Creating the Next Silicon Valley: What makes Israel a Startup Nation?
Often called the Silicon Wadi (valley in arabic), Israel is increasingly considered a startup ecosystem rivaling Silicon Valley. In a new miniseries produced by the BBC, Israel is pushed into the spotlight, showcasing everything that might make the Startup Nation the next leading startup hub. To read more and watch the episode with leading entrepreneurs and investors (including our founder, Jon Medved), click here.
Mega Exit Alert
Free phone call app, Viber, acquired for $900M
Another mega acquisition of an Israeli startup, and this time it’s Viber, the free phone call app. Viber, who’s been rumored to be in acquisition talks in recent months, has been snatched up by Japanese internet giant, Rakuten, for a whopping $900M. Although Viber is set up in Cypress, its founders are Israeli and they maintain an R&D center in Israel employing around 50 people. To read more about Viber’s big exit and what Rakuten’s bigger plans are for the messaging app, click here.
OurCrowd In The News
OurCrowd’s portfolio company, Abe’s Market featured in The Wall Street Journal
Stay tuned for more upcoming OurCrowd events in February and March of 2014…To view our full event schedule, click here
Technology Corner
5 Israeli startups using stem cell research to change the world
Although stem cell research may be a touchy subject when it comes to ethics, there is no doubt that its contribution to modern medicine has been immensely important. So naturally, there are some Israeli startups working at the forefront of research and development in the stem cell field. To learn more about the leading Israeli startups looking to better the world by improving our medicine, click here.
If you’re an accredited investor and interested in investing in some of Israel’s most exciting startups, please register at OurCrowd
Updates You Might Have Missed
Trending Israeli Entrepreneurs
Israeli battery pioneer, Doron Aurbach, wins prestigious award
Professor Doron Aurbach is a global maven when it comes to battery technology. For almost three decades, Aurbach’s research has pioneered the development of lithium-ion batteries used to power personal devices. So, it’s no surprise that Aurbach is being awarded the prestigious IBA Yeager Award, given by the International Battery Association. To read more about Aurbach’s work and achievements, click here.
Kaltura raises $47M for international expansion
Kaltura, the leading open source video platform, has secured an additional $47M of funding from big players like SAP Ventures, Intel Capital and Nokia Growth Partners. Kaltura plans to use the nice chunk of change to ramp up its international presence and accelerate product development. To read more, click here.
Palo Alto Networks looking to buy Cyvera for about $190M
The shopping spree of global giants in the Israeli cybersecurity market continues. This time, Palo Alto Networks, a US based cybersecurity firm led by Israeli entrepreneur, Nir Zuk, is getting serious about gobbling up Israeli cybersecurity startup, Cyvera. The price tag is expected to be somewhere between $150M to $190M. To read more, click here.
