent misuse. Read more
Farmers in the vicinity of Israel’s borders have been experiencing disruptions in their GPS planting systems for the past few weeks, likely caused by military and militant activity in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and the Gaza Strip. Read more
Four urban tech startups completed Highroad’s third cohort. Read more
Interview | Coronavirus was a disaster for feminism, says head of Techstars accelerator.
Hilla Ovil-Brenner, the founder of Yazamiot, a non-profit organization with over 5,000 members that promotes female entrepreneurship spoke to CTech about how Covid-19 affects female entrepreneurs. Read moreAqua Security raises $30 million in round led by Greenspring Associates.
Aqua Security, whose previous round in 2019 was twice as large, combines machine learning algorithms and threat research to offer an advanced security service for container-based, serverless, and cloud-native applications. Read moreJVP portfolio companies raise $200 million during Covid-19 pandemic.
Pyramid Analytics raised the largest amount, some $25 million, with Nanit ($21 million) and Secret Double Octopus ($15 million) following close behind. Read more3D imaging sensor company Newsight raises $7 million from Israeli-Chinese fund Infinity.
With offices in Israel and China, Newsight develops chips containing high frame-rate 3D imaging sensors for robotics, drones, and the automotive industry. Read moreReport: Fintech adoption to rise despite 20% investment slide during Covid-19 crisis.
Business intelligence company Adkit says downturn trend is expected to continue, but at a more moderate rate. Read moreWho is jamming Israeli farmers’ autonomous tractors’ GPS systems?
Farmers in the vicinity of Israel’s borders have been experiencing disruptions in their GPS planting systems for the past few weeks, likely caused by military and militant activity in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and the Gaza Strip. Read more
“Covid-19 highlighted the need for innovation in the urban space.”
Four urban tech startups completed Highroad’s third cohort. Read more
