CTECH – Israel’s Latest Technology and Innovation News
Employees told that the move followed a decision by its parent company’s board to focus on core activities. Read moreNew tricks for old dogs: How Intel pivoted its accelerator program online.
Tzahi Weisfeld was tasked with starting Intel’s accelerator program in Israel – then Covid-19 happened. Read moreViola invested $14 million in Candis without ever meeting in person.
Viola Ventures partner Omry Ben-David agreed to invest in a company relying only on Zoom calls due to Covid-19. Read moreBuildots raises $12.5 million to expand construction tech innovation.
The startup develops technology that allows construction companies to keep a close eye on the processes at a construction site with computer vision and artificial intelligence. Read moreIntel renting four more floors in Tel Aviv’s Azrieli Center despite pandemic real-estate crunch.
Intel is renting the four floors with a total space of 6,000 square meters for the employees of Habana Labs, the Tel Aviv-based artificial intelligence chip developer Intel purchased for $2 billion last December. Read moreChorus.ai secures $45 million in series C round to help foster sales relationships.
The conversation intelligence platform aims to put the ‘R’ in Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Read moreTrigo to launch contactless grocery stores in Europe and Israel.
“The health crisis has created intense pressure to implement technologies that will do away with lines and crowding,” said CEO. Read moreWith cheap, but only adequate internet access, Israel ranks 8th in digital quality of life.
The 2020 global index by Surfshark ranks the quality of digital life in 85 countries. Read moreIsraeli scientists work with Kando to pinpoint Covid-19 outbreaks in the sewers.
In a new surveillance pilot project, results can help warn authorities about potential outbreaks and prevent lockdowns. Read more
Facebook says profile that called for Netanyahu to be murdered was fake. A threatening comment against the Israeli prime minister was posted on a night when protestors calling Netanyahu to resign were injured in Tel Aviv in violent clashes with right-wing activists who were allegedly armed with clubs, glass bottles, and knives. Read more
Analysis | Goldman Sachs drops a bombshell on Lemonade. In an unusual step, analysts from Goldman Sachs, which was the underwriter for the online insurer’s successful NYSE IPO earlier this month, cut its price target by nearly 50%, urging investors to sell. Read more
Israeli cyber company Ermetic completes $17 million series A round.
Four veteran entrepreneurs came together to found the company and this time have no plans of selling it. Read more
As Covid-19 sees layoffs surge, app that offers short term jobs prospers. Nano developed an application that connects employees seeking a daily income with employers in need of temporary workers. Read more
Israel’s Covid-19 proximity detection app rolls out, with much criticism. Experts highlight problems in the app’s security, code, privacy protection and methodology. Read more
5 things to keep in mind when raising money for your startup during a global crisis. Entrepreneurs planning on raising funds in the near future will not have it easy but there is room for optimism and there are things you can do in order to improve your chances of securing future investments. Read more
vcita launches an open CRM platform to support small businesses. The new strategy will allow easier development on its cloud-based platform. Read more
Study finds employees spend 2 hours a day on social media when working from home. A new study conducted by BDO examines employee productivity across various remote work models. Read more
Merchavia Holdings invests in Israel-based Aura Smart Air to help combat Covid-19. The investment comes following a trial at Sheba Medical Center testing coronavirus purification systems. Read more
Nanox announces completion of $110 million series B financing round. Israeli medical imaging company will deploy its digital x-ray device in 13 countries. Read more
Work from home? Facebook expanding Tel Aviv office space despite Covid-19. Social media giant to take over two floors in trendy office tower vacated by Magic Leap who carried out a round of layoffs. Read more
Data automation startup Explorium raises $31 million. Explorium develops an end-to-end data automation service that connects the customer’s internal database to thousands of external sources to extract and aggregate relevant information to create predictive models. Read more
Israel’s Zebra Medical Vision gets its first FDA clearance in oncology. The new approval marks the sixth time the medical imaging company has earned FDA clearance. Read more
Interview | Unprecedented challenges require unprecedented actions, says senior analyst. Managing partner at Cukierman & Co. Investment House, Noach Hager, is optimistic regarding the Israeli economy’s long-term future, but is expecting some difficult days to come first. Read more
If the shoe fits: MIT Enterprise Forum calls on entrepreneurs to take part in FemTech Foundry 2020. As the market catches on to the potential of tech that provide for women’s needs, organizers wish to give women the tools to capitalize on the opportunity. Read more
ClimaCell announces $23 million series C to grow weather intelligence platform. The startup, founded by a team of Israeli entrepreneurs and based out of Boston, Massachusetts, develops a smart weather forecasting system, capable of predicting the weather on a minute-by-minute basis and within a 500-meter radius. Read more
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange harnesses blockchain tech for new securities lending platform. In March 2020, TASE members were given access to an initial testing environment in the new platform in order to test lending transactions and adapt their systems. Read more
Israel cannabiz leader Seach plans to expand into Europe. Seach Medical Group produces optimized medical cannabis for a variety of ailments, including autism for which it is currently testing with 100 children and teens. Read more
Automotive cybersecurity startup Cybellum raises $12 million.
Cybellum’s system provides OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers with automatic software risk assessments through an agentless and on-premise end-to-end program. Read more
Israeli tech sector saw a 52% rise in the number of Haredi Jews employees since 2014, report shows. A new report published by umbrella organization IATI and Haredi nonprofit KamaTech indicates there are still significant gaps in pay and integration rates between Haredi and non-Haredi workers in tech. Read more
“Even if Intel ceases manufacturing, its factory in Israel will be the last to shut down,” says former Intel executive. Bob Swan’s statements to analysts prove that nothing is sacred anymore, not even the chip giant’s independent production. Read more
Analysis | Outsourcing chip production means Intel is losing its edge.
Intel led the chip industry for decades thanks to its self-reliance in terms of both design and manufacturing but any shift in this balance could mean a blow it might not recover from. Read more
Microsoft Israel prepares for the launch of its cloud datacenter with string of appointments. “Cloud services are an engine of innovation and growth for the Israeli economy,” says CEO Ronit Atad. Read more
DiplomaTech | With the pandemic behind it and V-shaped growth charts, China holds great promise for Israeli tech. Israel’s economic attaché to Beijing urges companies to consult with her on regulation, before rushing into the lucrative market. Read more
Israelis must learn about Brazil to succeed in its agriculture sector, says CNA economy adviser. Pearl Cohen lawyer explains the ins and outs of doing agtech business in Brazil. Read more
Opinion | EU court ruling rendering Privacy Shield null has serious implications for Israeli companies. Earlier this month, Europe’s highest court declared the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework—meant to help companies comply with data protection requirements—to be invalid as a mechanism for transferring personal data from Europe to the U.S. Read more
Foodtech startup SavorEat raises $3 million from Israeli investment houses. The company employs a 3D printing robot to prepare plant-based steaks with the characteristics of real meat. Read more
Quarantine for incoming Israelis from safe countries to be cut to five days, if and when skies open. Israelis are currently unwelcome in many countries, including Cyprus and Greece, due to the recent dramatic rise in new coronavirus infections. Read more
Israeli video startup Minute.ly enters new partnership with Infront.
The joint venture aims to take Minute.ly’s technology to Infront’s clients in Europe and the U.S. Read more
S&P Maalot study says Covid-19 will devalue Israel’s office space by 10%. An ongoing recession, an excess supply of office space, and a tech sector slowdown, combined with shifting to WFH is hurting the office real-estate sector. Read more
Appointments | Eli Gorovici, Trigo, chief business officer. Tel Aviv-based shopping automation startup Trigo has appointed former Johnson Controls executive Eli Gorovici as chief business officer. Read more
Sight Diagnostics raises $71 million amidst Covid-19 demand for blood count devices. Israeli startup develops machine vision-based technology for blood test analysis and infectious disease diagnosis. Read moreNext-generation search engines want to bring back our privacy. CodeFuel’s latest search engine, Privado, encrypts all keywords and hides your identity, making online search truly anonymous. Read more
Interview | The Israeli woman who spearheads Palo Alto Networks’ Managed Threat Hunting unit. “With unemployment numbers around the world dramatically growing, some people will inevitably turn to cybercrime,” said Liat Hayun. Read more
Giant drone made by IAI for the German air force takes off for its maiden voyage. With a 26-meter wingspan (approximately 85 feet) it is one of the largest UAVs in the world, capable of carrying up to two tons. Read more
Intel CEO throws future of Israeli chip-manufacturing factory into doubt with a single sentence. The big question now is what will happen if Intel falls in love with outsourcing and understands that its time as a manufacturer has come to an end? Read more
PerceptionBox aims to play matchmaker for developer teams around the globe. Founder Aharon Balnen makes sure that Israeli startups have access to 100,000 developers overseas. Read more
DiplomaTech | Israeli startups will want to be here when Brazil bounces back, says trade attaché. Despite Covid-19 devastation, Brazil’s economy is recovering and could use the help of Israeli technology. Read more
Opinion | Why digital identity will be key to navigating the new normal. Whether it’s for opening a bank account, e-Commerce shopping, filing taxes online, or onboarding a multitude of new digital services, identification is fundamental to establishing the individual’s legitimacy and trust. Read more
Interview | Educate kids about the pandemic and they will teach the adults, says BrainPOP founder. Avraham Kadar was among the first doctors to treat AIDS in the U.S., and believes kids are our best bet in fighting off Covid-19. Read more
Chomping at the Bit: Former Hapoalim execs join payment app race with investment in AppliCheck. Former Hapoalim CEOs Zion Kenan and Arik Pinto, as well as Shimon Gal and Tomer Sharet, will invest several millions of shekels for 10% of the check verification company that is in the process of developing a payment app. Read more
Opinion | From Seinfeld to Black Mirror: film and TV serve as valuable academic teaching materials. As reality turns closer to dystopia and fiction grows ever more real, the use of copyrighted creative works for teaching various fields grows. With the now less-than-temporary shift towards distance learning outside the classroom, new legal implications arise. Read more
Analysis | Why western tech giants are storming India’s emerging digital market. A mix of geopolitical tensions, regulatory uncertainty, and the growing distrust between the biggest global powers is pushing the likes of Apple, Google, and Facebook to invest billions of dollars in what could be the tech’s industry next gold mine. Read more
Opinion | Amid the Covid-19 crisis, it may be time to replace unicorns with camels. The current coronavirus pandemic will reveal who can cope in times of crises, and who can’t. Read more
