Facebook unveils Tel Aviv-developed Instagram Lite. Five years after launching Facebook Lite, social media giant is bringing Instagram to the developing world. Read more

Eyeclick’s ‘Obie For Seniors’ product helps engage the elderly during lonely lockdowns. Using an interactive projector, seniors can engage in physical and cognitive games helping them keep active while isolating. Read more

EU Border and Coast Guard Agency to lease Maritime Herons from IAI. Leasing deals have come to make up a substantial part of IAI’s UAV sales volume, says marketing exec. Read more

Rafael develops new navigation system that is immune to GPS jamming. The new system, to be used when satellite communications are down, relies on 3D imaging analysis originally developed for guided missiles. Read more

Israeli company Sound Radix wins Engineering Emmys. The company won the popular tech competition with a technology it developed that helped improve the sound of actors and actresses that are moving on stage. CEO Nir Averbuch: “This prize is a mark of victory for us all.” Read more

Google launches the second cohort of “Gaming Growth Lab” acceleration program. In January 2021 Startup Growth Lab will open the fourth cycle of the program to which startups from all sectors can be admitted.
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Survey: 90% of companies say their operational technology networks were hacked. Bynet to cooperate with Fortinet and Radiflow on cyber solution amid increased threats. Read more

 

In a surprise move, the digital bank joins the Association of Banks in Israel. The association can help save the Digital Bank legal expenses, but will it harm its attempts to stand out from the crowd? Read more

Appointments | Intel Ignite appoints Ranny Nachmias as the new Managing Director of the Tel Aviv program. The news comes alongside an expansion to Munich, Germany, and Austin, Texas, and the announcement of its third cohort. Read more

Israeli tech companies pouncing on free Wall Street money. Since August, Israeli tech firms Wix, Nice, SolarEdge and Nova have raised
$2 billion in convertible notes. Read more

China is winning in the Covid recovery, says BlackRock Managing Director. Speaking at Calcalist’s ‘Investment Amid Uncertainty’
conference, Russ Koesterich discusses China’s V-shaped recovery and how the upcoming U.S. election will impact investments. Watch full videoOn its way to another exit: Permira is setting up an Israel representative office. Former Netafim CEO Ran Maidan to lead the $50 billion fund’s local activities seeking to help companies grow to become industry leaders. Read more

Energy Ministry plan sees natural gas plants replaced by solar energy facilities. According to the proposal, in the next 10 years 30% of Israel’s electricity will be generated using alternative sources; electricity price is expected to rise to fund transition. Read more

Veteran investors, medical experts team up to launch Medination healthtech fund. The new limited partnership is set to embark on a roadshow ahead of a Tel Aviv Stock Exchange IPO. Read more

Mileutis raises $20 million to reduce antibiotic use in cows. The company aims to cease the use of antibiotics in the dairy industry by replacing it with a viable alternative. Read more

Relax, Covid-19 isn’t as bad as previous crises, says head of equity solutions research at MSCI. Compared to the tech bubble in the early 2000s and the financial crisis in 2008, Covid-19 has been a walk in the park. Watch full video

Next-gen e-commerce company Dialogue wants to help small businesses compete against the giants. Using machine learning and AI, the company automates content for personalized ads helping small businesses keep up online. Read more

 

Foretellix and Mobileye team up to demonstrate autonomous driving safety solution. Foretellix’s solution includes support of Mobileye’s Responsibility-Sensitive Safety (RSS) following a successful joint demonstration of ALKS safety regulation and compliance flow. Read more

U.S. presidential elections no more than background noise for volatile markets. Covid-19 crisis and its economic implications are blurring the classic differences between a Republican and Democrat president. Read more

Facebook finally bans Holocaust denial on its platform. The social media giant has faced months of scrutiny for failing to distinguish between free-speech and anti-Semitism. Read more

Interview | The Waze of construction? Constru helps real-estate developers with their time and money. The Israeli startup uses computer vision to track and monitor construction projects, but the CEO admits that could replace ‘thousands of engineers’ in the future. Read more

Proptech company Agora raises NIS 3 million. The Israeli startup is developing a platform for real estate investment management. Read more

China Insights | For Israeli companies, understanding China’s annual plans is critical. Chinese governmental programs not only define what is “forbidden” and “allowed,” but also determine to which regions and industries investments will be directed, and which projects will be given priority. Read more

Due to high demand for biotech, Pontifax crosses $1.3 billion funding threshold. A series of successful exits and investments see the Israeli fund balloon by 22% to hit $404 million since the start of the Covid-19 crisis. Read more

Israel’s AquaMaof signs $90 million deal to bring its indoor fish growing tech to Nevada. CEO says tidal wave of global demand for fish, combined with a drive for food sustainability, is seeing interest in the company’s solution explode. Read more