Author: OurCrowd

The 10 Plagues of Startup Investing: What Passover Has to Teach Us About Startups

The 10 Plagues of Startup Investing: What Passover Has to Teach Us About Startups

Apr 16, 2014 | , ,

This week we are celebrating the Jewish holiday of Passover, which commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The 10 plagues that Moses, with a little help from on high, launched on the biblical Egyptians have been spun into numerous allegories, lessons, and instructions. And, being the Israeli high-tech investing fanatics we are, our first thoughts were with the connections to startup investing. Startup investing isn’t easy — sometimes you’re blessed with miracles (i.e.- exits and IPOs), but along the way to the Promised Land of Profits, you’re frequently plagued by problems. There is no guaranteed recipe for success, but here are some tips for avoiding bad investments. So, without further ado, here are the 10 rules of what NOT to do when investing in startups. The 10 Plagues of Startup Investing: Investing in just 1 startup: The data here don’t lie – picking the right startup is tough. So, diversification is even more important when investing in young, private companies than it is when investing in startups. How much can investors make investing in startups? The Kauffman Foundation groundbreaking research on startup investing demonstrated investors made 2.5X on...

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9 Israeli startups among Red Herring Europe Top 100 winners

9 Israeli startups among Red Herring Europe Top 100 winners

Apr 13, 2014 | ,

Since 1996, leading tech news magazine, Red Herring annually reviews thousands of candidates for each of its 3 Top 100 awards (Asia, Europe and the Americas) and is widely recognized as one of the industry’s more prestigious awards. Each year for the past decade, there has been a strong Israeli presence among the companies nominated for the Top 100 Europe category, where Israeli firms compete. This year, Israel set a new best with 30 startups being nominated, out of which 9 were named winners. There is no doubt about it: Israel has become a world leader in startup success. Famously titled as the Startup Nation, Israel has earned international acclaim for its cutting-edge innovations, startups and research in the fields of science, technology, medicine and the environment. The Red Herring Top 100 award winners include some of the most exciting Israeli startups that exhibit unparalleled innovation and economic ingenuity. Check out the 2014 Red Herring Europe Top 100 Israeli winners below: B.I.S. Advanced Software Founded in 1987, B.I.S. Advanced Software Systems Ltd. is a leading provider of advanced data connectivity, transfer and management software solutions for the enterprise environment. Checkmarx Checkmarx, founded in 2006, developed technology to analyze...

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OurCrowd portfolio company Surgical Theater featured on Fox News

Apr 3, 2014 | ,

OurCrowd’s portfolio company Surgical Theater was been featured on Fox News, a leading American television news network. Surgical Theater has developed software that combines the science of flight simulation with advanced CT/MRI imaging technology to allow surgeons to perform a 3D “flight simulation” of surgery before the actual operation. A Cleveland neurosurgeon and two ex-Israeli Air Force R&D officers have teamed together to apply flight simulation technology to a more benevolent purpose – aiding the sick.  Through their efforts, they have developed an FDA-approved surgery rehearsal program called Surgical Theater, which allows physicians to prepare and practice complicated brain surgery before they even enter the operating room. With its wide range of capabilities, Surgical Theater can be used to practice a number of complicated brain procedures – such as removing a cancerous tumors and clipping a potentially deadly aneurysm.   Surgical Theater raised $580,000 from OurCrowd investors in April 2013 and $1,080,000  in its 2nd round of funding in January 2014. Read more on Fox...

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OurCrowd Launches The Investor’s Ultimate Playbook to Crowdfunding

OurCrowd Launches The Investor’s Ultimate Playbook to Crowdfunding

Mar 31, 2014 | , , ,

Crowdfunding is booming. The industry has come a long way since the first crowdfunding projects surfaced a few years ago. Specifically, the equity crowdfunding market has experienced some serious growth, raising $204 million in 2013 alone, proving to be a truly disruptive model for investing in startups. Young companies all across the globe are now taking advantage of this new-found accessibility to early stage capital to assist them in growing into profitable, scale-able companies. The potential returns from investing in the next Apple or Google can be huge, but so are the risks. Here at OurCrowd, we wanted to share the knowledge and experience we’ve gained from being involved in the industry to help others looking for ways to profit from the equity crowdfunding revolution, but are wondering how to go about it. We’ve interviewed more than thirty of the world’s top industry thought leaders and experts – including Barbara Corcoran, Tim Draper, Steve Dresner, Douglas Ellenoff, Ronald Kleverlaan, Charles Luzar, Tanya Prive, Richard Swart, and Senator Mark Warner – to bring you the best tips and insights on equity crowdfunding. Download our new ebook below which is intended...

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