Sept 4th 2018 — Tuesday Tech Update

Sorry for the late send. Recovering from a dionysian labor day, as I’m sure most others in the US can relate to. We’ve got soccer accelerators, IPOs, and Israeli tech on some more lists.

But first, a picture of a fish with a googly eye that a Kuwait fishmonger was busted selling to make it look fresher. It’s a savage world out there.

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IPO Action

Fiverr is planning a $1 billion IPO on the Nasdaq. Fiverr has raised $110 million and has recently expanded its platform to include companies and professionals. It was designed as a platform for freelancers in the design, web/software dev, and content marketing space. Super useful tool especially if you’re a young startup looking to be frugal. I’ve built mobile and web products on this site and it’s always the first line of attack for getting something done. Source

The trend continues.Two companies look to price IPOs on the Australian Stock Exchange. Nicevend has developed a vending machine for slush-type beverages, including protein and fruit-based drinks regarded as healthy enough to be sold in schools. They are seeking to raise A$7.5 million. Shekel Brainweigh has developed special scales for many industrial sectors. The company, which posted a $1.9 million profit on $18.2 million revenue in 2017, plans to raise A$10.5 million in Australia at a company value of NIS 150 million.
According to the Australian Securities Exchange, as quoted by Stockhead, six more Israeli companies are considering an offering in Australia, including blockchain company Security Matters. Source

It’s likely we will continue to see an increase in companies using the Australian Stock Exchange as an easier path to raising funds….

Down on Accelerator Alley

The Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO), a Japanese governmental agency, is opening a business center and accelerator program for Israeli startups. The center will support Israeli startups and mediate business cooperation between Japanese and Israeli companies. The JETRO program is designed for Israeli startups interested in finding fruitful ground for cooperation with Japanese companies. The center’s personnel will assist with information about the Japanese market and in finding suitable companies for cooperation. In cases in which such a company is found, the center is likely to obtain support in establishing a presence for the Israeli company in Japan. Source

Israeli soccer club Maccabi Haifa FC has launched a startup accelerator program to be operated by Tel Aviv-based company HYPE Sports Innovation. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The accelerator will start accepting applications next week with a focus on soccer-related technologies, including virtual and augmented reality, coaching, wearable devices, betting technologies, athlete health, and e-sports. Up to 25 startups will be selected to take part in a two-day intensive program after which 12 companies will be selected to participate in a 16-week program. Source

Is it safe to say that we’ve reached peak accelerator?

In Other News

PItchbook released its rankings of universities producing the most entrepreneurs. Tel Aviv University was rated eighth with 640 university graduates who founded 531 companies raising $7.91 billion. The only non-US university in the top ten. Technion and Israel Institute of Technology made the top 50 as well. Source

Wired Magazine released an article discussing the hottest startups in Israel. Read the coverage here. The list includes Missbeez, Healthy.io, CommonSense Robotics, LawGeex, Bancor, Otonomo, Zeek, Lightricks, Lemonade, and Vayyar Imaging. Job of the Week An Israeli medical device startup is looking to hire a professional CEO to take them into the commercialization stage of their development. Apply here

An Israeli financial services startup is looking for a COO. Apply here.

Siemens is looking for someone to lead their Israeli office in sourcing new investments. Apply here.

Visa is looking for someone to lead their M&A and outreach activities in Tel Aviv. Apply here.

If you have a job or other opportunity of some kind, let me know and I will happily include it in future emails!Tech Deals

Indegy, an Israeli industrial cybersecurity company, raised $18 million in Series B funding. Liberty Media led, and was joined by Centrica PLC, OG Tech Ventures and return backers Shlomo Kramer, Magma Venture Partners, Vertex Ventures and Aspect Ventures. via Axios

Pagaya, an Israeli asset management tech platform for institutional investors, raised $14 million in Series B funding. Oak HC/FT and Harvey Golub co-led, and was joined by GF Investments, Siam Commercial Bank, Clal Insurance and Viola Ventures. via Axios

Datree, an Israeli dev-ops policy engine, raised $3 million in seed funding from TLV Partners. Axios

TV company Sky plc has announced a $4 million commitment to Israeli venture capital fund Remagine Ventures, a newly launched fund based in Tel Aviv, is managed by Kevin Baxpehler (former investor at ProSiebenSat1.Media) and Eze Vidra (former Partner at Google Ventures Europe). The fund will focus on technology startups within tech, entertainment, data and commerce. Globes

Remagine Ventures has invested in artificial intelligence-based predictive analytics company Vault Analytics. Calcalist

Body Vision Medical, an Israeli medical device company, has raised $8.5 million in funding. Based in Ramat Hasharon, the company specializes in lung cancer diagnostics through augmented real-time intra-body navigation and imaging. Globes

Zadara, an Israeli zero-risk enterprise cloud storage company, has raised $25 million in a financing round led by IGP Capital with participation from existing investors. IGP Capital’s Moshe Lichtman and Uri Erde will join Zadara’s board. Globes

Spotinst, an Israeli AI cloud optimization company, has raised $35 million in a Series-B financing round led by Highland, with participation from existing investors Leaders Fund, Intel Capital, and Vertex Ventures. Globes

Puls (formerly Cellsavers), an Israeli device repair company, has completed a $50 million Series C fundraising round led by Temasek and with participation from previous investors Sequoia Capital, Red Dot Capital Partners, Samsung NEXT and Viola Ventures. The round also includes investments from Hanaco Ventures and Hamilton Lane. Globes

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