CTECH – Latest Israeli Technology and Innovation News
Fintech unicorn Tipalti quadruples valuation to $8.3 billion in $270
million Series F. The Israeli company currently processes over $30 billion in total annual payments volume — growing 120% year over year. Read more
Claroty raises $400 million to fund Medigate acquisition. The industrial cybersecurity unicorn’s Series E was led by SoftBank, with the fresh funds to go towards the purchase of its fellow Israeli company which focuses on protecting medical devices from cyber attacks. Read more
Mysterious Israeli biotech company raises $120 million Seed round five months after founding. The company named 1E Therapeutics was founded by Dr. Ido Bachelet and has received investments from the likes of Marius Nacht. It employs dozens of scientists working on an unspecified project related to drug development. Read more
GuardKnox’s plan to “iPhonize” your next car. As every aspect of our
lives becomes connected and digitized, GuardKnox is helping traditional OEMs update the auto industry. Read more
J-Ventures Investor Conference kicks off second year with an emphasis on Impacttech. The conference, now in its second year, invites guests and LPs to discuss how to make a better world through powerful investments. Read more
Vault AI announces $8 million in Series A led by Hearst Ventures and
PICO Venture Partners. The startup’s AI platform bridges the gap between creative content and audience insights, helping quickly test what will resonate with audiences. Read more
hiSky raises $30 million Series A for satellite IoT networks. The round was led by ST Engineering’s Corporate Venture Capital unit and SDF, the investment arm of United Arab Emirates-based Tawazun Holding, as well as current company shareholders, including the Reuben Brothers, one of the UK’s richest families. Read more
Data, data everywhere – and plenty of drops to drink. Doug Laney, Innovation Fellow at West Monroe, joined CTech to discuss Big Data, Infonomics, and the value of our online information. Read more
IRONSCALES raises $64 million Series C for email security platform.
The Israeli-founded startup’s cloud-native, API-based email security software platform continuously detects and remediates advanced threats, such as business email compromise, credential harvesting and account takeover in companies’ mailboxes. Read more
Roadshow 2021 | Meet the three different types of online shoppers. At the Poalim Hi-Tech and Calcalist Road Show, Tali Bezalel, Founder and CEO of Selectika, shared some online insights on our purchase habits. Watch full video
echo3D: “The metaverse is already here.” Speaking at Poalim Hi-Tech and Calcalist Road Show, the cloud platform for 3D applications spoke about our 3D futures online and in reality. Watch full video
Opinion | The venture debt market is growing fast. Striking the right
balance between debt and equity can optimize your company’s growth and
valuation. Read more
Weather security platform Tomorrow.io to go public in $1.2 billion
SPAC deal. The deal with special purpose acquisition company Pine Technology Acquisition Corp, which is expected to close in the first half of 2022, will fetch up to $420 million in proceeds for the Israeli-founded company. Read more
Intel planning Mobileye IPO at over $50 billion valuation. The chip
giant bought the Israeli company for $15.3 billion in 2017, putting it into direct competition with rivals Nvidia and Qualcomm to develop driverless systems for global automakers. Read more
Cybersecurity startup Grip raises $19 million in Series A nine months
after founding. The Israeli company’s automated solution discovers shadow applications and dormant accounts that have ungoverned continued access to customer data, production environments and more. Read more
Torq raises $50 million Series B for no-code automation platform. “We raised the round at a significant valuation. We won’t reveal it, but we are very close to being a unicorn,” said Ofer Smadari, the CEO of the Israeli cybersecurity startup. Read more
Swisscom Ventures investing tens of millions of dollars in Cato
Networks. Shlomo Kramer’s cybersecurity company announced the news less than two months after completing a $200 million round at a $2.5 billion valuation. Read more
lool ventures raises $60 million for new Seed fund. The VC’s third fund is targeting $100 million and takes the firm’s total AUM to $200 million. Read more
The three forces driving the Impacttech revolution. Impacttech is everywhere – and Sir Ronald Cohen has some ideas on the main factors that are causing its latest boom. Read more
Former partners of Israel’s first “space tourist” demanding over $300
million in compensation. Court documents have revealed a bitter conflict between Eytan Stibbe and his former partners Ami Lustig and Roy Ben-Yami, over projects in Africa. Read more
Spotlight | IRP Systems CEO wants to “electrify mobility.” Moran Price
believes a mass adoption of electric vehicles is coming and thinks her company’s powertrain technology can help people breathe clean air. Read more
Roadshow 2021 | “It’s the best time to be in this business and
definitely the best time to be an entrepreneur.” Speaking at the Poalim Hi-Tech and Calcalist Roadshow, VC leaders from OurCrowd, Grove Ventures, Team8, and Glilot Capital shared insights about the sector and the Israeli ecosystem. Watch full video
Despite Omicron, shoppers are rushing back to physical stores.
Speaking at the Poalim Hi-Tech and Calcalist Roadshow, Pairzon Founder and CEO Galit Arizon dispels rumors of an empty high street. Watch full video
“It’s important to work with customers early in product development.” “Working with customers early on is an important part of building trust,” said Hadar Zeitlin, co-founder and CBO of Hailo, during Poalim
Hi-Tech and Calcalist’s Roadshow event. Read more
“Investors were our advisors, mentors, and psychologists.” Verbit
founder and CEO Tom Livne spoke at Calcalist’s Roadshow event about the advantages and challenges of working with investors. “They have invested in many companies and can be partners in success.” Read more
Intel acquiring Israel’s Screenovate for $150 million. The Israeli company, founded in 2010, developed a technology that enables smartphone screens to be projected onto TVs and computers, and can also be used to scan, print, and copy files. Read more
“We will be able to deliver hydrogen at $1 per kilogram later this
decade.” Talmon Marco, CEO of H2Pro, believes his company’s technology can “significantly accelerate the solution or the move towards zero emissions.” Watch full video
A Day in a Life | The senior manager promoting Lyve Labs’ innovation for Seagate’s Israel center. Noa Franko Ohana, a Senior Innovation Manager at Lyve Labs Israel, prepares the kids for school and even
manages to squeeze in a sporty walk before beginning a long day at Seagate’s Innovation center. Read more
SPECIAL PROJECT | The investors funding Israeli tech and opening the door to the next generation of entrepreneurs. An exclusive investor survey as part of the Gateways to Israeli Tech project maps the strengths of the sector, highlights its problems, and also offers a vision and solutions. Read more
Yanai Oron, Vertex: E-commerce and financial solutions are two key
areas we’re succeeding in. Read more
Merav Weinryb, Qualcomm Ventures: Successful CEOs are real leaders. Read more
Kobi Samboursky, Glilot Capital: VCs should be involved in the day to
day operations of the business. Read more
“We need to normalize having women in tech management positions.” CTech caught up with Nogah Hendler, VP Product at Commit; Hadar Davidovich, VP of Engineering at Salto; Toot Shani, Managing Partner
at Sarona Partners; Inbal Shalev, Head of Solutions Engineering at Placer.ai, and Tzurit Golan, Senior Vice President Human Resources at Fyber, to hear their solutions for bringing more women into tech. Read more
Boomerang employees trend sweeps tech job market. The pandemic brought the Great Resignation wave, but also sparked a growing trend in which employees left a workplace, only to return once better terms and
conditions were offered. Read more
Ophthalmic Sciences unveils world’s first AI contactless device for
measuring eye fluid pressure. The device combines artificial intelligence in a virtual reality-like headset, enabling tele-diagnosis and monitoring for glaucoma. The company has begun steps toward FDA approval, and is raising funds to reach additional markets. Read more
Wave power is coming to Israel’s power grid. Local company Eco Wave
Power, which harnesses nearshore waves to generate power, is months away from connecting to Israel’s electricity system. CEO Inna Braverman: “I always wanted to do a project in my home country.” Watch full video
Students are enrolling at ‘Rapyd Academy’ to help enter the job
market. To help get the best talent, companies like Rapyd have established their own academies to internally train young graduates. Read more
“Climate change affects the very essence of military and defense
forces.” Dr. Shira Efron of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv warned about climate change’s impact on national security, “it affects the equipment, manpower, and the mission itself.” Watch full video
An educational exit: Mashov acquired for over $15 million. The school
management and tracking application is being bought by Priority. Mashov’s co-founder and CEO: “We never dreamed of an exit.” Read more
Opinion | Does the Metaverse need restrictive regulation? “If content
creators were a liability for the early internet, this will be exacerbated in the Metaverse. Creators will be even more busy creating legal-but-offensive content in the Metaverse,” writes Dov Greenbaum. Read more
Rothschild Group launching $250 million foodtech fund with PeakBridge VC. The new fund will cut relatively big checks for the sector, ranging between $5-8 million per company, and will invest in 15-20 startups over the coming years. Read more
The innovation competition that could change the Middle East. The
Aviram Family Foundation and Forbes have launched a first of its kind competition named the “Aviram Awards — Tech for Humanity” which is offering a first prize of $500,000. Registration closes next week. Read more
Report: Fireblocks valuation to surge to $8 billion in $400 million
Series E. The Israeli digital assets security company announced a $310 million Series D at a $2 billion valuation just four months ago, but according to The Information it is now set to complete its third funding round of 2021. Read more
Israel’s Nanosono receives investment from Turkey-based ODAS. “This is a significant milestone in Nanosono’s business growth on the way to
becoming a leading global player in the antibacterial textile market,” said Ori Bar Chaim, CEO of Nanosono. Read more
Analysis | If Tel Aviv is as expensive as San Francisco, which city
will be Israel’s Texas? A weakening dollar and price increases made Tel Aviv the most expensive city in the world according to the Economist. Could that spell the big exodus to Israel’s periphery? Read more
Sneaky Panda raises $6 million to launch new mobile gaming genre. The game developer will introduce the “Luck-Puzzler” genre, which puts more emphasis on skill and strategy than current mobile games in the market. Read more
“Taking something that is a burden on humanity and bringing it back to consumption.” That is how Jack Bigio, the co-founder and co-CEO of UBQ
Materials, described what his company does. “We are saving landfills, we are saving materials, and we are replacing oil-based materials.” Watch full video
Round B | The link between business planning and preparing for battle. When drawing a business plan, like on the battlefield, “things will happen unexpectedly,” writes Piggy CEO Shaul Olmert. However, “even if our business plan and forecasts are baseless, it is better to start with some foundation and adapt on the go.” Read more
CyCognito raises $100 million at $800 million valuation. The Israeli
cybersecurity startup, founded in 2017, has developed a platform that identifies internet-exposed and unmanaged assets that could serve as entry points for attackers. Read more
Aqua acquiring Israeli software supply chain startup Argon. The
cybersecurity unicorn will pay tens of millions of dollars to purchase the startup founded just last year. Read more
Fintech startup Anchor raises $15 million Seed round for autonomous
billing platform. The Israeli company has developed a SaaS billing solution for B2B service providers. Read more
Frontegg raises $25 million led by Insight Partners. The Israeli startup’s platform allows companies to implement comprehensive user management that meets the necessary requirements for Product-Led Growth. Read more
Investment group Prytek raises $107 million. The Israeli group, led by former Bank Hapoalim chairman Yair Seroussi and managed by Andrey Yashunsky and Arnon Shiboleth, will focus its investments on the banking and fintech sectors. Read more
VAST Data opens new development center in Haifa. The new center in
Haifa will have 30 employees initially, with that number expected to double in its first few months. Read more
SeeTree CEO: “We teach our machines to analyze trees as the best
agronomist would do.” Israel Talpaz wants to empower farmers and tree growers with digital means, so they can “get more fruit out of each and every tree.” Watch full video
Looking for a job in high-tech? Better have experience. A study shows
that despite the cry over staff shortage, only 10% of positions are for employees with no experience. Read more
Values & Innovation Conference | What is the link between liberal
values, innovation, and the startup ecosystem?
Calcalist and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, Jerusalem Office invite you to Day 2 of a special online conference on Innovation and Startups which have triggered technological revolutions and made life more affordable, safe, and easier for people around the world. Watch full video
Startups in search of values should “look at human rights” for a
framework. Speaking at Calcalist’s Values & Innovation Conference,
Ann Cathrin Riedel advises companies on how to base their ideological
practices. Watch full video
“Tech giants now have corporate responsibility similar to that of
state entities.” Said Emi Palmor, former D-G of the Israeli Ministry of Justice, during a panel on Calcalist and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom’s Values & Innovation Conference. Watch full video
