Ruben Schächter

Israeli Gen AI drug discovery startup Converge Bio raises $5.5M in Seed funding https://lnkd.in/dsYXp6mD Iddo Weiner Oded Kalev Dov Gertz Teva Pharmaceuticals Compugen BiomX Inc MobiHealthNews

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"If any industry is built to handle extreme situations like war, it’s Israeli high-tech." - Amit Pilowsky In a recent CTech by Calcalist piece, top VC Partners including Amit, Rona Segev (TLV Partners), Kobi Samboursky (Glilot Capital Partners), and Michal Kissos Hertzog (Poalim Tech) share their takeaways on the challenges and opportunities facing Israeli entrepreneurs in these turbulent times. Some key points include: → Israeli high-tech shows remarkable resilience → Investor confidence remains strong despite (understandable) global caution → Cybersecurity and defense tech sectors have seen greatly increased activity As we approach the Calcalist כלכליסט Roadshow+ event, where promising Pre-seed to Series A startups will pitch to these industry leaders and more, these insights underscore the unique value proposition of Israeli entrepreneurs. 👉 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/d-c2Pqd7 👉 Hebrew version: https://lnkd.in/dtjZ3Yp2 👉 Are you an early-stage founder ready to showcase your innovation? Apply now for Roadshow+: https://lnkd.in/dsj7hMhj #nomatterwhat

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Tel-aviv has improved its position among the top startup ecosystems worldwide according to Startup Genome's 2024 report (https://lnkd.in/dN3aUa_h). What a powerful evidence of Israeli startup and innovation environment's resilience and the unshaken trust of the global investor community. The Israeli high-tech sector remains to be the engine of the nation’s economy, accounting for 18% of GDP, 48% of exports, and 11% of workforce. At Tachles VC we are proud we can back the next generation of cyber, cloud and infrastructure AI Israeli-born start-ups. Karel Tušek, Sivan Kanev, Boris Chovnik, Robin Bienfait

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🚀10 Israeli Startups Enter Deloitte Accelerator Program 🚀 We are thrilled to share that 10 pioneering Israeli startups have been selected to join the prestigious Deloitte Accelerator Program! These startups are set to drive innovation and transform industries with their cutting-edge solutions. 🌟 Congratulations to the following groundbreaking companies: Aidoc BeeHero BlueGreen Water Technologies Clarifruit Compira Labs Jifiti MDClone Namogoo Run:ai Upstream Security Each of these startups is leading the charge in their respective fields, from #healthcare and #agriculture to #cybersecurity and #AI. Their inclusion in the Deloitte Accelerator Program highlights #Israel's role as a global leader in #technological #innovation. At CWS Israel, we are committed to supporting and fostering such innovative initiatives that contribute to the growth and prosperity of our nation. We believe in the power of #technology to create positive change and are excited to see the impact these startups will make. Let's celebrate this achievement and continue to support #Israeli innovation! #Innovation #IsraeliStartups #DeloitteAccelerator #TechLeaders #CWSIsrael #SupportInnovation Raz Chorev 🇮🇱🇦🇺🎗️Yulia Lavie 🇮🇱🇦🇺 Jackline K. Photo by Joshua Sortino on Unsplash

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📢 Hi-Tech Leaders Urge Support Amid Uncertainty In a recent Jerusalem Post article, our Managing Partner Shay M. shared his optimism about Israeli tech resilience: 💬 “I anticipate a quick recovery and increased growth of Israeli startups. Companies have adapted to ‘war routine,’ continuing to function, grow, and innovate.” He adds: 💬 “Israel’s entrepreneurial DNA, community support, and resources provide a strong foundation for long-term success.” At Merlin Ventures, we’re proud to support Israel’s Startup Nation as it continues to adapt and thrive. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/dBRnUw5Y #Innovation #StartupNation #Resilience #MerlinVentures #Entrepreneurship #Cybersecurity #TechLeadership #IsraelTech Seth Spergel | Almog G. | Tav Spector-Levi | Julie Arndorfer | Becky Riji | Aya Shaharabani | Shir Boiko Rimon | Nilly Sagie

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NeuReality Raises $20 Million From European Innovation Council Fund NeuReality, an Israeli startup, raised $20 million from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, Varana Capital, Cleveland Avenue, XT Hi-Tech and OurCrowd to make AI data centers faster and cheaper. NeuReality developed an AI-centric system architecture that enables companies to run generative AI applications and large language models (LLMs) without overinvesting in scarce and underutilized graphics processing units (GPUs). The investment from the side of the EIC Fund, the venture arm of the European Commission’s EIC Accelerator program, addresses the 2 important industries for Europe, that are expected to be major drivers of economic growth in the coming years – advanced semiconductors and AI. NeuReality was co-founded by CEO Moshe Tanach, VP Operations Tzvika Shmueli, and VP VLSI Yossi Kasus. Source: https://lnkd.in/gbJbdjTr

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Every high-tech company needs two things: a big break and a good story.  EY is our client and a leading consulting firm that hosts The Pitch, Israel's premier #startup competition, which invites up-and-coming #hitech companies to learn from mentors from top Israeli VCs and industry leaders about how to succeed, gain exposure, and earn sponsors.  As a global marketing powerhouse, we are committed to amplifying tech voices, and we understand the value of a good pitch. “The product is important, but success depends on how you tell the story.” says Niv Barhum, our Digital Media Manager, “It’s exciting - by harnessing the power of digital marketing, we are helping EY help these bright startups shine even brighter.” Know any high-tech companies that are ready to tell their story? Tag them in the comments. Registration ends on May 1st! >> https://lnkd.in/dA2G-Fw #ThePitch_2024 Elad Sternlicht, Noam Canetti, Orit E., Lital Marmur

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🚀 Big news! Our portfolio company Qodo (formerly CodiumAI) has raised $40M in Series A funding, led by Susa Ventures and Square Peg, with participation from Firestreak Ventures, ICON - Israel Collaboration Network Continuity Fund, and Seed investors TLV Partners and Vine Ventures, L.P.! This funding will fuel the rapid growth of their AI-powered, quality-first code generation platform, already trusted by over 1 million developers worldwide 🌍. Qodo goes beyond code completion by integrating AI-driven testing and bug detection throughout the development lifecycle. From IDE extensions to a powerful Git agent, their tools help developers catch issues early and improve overall code reliability. We're proud to support Qodo on their mission to ensure #CodeIntegrity, and can’t wait to see the incredible impact they’ll continue to make in the industry! Read more on TechCrunch: https://lnkd.in/dsBvwEZn Itamar Friedman | Dedy Kredo | Brian Sack

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Shuly Galili, Co-Founding Partner at UpWest, was recently featured on the "Executive Summary" podcast. UpWest is a venture capital firm in Silicon Valley and Israel, specializing in leading investments in Israeli startups during the Seed and Pre-Seed stages. In a conversation with Lior Atias, she shared valuable insights into the dynamics of making that crucial first check investment in a company — often when there's significant uncertainty and few tangible assets to evaluate. During their discussion, Shuly explained how UpWest, as an early-stage VC, identifies potential, and what they prioritize in these initial stages. They also delved into how founders should prepare for these critical meetings, what questions they should be ready to ask VCs, and the key factors that can lead to a successful investment. Check out the full podcast episode for more insights: [https://lnkd.in/dgdN3Cf3] Buzz by Extra Mind! #Startups #Investment #Entrepreneurship #UpWest #Podcast

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𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗶 𝗩𝗖𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀: 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝘆! The Israel Innovation Authority is excited to announce the launch of two new funds, each tailored to different key players in the Israeli high-tech ecosystem. For 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀, the new '𝗬𝗼𝘇𝗺𝗮' 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 offers incentives to invest in early-stage Israeli startups, particularly in the fields of Deep Tech. If you’re a VC focused on fostering groundbreaking technologies, this fund is designed to support your efforts. For 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀, the 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 is your opportunity to secure essential early-stage funding. If you're an emerging startup in our ecosystem, you can apply directly through your personal area on the IIA website. Both of these funds aim to fortify the stability of the Israeli high-tech ecosystem and create a supportive financial environment for the coming years. 👉 More details about each fund can be found on the IIA's website: https://lnkd.in/e6stnTkw Don’t miss out on these opportunities to shape the future of Israeli innovation! #IsraeliTech #VentureCapital #DeepTech #InvestmentOpportunities

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Contrary to the gloomy atmosphere regarding the resilience of Israeli tech and its entrepreneurs, IVC found that the rate of establishing new startups in 2024 is expected to be similar to that in 2023. According to analysis from IVC Data and Insights and LeumiTech Q3 2024 Tech Review, the downtrend in the rate of new companies in Q1-3/24 has been moderated. Although the number of new startups is low at 154, a calculation based on two decades of measuring the rate of new companies shows that the number will shoot up retroactively. Many new startups announce their activity after reaching a milestone, not at the formation. Read the Report: https://lnkd.in/ekQc5Gkt IVC Data and Insights LeumiTech #Israelitech #IsraeliStartups #newstartups

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Is it shopping season for Israeli technology? The recent surge in M&A activity in Israel is the most significant sign of hope and optimism I’ve seen since October 7th. It demonstrates the potential of Israeli tech and the faith placed in it by top global companies. When technology leaders choose to further expand into Israel and acquire local teams, you know financial outlooks are positive. In cybersecurity - often the poster-child of Israeli tech - we’ve seen five acquisitions in quick succession totaling more than $1Bn. Flow Security by CrowdStrike (~$200M), Avalor Security, a Zscaler Company ($350M), Gem Security (acquired by Wiz) ($350M), Silk Security by Armis ($150M) and Entitle by BeyondTrust (~150M). All are led by exceptional individuals, well done! Perhaps more telling is the emerging AI industry. Last week NVIDIA announced its acquisition of two companies for a combined value of $1Bn. Congratulations RunAI ($700M) and Deci AI ($300M). Mainstream media is so focused on the voices of a racist minority calling for boycotts and divestments that they fail to capture actual news. Antisemites might yell the loudest, but the actions of multinational corporations speak louder than words. I am optimistic about the future. Are you?

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IVC Data and Insights report on the Israeli venture market for Q1-Q3 2024 reveals: - $7.4 billion invested in Israeli startups, surpassing the entire 2023 total of $6.9 billion. - $13 billion generated from exits, a 26% increase from 2023's $10.4 billion. - 23% surge in foreign investments year-over-year. - 67% of capital sourced from global investors, with 33% from Israeli funds. - $2.7 billion secured by early-stage startups, the second-highest figure in Israeli startup ecosystem history (after 2022's record). These figures demonstrate investors' confidence in the long-term sustainability of the Israeli startup ecosystem. Trust received, challenge accepted. We're building the future, brick by brick.

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I’m constantly asked: What are you at NFX looking for when evaluating GenAI investments? Or by founders just starting out, asking: Which direction should we take? The answer is simple: AI will be a part of every investment we make and every startup that emerges from now on — in Israel and globally. #TB to the Calcalist כלכליסט AI Conference, which sums up the answer perfectly: Meir Orbach NFX Mickey Haslavsky enso Gila Hayat Evyatar Ben Artzi Vendict CTech by Calcalist

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Opening remarks written by Eran Harary for the Israel HealthTech Digest by 8400: "Dear Partners, Colleagues, and Friends,   As Passover approaches, let us reflect on our journey, where challenges serve as catalysts for growth, and innovation paves the way to a brighter future for all. Passover beautifully illustrates the power of community in transcending adversity. Teva's recent initiative to identify innovative technologies with the potential to strengthen Israel's mental health system, undertaken in collaboration with 8400, serves as a shining example of these two organizations' dedication to accelerating global cure by taking unique and creative approaches (read more about the initative HERE). This initiative exemplifies resilience and effectiveness in fostering positive change. Fueled by brainpower, determination, and scientific acumen, Israel is emerging from adversity with newfound strength.   As members of the healthcare and biotech ecosystem, it is our shared responsibility to harness the collective power of our ecosystems to promote health universally. Let's bridge across boundaries to create meaningful changes that reach and benefit people across the globe.   Eran Harary, MD, SVP Global Clinical Development, Teva Pharmaceuticals; 8400 Network Member" For the full issue: https://lnkd.in/dt6r6y-c]

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This episode with Yotam Segev CEO Cyera is 🔥🔥🔥 A quick highlight of the many topics we discussed Link to the full episode in the comments.

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In Q3 2024, Israel's tech ecosystem saw a significant surge in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), driven by high-value transactions despite global and regional challenges. Here's a summary of the key trends and activities: 1. **Increase in M&A Value**: M&A activity in Israel rose by 40% year-over-year, reaching $12 billion in total exits by Q3 2024. This reflects global and domestic confidence in Israel's innovation capabilities, particularly in sectors like AI, cybersecurity, and healthcare【8】【9】. 2. **Notable Transactions**:   - **Blackstone** acquired Priority Software for $800 million, demonstrating the global appeal of Israeli enterprise software.   - **Nvidia** purchased Run:AI for $700 million, highlighting the strategic importance of AI startups.   - **Johnson & Johnson** expanded its healthcare offerings with the $600 million acquisition of V-Wave, a medical device innovator【10】. 3. **Shift in Deal Dynamics**: Although fewer deals were made compared to 2023, the median deal size increased dramatically, showcasing a focus on high-value acquisitions. The median size rose to $300 million, reflecting substantial global investment interest【10】. 4. **Sectoral Highlights**: AI, enterprise software, and health tech led the way in M&A activity, underscoring their growth potential and strategic importance【8】【10】. 5. **Investor Trends**:   - North American firms dominated acquisitions, while domestic Israeli companies also increased their role as acquirers, signaling growing local consolidation.   - European participation remained steady, indicating diverse international interest in Israeli tech【10】. These trends reinforce Israel's status as a global innovation hub, attracting significant investments despite external pressures. For a deeper dive, you can explore detailed insights from F2 Venture Capital, Startup Nation Central, and Crunchbase【8】【9】【10】.

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