Israel Bonds sells unprecedented $1.8 billion in 2020; Mobileye announces fully autonomous vehicles soon to be reality, Israeli startup eliminates fixed check-in and check-out times for travelers, and much more!
By Michael Ordman
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Record sales of Israel Bonds
Despite the global economic crisis, Israel Bonds sold an unprecedented $1.8 billion in investments during 2020, mainly in the US. Proceeds of the sale of bonds are used to promote Israel’s technological growth. The funds will help Israel offset the economic challenges that are expected to come.
https://www.jns.org/despite-global-uncertainty-israel-bonds-secures-record-breaking-1-8-billion-in-2020/
https://www.israelbonds.com/Home.aspx
Self-driving cars for everyone
Israel’s Amnon Shashua, Mobileye President and CEO, announced at the virtual CES 2021 event that its technology would make fully Autonomous Vehicles a reality in 2022 and widely available by 2025. Its Radar / LIDAR and camera-based AVs would be safer than vehicles driven by humans.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3887058,00.html
https://nocamels.com/2021/01/mobileye-test-autonomous-vehicles-4-cities-2021/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5pJMMO6i4w
You can check-in anytime you want
Israeli startup As You Stay lets travelers save money at 400,000+ hotels and properties by eliminating fixed check-in and check-out times. It also states that the current cost of this flexibility is far lower than pre-pandemic. And, unlike the song “Hotel California”, you can always leave!
https://asyoustay.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc-IrPWVL-c
Investing in mature tech
Israel’s Glilot Capital, which until now specialized in early-stage tech ventures, is launching a new $170 million VC fund focusing on investments in more mature companies. Glilot+ (Glilot Plus), will seek to place $5 – 20 million in each of around 15 enterprise software and cybersecurity companies.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3887294,00.html
Modernizing British navy’s training
The UK subsidiary of Israel’s Elbit Systems has won a contract worth some $166 million from the UK Ministry of Defence, for the Royal Navy Future Naval Training Program. The 12-year program will modernize the Navy’s shore-based training, plus establish its “Future Submarine School”.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/294680
Mental therapy is a growth business
Israeli-founded, New York-based Talkspace (reported here previously) has attracted huge numbers of customers during the pandemic. It is growing so fast that it could soon go public.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3887330,00.html https://www.talkspace.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk5A-znFWkY
Check your metabolism at the gym
When the Anytime Fitness gyms reopen in the UK, its 170,000 members will be able to enhance their fat burning program using Israel’s Lumen device (reported here previously).
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2021/01/06/israels-lumen-offers-a-hand-held-device-to-measure-your-metabolism/ https://www.lumen.me/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMeEWWLrC5Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8IBgyAMgn4
Rapyd becomes a double Unicorn
Israel’s Rapyd (reported here previous) has just raised a huge $400 million to give it a market valuation of $2.5 million. Rapyd’s real-time funds transfer platform is now used in more than 170 countries. Rapyd will use the funds to increase its workforce and purchase additional companies.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3887513,00.html
Investment in Israeli startups:
Rapyd raised $400 million; Vdoo raised $25 million; Gett raised $15 million; Shareitt raised $2 million; Telicomm raised $1.3 million;
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