Israel at War: CTECH Israeli Innovation & Technology News 6/12/23
VAST Data raising hundreds of millions of dollars at more than $9 billion valuation. The Israeli-founded startup unveiled earlier this year the VAST Data Platform, a global data infrastructure offering, unifying storage, database and virtualized compute engine services in a scalable system that was built from the ground up for AI. Read more
Foretellix adds $42 million to Series C with new investors Temasek and Isuzu. The Israeli company, which provides safety-driven verification and validation (V&V) solutions for Automated Driving Systems and ADAS, took its Series C to $85 million. Read more
Mine raises $30 million Series B for data privacy platform. Over the past two years, the company’s vision has sharpened around its MineOS B2B platform and its aim to provide companies with One Source of Truth for Data inside the organization, which systems and assets they have and what data they keep inside. Read more
AppsFlyer acquires oolo, developer of AI-powered user acquisition and monetization platform. The Israeli unicorn, which has reached $400 million in ARR, is purchasing the Israeli startup in an all-stock deal valued at an estimated several tens of millions of dollars. Read more
UN holds first session on Hamas sexual violence, 2 months after 7/10 massacre. Following months of criticism for silence and inaction, a session was held by Israel’s Permanent Mission to the UN on gender-based crimes committed by Hamas at an event which included hundreds of attendees, survivor testimony and speeches from US political leaders. Read more
Fortissimo Capital to acquire control of Cellcom at $700 million valuation. The private equity firm has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire a 35.6% controlling stake in Israel’s largest cellphone operator. Read more
Cyber unicorn Wiz makes first acquisition with purchase of Israeli startup Raftt. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but it is estimated that Wiz paid tens of millions of dollars for Raftt, which has developed a cloud-based platform for creating and sharing development environments. Read more
Israel warns its citizens from traveling to UK, Western Europe, amid rising antisemitism. The country’s National Security Council has updated its list of countries across the world containing credible threats for Israelis amid the war with Gaza. Read more
How hackers linked to Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas are increasing their efforts to attack Israeli targets. Cyber attacks not only aim to damage infrastructure but also to deter business with Israeli companies, creating a complex threat landscape. Read more
Amidst battle fatigue, Israeli soldiers find relief in unique resilience-building dialogues. Moments after they’ve left Gaza and moments before they return to it, IDF soldiers engage in group discussions with therapists, talking about their fears, guilt, and lack of motivation, reconnecting with their friends and commanders, and learning to find strength to continue. The members of the association who accompany them describe the complex coping mechanisms in the field, as well as those of the parents and partners who participate in wartime support groups. Read more
Weight loss pill maker Epitomee’s stock sinks 70% after Nestlé cancels agreement. The Swiss conglomerate notified Epitomee that it has decided not to market its product as the clinical trial results measuring the disparity in the weight loss rate between patients who took the pill and the control group did not reach the previously agreed upon success level. Read more
Hackers extorting fintech unicorn Tipalti, threaten to leak data of clients Roblox and Twitch. According to hacker group ALPHV, it clandestinely accessed the Israeli company’s computers on September 8th and has retrieved over 265GB of “confidential business data belonging to the company, as well as its employees and clients.” Read more
Digital deception: How fake Instagram profiles target IDF soldiers. The IDF has revealed some of the names of the avatar accounts that are at the forefront of a network of fake profiles whose entire purpose is to gather information about the activities of the IDF. Read more
Iranian hackers attempt to damage critical infrastructure through Israeli Unitronics products. According to a joint warning from American and Israeli cyber security agencies, since November 22, a group linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards has attacked Israeli company Unitronics devices which are used to control and automate machines. Read more
I am not a robot: Why CAPTCHA tests are becoming increasingly difficult. CAPTCHA tests, designed to distinguish between humans and bots, no longer just challenge computers but are also becoming more difficult for people to crack. Read more
Houthi ship attacks threaten to escalate into global crisis as two more vessels hit in Red Sea. Yemen’s Houthi movement said its navy had attacked two Israeli ships on Sunday, Unity Explorer and Number 9, with an armed drone and a naval missile. Read more
The untold story behind the collapse of proptech unicorn Veev. The startup only received $200 million of the $400 million it announced it raised in its Series D last year and is now undergoing liquidation, with home construction giant and investor Lennar tabling an offer to fund the company’s ongoing activities. Read more
Israel’s national water company sees increase in cyber attacks since beginning of war. The State Comptroller issued a scathing report only a year ago criticizing the readiness of the Israeli water sector for cyber attacks, especially water corporations like Mekorot. Read more
Terror crowdfunding: “Terrorist organizations have raised tens of millions since the start of the war.” According to a senior official at the Ministry of Defense, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the like have been running crowdfunding campaigns under the guise of donating to humanitarian organizations and refugees in Gaza. Read more
The economic effects of the Houthi threat in the Arabian Sea. The Houthis are increasing threats on ships with Israeli connections that pass through the Red Sea and the price is a higher cost of transportation. Read more
In hottest year on record, UN Climate Conference held amid shadow of Gaza war. At what is expected to be the largest-ever climate conference, attention will be focused on the regional crisis and on the fact that the host, the UAE, will be promoting extensive cooperation with oil and gas companies. Read more
When the CEO is drafted: managing a tech company from the battlefront. Qualitest Israel Director Shai Liberman, Buff Technologies CRO Ophir Gertner, and Control CEO Guy Cabili are just a few of the senior tech managers serving in reserve units along with thousands of other high-tech employees. They spoke about how their companies continue to function in their absence. Read more
Fintech startup CapitalOS raises $9 million Seed round and $30 million in debt. The company’s embedded spend management infrastructure for B2B platforms provides the building blocks to launch within days, including underwriting, risk, capital, embeddable UI and APIs. Read more
Tron emerges as new crypto front in Israel’s fight against funding of Hamas and Hezbollah. The fast-growing crypto network is quicker and cheaper than Bitcoin and has become the new favorite of terror organizations due to its quicker transaction times, lower fees, and stability. Read more
Non X factor: Musk, Netanyahu ignore anti-Semitic discourse on X. Slogans about “a better future” were dropped continuously in the conversation between the Prime Minister and the richest man in the world following a tour of the Gaza border towns attacked by Hamas. However, any references to the toxic content on Musk’s social platform X, which might have given real meaning to the meeting, were conspicuous by their absence. Read more
Opinion | Upholding company values through responsible social media usage. Guidelines for responsible social media use by staff during crisis & routine. Read more
