Featured

Green Energy Makes Business Sense

• Venture funds are joining the rush to renewable energy—and it’s not a passing fad• Government subsidies will help, but innovative companies and business logic will drive growth From the frozen electric grids of Texas to the tar-soiled beaches of Israel, the urgent need to transform our dependance on fossil fuels is becoming clear. You don’t have to be a tree-hugging naturalist to embrace the shift. Even the world’s largest oil producers have begun a strategic pivot toward renewables. In 2016, the Saudi government announced its Vision 2030 which it said aimed to end the kingdom’s “addiction” to oil and diversify its economy and energy sources. Venture investment in renewables has soared as global investment in energy transition more than doubled from $235 billion in 2010 to $501 billion in 2020, according to Bloomberg NEF. In 2019, venture and private equity investment in cleantech was estimated between $9 and $16 billion, up from less than $500 million in 2013. Global oil companies like Shell, BP, Total and Repsol are investing unprecedented amounts to develop new solar, wind and other...

Read More

OurPeople: Alec Ellison, Chairman, OurCrowd US

By OURCROWD “Prices in the public market are stretched, which is why one should invest earlier in a company’s development cycle.” For 30 years, Alec Ellison helped hundreds of technology companies seal M&A deals that redefined the industry landscape. Since joining OurCrowd in 2016, he’s been putting that expertise to work to cultivate the innovation leaders of tomorrow. “Being on the inside means you can make a bigger difference fundamentally,” says Ellison, Chairman of OurCrowd US. “You can have a greater impact on one narrow area as opposed to a limited impact on many companies. That’s why this was such an attraction to me.” Ellison, 58, took on the role in May 2019 after three years on OurCrowd’s advisory board. He previously worked at Jefferies LLC where he was a Vice Chairman and Executive Committee member, roles he took on after leading the technology investment banking group for many years. He came to Jefferies through its acquisition of Broadview International, where he was President. Ellison, who lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, but hails from Charleston, South Carolina, and has been...

Read More

Record First Quarter for Israeli High-Tech Investments

By OURCROWD Venture funding set to double over 2020 Capital raising by privately held Israeli technology companies soared to a record $5.37 billion in the first quarter of 2021, 89% higher than in the previous quarter and double the amount raised in the first quarter of 2020. The surge was driven by 20 deals worth more than $100 million each, accounting for 55% of the total quarterly amount raised in 172 transactions. During the quarter, the median deal size doubled to $10.3 million and the average nearly doubled to $31.2 million, signaling that most of the capital flow went to relatively few capital-intensive deals. First published in Prospective, quarterly perspectives on VC, technology and market trends published by OurCrowd. To join the Prospective mailing list, email prospective@ourcrowd.com. Related: SPACs Unpacked: What Investors Need to knowOurPeople: Alec Ellison, Chairman, OurCrowd USGreen Energy Makes Business...

Read More

SPACs Unpacked: What Investors Need to know

• SPACs offer many advantages over IPOs or raising more private capital• Strategic venture investors have several tools to mitigate the risks and add value The spring selloff of SPAC stocks has prompted concern about the future of this complex merger/IPO mechanism. But recent trends only reinforce the importance of understanding how valuations are set in SPAC deals, which we believe will continue to reshape the market for venture capital exits. Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) have accelerated the path to public markets for privately held companies. For years, startups stayed private for longer, backed by massive capital injections from megafunds. Now, the road to public markets has been reopened by SPACs, shell companies established with the sole purpose of raising money through an IPO to eventually acquire another company. SPACS have become a legitimate and attractive option for company founders and investors alike. Still, many questions deserve attention. Why should startups pursue a SPAC buyer? Does the valuation process work without traditional IPO gatekeepers? And how can you reduce risks for investors after the target company is acquired...

Read More

Accreditation for Startup Investors: Israel 🇮🇱

By OURCROWD The information contained on this page has been compiled, as of its date of publication, with considerable care to ensure investors are informed. The purpose of this page is to provide you with general information about qualified investors residing in Israel.The information provided should not be considered as investment or other advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold a particular investment. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made to the accuracy or completeness of the information. OurCrowd’s platform is currently set up to accept members with a “Qualified”, “Accredited”, “Sophisticated”, or “Professional” accreditation status in their country of residence. What are the criteria, and what actions are required on your part? We have a general answer for you below. Please note: for specific questions about the qualifications of your investor status, contact OurCrowd. Why must I be accredited or be a qualified investor?Early stage, privately-held companies are high-risk investments, and therefore many countries require individuals to meet certain financial criteria before being allowed to participate in these investments. What are the overall criteria...

Read More