CTECH: Latest Israeli Innovation & Technology News Feb. 16, 2026
“There will no longer be paperwork”: The professor who wants to kill the PDF. Factify founder Matan Gavish is building a “Tesla of documents,” and waging war on bureaucracy, academia, and Big Tech along the way. Read more
Axonius cuts 40 employees as CEO steps down. Layoffs and leadership change come amid IPO plans and reported acquisition talks. Read more
Zim board approves $4 billion sale to Hapag-Lloyd and FIMI. German shipping giant wins tender over Maersk; new “Zim Israel” to retain 16 owned vessels under FIMI control. Read more
“A company that doesn’t offer remote work at least once a week filters out 70% of candidates.” Despite an employer-driven market, hybrid work and authenticity remain essential to attract and retain top candidates. Read more
Huawei’s Israeli R&D center cuts 12% of cloud employees. Layoffs affect around 50 of Toga Networks’ local workforce. Read more
Palo Alto Networks lays off hundreds of CyberArk employees one day after completing $25 billion acquisition. Cuts affect both Israeli and global staff as the company says overlaps between teams prompted strategic organizational changes, while pledging continued investment in technology and business continuity. Read more
Check Point to acquire Cyclops and Cyata for $150 million in strategic Israeli cyber push. The Israeli cybersecurity giant is expanding its domestic footprint with a string of acquisitions targeting early-stage startups. Read more
ServiceNow acquires Israeli data startup Pyramid Analytics for hundreds of millions. The deal adds AI-powered analytics and natural language query capabilities to its global workflow platform. Read more
Google’s $32 billion Wiz deal set to close next month as shekel strength erases NIS 20 billion. Dollar’s fall since announcement trims founders’ and employees’ windfall as final regulatory approvals near. Read more
Mega-tech deals add momentum to a surging shekel. Psychological impact may outweigh direct forex inflows from Wiz and CyberArk transactions. Read more
Palo Alto Networks completes CyberArk acquisition, plans Tel Aviv listing. The $25 billion deal makes identity security a core strategy as AI agents multiply corporate risks. Secondary listing would make Palo Alto largest company on Tel Aviv exchange. Read more
After EU approval, what comes next for Wiz and Israeli tech’s biggest windfall. The $32 billion Google acquisition now shifts from regulation to integration, with billions in Israeli tax revenue and questions over the future of an independent cloud security champion. Read more
Intel steps back from Tower agreement, talks head to mediation. The 2023 agreement, under which the U.S. chip giant was to manufacture 300-millimeter wafers for Tower’s customers at its New Mexico facility, was struck only weeks after the collapse of Intel’s planned $5.4-billion acquisition. Read more
Brandlight lands $30 million Series A as advertising moves into AI answers. The Israeli startup helps global brands manage visibility inside ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. Read more
Winn.AI raises $18 million Series A to bring real-time AI guidance to sales teams. The Israeli startup’s platform listens, guides, and provides answers in real time, helping reps focus on human connection. Read more
