CTECH – Latest Israeli Innovation & Technology News July 12, 2026
Two Israeli quantum startups target Wall Street in multibillion-dollar SPAC deals. Quantum Art and Classiq are seeking valuations of up to $5 billion as investor enthusiasm for quantum computing fuels a new IPO wave. Read more
Qatar blocks Volkswagen’s Iron Dome deal with Rafael as German plant faces closure. The German automaker had planned to convert a struggling factory into a defense production site in a bid to preserve thousands of jobs. The move was blocked after Qatari shareholders opposed cooperation with the Israeli defense company. Read more
The Israel Innovation Authority is spearheading a $23.3M investment to establish an AI consortium for personalized medicine. The Israel Innovation Authority, NVIDIA, and several more companies and universities will establish a consortium to develop the next generation of AI applications in biology, drug discovery, and personalized medicine. Read more
A Harvard researcher, a longevity doctor and Bar Refaeli are chasing the future of skincare. Factor X, founded by Refaeli alongside physician Dr. Inbal Gat, Harvard-trained scientist Dr. Shira Orr and entrepreneur Eran Orr, has raised several million dollars to develop a platform that aims to influence aging processes inside skin cells. Read more
Alarum cuts workforce after FBI investigation rocks the company. The Israeli company has begun laying off employees after U.S. authorities launched an investigation into subsidiary NetNut, triggering a sharp collapse in its share price. Read more
A startup led by Israeli air-defense veterans raises $36 million to tackle the growing threat of drone swarms. Skapion says existing air-defense systems were not designed for the scale and economics of mass UAV attacks. Read more
Mastercard taps Israeli fintech Neema to challenge the traditional cross-border payments model. Neema’s infrastructure will power real-time transfers to Israel, reducing dependence on intermediary banks. Read more
Israel built a world-class tech industry. Why hasn’t productivity followed? Despite record investment in innovation, Israeli workers still produce less per hour than their counterparts in leading developed economies. Read more
“It’s not enough to write prompts”: Intel warns AI won’t replace the need to study. Intel Israel’s innovation chief, Avi Salmon, says the engineers who thrive in the AI era will be those with deep knowledge, curiosity and the ability to learn independently. Read more
Bank of Israel governor warns higher taxes will be needed to fund Israel’s future. Prof. Amir Yaron says Israel’s economic recovery remains uneven, warns that growth alone will not solve the country’s fiscal challenges, and argues that higher taxes are likely to be needed to finance rising defense spending. Read more
“We have no plans to reduce headcount”: Nice CEO pushes back against the AI layoffs narrative. Nice shares have fallen sharply as investors question the future of traditional software. In his first interview since becoming CEO, Scott Russell tells Calcalist why he believes AI will strengthen the company, not lead to layoffs. Read more
Former ironSource executives raise $27 million Seed to build the advertising layer for AI. Velocity believes AI apps need a new monetization model as millions of users remain free users while computing costs continue to rise. Read more
Alta raises $25 million Series A: “We’re doing for marketing and sales what AWS did for cloud infrastructure.” The AI agent platform founded by monday.com alumni has reached $15 million in new revenue run rate after 800% revenue growth. CEO Stav Levi-Neumark tells Calcalist the company is moving beyond SaaS toward a services model that manages the entire sales lifecycle and enables one account manager to oversee 80 customers instead of 20. Read more
Exodigo acquires U.S. engineering firm V&A in estimated $25-30 million deal. The Israeli AI underground mapping startup is expanding its engineering capabilities and strengthening its foothold in Southern California’s booming infrastructure market. Read more
Debunking the myths of the brain drain and the “employer’s market.” CTech’s “HR: The Next Leap” survey consulted 31 Israeli offices across the high-tech landscape, from entrepreneurs to VCs, to map the most salient trends affecting Startup Nation today. Here, we break down the defining characteristics of the new talent economy. Read more
Israel’s defense boom pushes high-tech employment to record high. While software companies cut jobs amid AI and currency pressures, defense contractors and chipmakers are hiring at their fastest pace in years. Read more
Amnon Shashua to leave AI21 after nine years. The departure follows major layoffs and a strategic reset at one of Israel’s best-funded AI startups. Read more
After CyberArk’s $25 billion sale, Udi Mokady turns to securing the AI agent era. Mokady has been appointed chairman of CHEQ as the company expands from identity security into protecting organizations from emerging AI-driven threats. Read more
After three exits, Eyal Azoulay raises $20 million Seed to automate financial crime investigations. Tangos AI is building AI agents to replace the labor-intensive process of investigating suspicious transactions. Read more
Ondas buys DZYNE for $876 million in biggest acquisition yet. The deal follows a string of acquisitions, including Omnisys and Cyberhawk, as the Nasdaq-listed company expands its portfolio of autonomous defense and security technologies and raises its 2026 revenue forecast to at least $525 million. Read more
Legaltech startup Darrow lays off one-third of workforce despite profitability. The Israeli company is cutting 60 jobs, including 40 in Israel, including many legal analysts whose expertise helped build the AI platform that now powers its business. Read more
Cyera in advanced negotiations to acquire Oasis Security for over $1 billion. Fresh off a $600 million funding round, the Israeli cybersecurity unicorn is accelerating its acquisition strategy. Read more
Israel tops global rankings for AI-native entrepreneurship. Report finds nearly one in three young Israeli startups is built around artificial intelligence, outpacing the United States and other leading technology hubs. Read more
Why Israel’s tech workers no longer want ping-pong tables. The country’s HR leaders say the era of flashy perks is fading as employees seek flexibility, recovery and meaningful work in a time of war. Read more
Was the Iran deal real? Inside the Polymarket decision traders are fighting. Users allege decentralized voting system allowed a small group of “whales” to determine a quarter-billion-dollar outcome. Read more
Factory 54 owner Irani Corp launches $50 million AI push into retail tech. New F54 AI Labs will develop AI agents for customer experience, supply chains, and digital commerce. Read more
Palo Alto Networks and Koi Security sued over alleged AI error in cyber threat report. MeetingTV claims a flawed intelligence classification led to global blocking of its services. Read more
“Today it’s cheaper to hire in the U.S. than in Israel.” A weaker dollar, AI, and lower labor costs abroad are driving Israeli tech companies to recruit overseas at a record pace. Read more
FBI investigation into Alarum sparks stock rout and service suspension. Israeli internet technology company temporarily halts parts of its network as U.S. authorities probe its residential proxy business. Read more
Israel’s AI humanitarian push extends aid without borders. Earthquake-hit Venezuela underscores a broader shift toward remote assistance powered by data and machine learning. Read more
Former EU spyware investigator allegedly hacked with Pegasus. A Citizen Lab report alleges an Israeli-made surveillance tool hacked the phone of a lawmaker investigating spyware abuse. Read more
