Startup Investing

Get your copy: The smart investor’s guide to cybersecurity

It seems every week we’re haunted by news of a serious hacking incident at a major bank or retailer: In 2014 alone, top breaches included household brand names like Sony, Target, Google, Home Depot, eBay and, JP Morgan Chase. The case for securing data has never been stronger as investing firms are pouring billions of dollars of capital into the cybersecurity industry. Merger and acquisition activity in this sector has picked up considerably. This dynamic — a major market need together with lots of opportunities for startups — has compelled early-stage investors and angels to get serious about cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is an already large industry poised for enormous growth over the next several years; by some estimates it will reach upwards of $150 billion by 2019. We at OurCrowd, along with our investors, have our bets on a variety of different solutions in the cybersecurity field, and compiled the following investor guide to navigating this rapidly growing market. OurCrowd Startup Investing Guide: Cybersecurity [xyz-ihs snippet=”CyberGuideCTA”] To find out more about investment opportunities, visit our...

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Elections 2.0: Top Israeli apps transforming civic engagement

Yesterday — after months of campaigning, exhaustive deliberating, and relentless political advertising by competing parties — millions of Israelis flocked to the various polls across the country to carry out their democratic right and vote for their next government (the election had an impressive 71.8% voter turnout, the highest since the 1999 elections!). As Israelis exercised their right to vote in Tuesday’s election, it’s important to note that on a daily basis the Startup Nation exercises its right to be innovative. Israel has earned international acclaim for its cutting-edge innovations, successful entrepreneurs, and research in the fields of science, technology, medicine, and the environment. Over the past few months leading up to the Israeli elections, the country’s thriving startup ecosystem has been exhibiting similar ingenuity and creative execution in another, somewhat unexpected area — citizenship and civic duty. It’s evident that technological advancements and the growing use of smartphones enable individuals from all over the world to join together and propel real change. Now that technology meets public engagement and philanthropy, many more people can become involved in their communities in a meaningful way. NoCamels, a leading news website on Israeli innovations, profiled five leading Israeli tech platforms that “give citizens...

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What We’re Investing In: Current Investment Opportunities on OurCrowd (March 2015)

March is a busy month at OurCrowd: In addition to the new, exciting investment opportunities on the platform, our team has been traveling the world hosting events for the global OurCrowd community. Check out our blog to see the full events calendar and join us on the road in a city near you. With that, here is a summary of all the currently funding companies on OurCrowd: XpresSpa – The leading airport spa chain The frequent-flyers out there should recognize this brand. XpresSpa is the leading airport spa chain, with over 40 locations worldwide. The XpresSpa kiosks are visited by over 1 million passengers every year, who enjoy a wide range of spa services such as massages, manicures, skin treatments and haircuts. Airport concessions in general are an $8B market that is growing at a rapid pace of 5% annually. XpresSpa plans on capitalizing in this market from two separate revenue streams, consisting of spa treatments and the sales of retail products. We are investing in XpresSpa alongside veteran retail investor and CEO of Mistral Equity Partners Andy Heyer....

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Israel’s Gateway to Asia: A Budding Business Relationship, a Perennial Investment Future

As a gateway to mainland China and a hub for operation in Asia, Hong Kong sits in a unique position to work with the Israeli startup and investment ecosystem. In 2012, bilateral trade between Hong Kong and Israel reached US$4.5 billion. How can Israel and Hong Kong further this blossoming partnership? The following webinar, part of the OurCrowd Teach-In Tuesdays series, explores the future of the relationship between Israel and Asia. Jonathan Sternberg, Israel Consultant at Invest Hong Kong, Victor Ofstein, COO of FreightOS, an Israeli startup operating out of Hong Kong, and Aurora Carlson, OurCrowd’s Asia Investor Relations Manager, engaged in a lively discussion on the budding Israel-Asia business ties. Topics covered in this webinar: Intro to Hong Kong’s business environment and advantages for Israeli companies looking to expand into Asia. What captivates Chinese investors about the new Silicon Valley – Israel’s startup ecosystem. How China and Israel working together could place both countries in the forefront of hi-tech success. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: To stay updated on future events and the best news from the Startup Nation, sign up for our newsletter, email us, and follow us on social...

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Investment Trends: Where to invest your attention in 2015

With 2015 underway, smart investors are already planning their portfolio moves for the year.  With all the noise out there, how does an investor decide what to focus on and which sectors are investable? The following webinar, part of the OurCrowd Teach-In Tuesdays series, covers investment trends and opportunities for 2015. The compilation of trends is based on what OurCrowd’s deal flow team — which vetted 3,000+ startups since we launched — are seeing on the ground. In this webinar: Explore the investment trends to watch this year Hear from the team that reviews 100+ startups each month Get a macro view on what Israeli entrepreneurs are developing Learn how we determine what makes a compelling investment idea ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: To stay updated on future events and the best news from the Startup Nation, sign up for our newsletter, email us, and follow us on social media. To contact Zack Miller, follow him on Linkedin / Twitter To contact David Stark, follow him on Linkedin / Twitter View the FULL program Download/view the presentation Investment Trends: Where to invest your attention in 2015 from OurCrowd [xyz-ihs...

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