Israel Innovation 2.0

Inside Israeli Technology

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During the Week of August 16, 2009, DroidSecurity was revealed to be developing consumer and enterprise security software for Android phones and netbooks. Wanova raised $13 million for its new breed of desktop virtualization software and Israeli researchers demonstrated how DNA evidence can be fabricated. For these stories and more, check below for this week’s 11 Israel-related headlines.

Cleantech
1. The Taga Hybrid Bike-Stroller Goes from Road to Whole Foods Shopping in 30s Flat

2. A Mighty Hot Wind for Solar

Investing
3. Wanova raises $13 M for a new breed of desktop virtualization software

4. Oracle Invests in Israeli Startup ComAbility

Information Technology
5. Start-up DroidSecurity tackles Google Android security

6. Bsafe Adds AIX Support to Auditing and SIEM Product

7. eSafe SmartSuite offers intelligent inspection of all inbound and outbound Web and mail traffic

Miscellaneous
8. Figures show fewer jobless, but even fewer jobs

9. DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated, Research Says

10. Modu going touchscreen, confirmed for UK 2010

11. Real-Time Navigation a Reality with Waze

Crescendo Networks logo

Last week Crescendo Networks announced that it raised $5 million in funding. The company, which provides software that enhances the Web application delivery process, will use the money to “further fuel sales expansion” and to move its corporate headquarters to Menlo Park in California, though engineering and some operations will remain in Tel Aviv.

Since 2002, when the company was founded, it has raised $45 million and attracted customers ranging from Forbes.com to Aeropostale to Fujitsu. As more business processes become based online and virtualization, SaaS and cloud computing matures, Crscendo Networks’s line of AppBeat products will continue to offer any size business with the necessary solutions to accelerate application delivery, cut data center costs and boost capacity for business growth.

As Peter van Oppen of Trilogy Equity Partners, one of the investors in the round, stated,

“As the IT world experiences a paradigm shift in the way applications are delivered, data centers are incorporating cloud computing, SaaS and virtualization as part of modern web application infrastructures. We believe Crescendo Networks’ application delivery solutions are perfectly poised to capitalize on these expanding market opportunities.”

Crescendo’s products include, AppBeat DC, AppBeat SC and Maestro Platform.

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During the week of August 9, 2009, Crescendo Networks, which enhances the Web application delivery process, announced that it raised $5 million in funding and will move it’s headquarters to Menlo Park.  SiSense announced the release of PrismCubed, it’s new business intelligence product aimed at small businesses, and MyHeritage, the free family genealogy Website, released its latest version of Family Tree Builder. For more on these and the rest of this week’s 10 Israel-related headlines, check below.

Cleantech
1. Shai Agassi, Israel’s Homegrown Electric Car Pioneer: On the Road to Oil Independence

2. Tigo Energy finalist in two US gov’t tenders

Investment
3. Getting R&D together

4. Crescendo Networks raises $5M, moves HQ to Menlo Park

Information Technology
5. Who Needs Graphics? Create Charts in SQL

6. GamaSec Announced Zero Day Project To Fight Explosion in Web Attacks

7. SiSense Beefs Up SMB BI Tool

Miscellaneous
8. Globalization of Technology Ventures: Lessons from Israel

9. MyHeritage Releases New Version of Family Tree Builder

10. Israeli rocker Asaf Avidan signs on with Sony Columbia records

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During the week of August 2, 2009, it was announced that Shari Arison’s group Shikun u’Binui Real Estate Ltd. will install solar energy panels on the roofs of its projects under construction. VC investment is at it’s lowest in a decade and Panaya is providing software service for automating on-premise SAP upgrade. For these stories and more, check out this week’s 10 headlines below.

Cleantech
1. Israel’s Clean Tech Industry: A Broad Brush Overview

2. Arison unit to install solar panels on new projects

3. eSolar Shows Off Its Solar Thermal Tower

Investment
4. MoneyTree: VC investment lowest in decade

5. WeFi’s Directory Nearly 30 Million WiFi Hotspots Strong, Raises More Funding

Information Technology
6. Researchers hijack computer software update process

7. Panaya’s SaaS Helps On-Premise SAP

8. Waze: social navigation app for your phone

Miscellaneous
9. Employees’ Faith in a Company Can Boost Productivity

10. The ‘other Israel’

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During the week of July 26, 2009, FRX Polymers announced that it raised funds to develop green plastics. Reality television is getting “high-tech” with “Exit ’09”, while uTest is relying on the crowds to shorten software testing time. The Western Wall is now accepting tweets and the Israeli public might soon be forced to accept biometric cards. For more on these stories and the rest of this weekk’s 11 Israel-related technology headlines, see below.

Cleantech
1. Letting the sunshine in

2. FRX Polymers raises $6MM from Israel Cleantech Ventures and Capricorn Venture Partners to develop green plastics

Investment and Economy
3. Stellar Start-Ups: Hi-tech ‘reality’ show to give away $250,000

4. How To Raise Money: Israel’s 5Min Raised $7.5 Million

5. ‘Israel is on the right track’

Information Technology
6. Personalization helps companies get most from Web

7. Crowdsourcing slashes software testing time

8. Using software updates to spread malware

Miscellaneous
9. Western Wall gets prayers via Twitter, technology

10. Knesset to vote on biometric database bill during recess

11. ‘Waltz With Bashir’ Fuels Growth in Israel’s Animation Industry

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During the week of July 12, 2009, Status Search, a web tool that enables users to search Facebook and Twitter statuses, was covered by TechCrunch. How Israel can lead clean tech was explained while Israel and China completed a solar plant in southern Israel. VC fund, Pitango is looking for a partner in China to create a fund jointly and Actimize’s software is now helping a Top-5 bank in the US fight against fraud in real time. For these stories and more, check out this week’s 10 Israel-related headlines below.

Environment
1. Israeli-made Light Energy Controller saves power around the world

2. Can Israel lead in clean tech?

3. It’s a knockout

4. Lots of Sunshine Power in the Holy Land as China and Israel Complete Solar Plant

Investment
5. Pitango eyes $100-200 mln China fund -sources

6. Kontera raises $15.5 million for in-text ad service

Information Technology
7. SafeNet Announces Launch of New eSafe® SmartSuite™ Web and Mail Security Gateway

8. Actimize Helps U.S. Bank Fight Fraud In Real-Time

Miscellaneous
9. Meet the kids at the heart of Israel’s high-tech future

10. Status Search: A Search Engine For What Your Friends Are Saying Online

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During the past week, word continued to spread about IBM’s latest data-masking technology. Israel’s IQWind raised $500k from foreign investors while in Q2 2009, Israeli high-tech companies raised a total of $279 in venture capital. For these stories and the rest of this week’s 10 Israel-related headlines, see below.

Cleantech
1. Study Says World Driver To Go “Total Electric” By 2030

2. Israeli IQWind raises $500k from U.S. investors

Investments
3. Israeli high-tech companies raised $279m in venture capital in Q2 2009

4. Toyota looking for Israeli development

Information Technology
5. IBM develops new data-masking technology

6. Major AV engines failing to detect malware

7. TWS2009 Showcases Ten of Israel’s Most Promising Startups

8. Israeli SOX Software Innovation to Reduce Time and Cost in I-SOX Compliance Implementation

Miscellaneous
9. N-Viro launches clean soil facility in Israel

10. ‘Ghosts go through walls’

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During the week of July 5, 2009, it was announced that NASA and Israel’s Seambiotic will be researching and developing algae for use as a possible aviation fuel. Discussion continued on N-Trig’s planned 2010 IPO and the company’s latest developments and IBM Haifa researchers revealed new data-masking technology that filters sensitive data from unauthorized viewers on the fly. For these stories and more, check below for the full 10 Israel-related headlines from this past week.

Cleantech
1. How Terra Venture Partners Accelerate Clean Technology

2. Israel’s Bright Sparks Invent ‘Electric’ Road

3. Israeli company, NASA to work together on bio-fuel project

Investment
4. Israel’s N-trig: New touch technology bolsters IPO

5. Investing in Israel

Information Technology
6. International TechneGroup acquires software firm

7. IBM To Patent Data Mask

8. RADVISION Receives 2008 Communications Solutions Product of the Year Award from TMC

Miscellaneous
9. ‘Degradable’ plastic bags are no such thing, claim experts

10. The oldest hotel in Tel Aviv

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During the week of June 28, 2009, news surfaced that Toyota is mulling investing in Israeli hi-tech companies that can help make its cars cleaner, while it seems that clean technology investments are increasing again. Indicating that virtualization is still a hot investment, Neebula, which develops management tools for virtual computer environments and was founded earlier this year, raised $5 million. In security, Israeli researchers have created a deep zoom application for videos making idenitifcation in them easier. For these stories and more, see this week’s 12 Israel-related headlines below.

Cleantech
1. Toyota considering Israeli high-tech investments

2. No More Crying Over Spilt Milk With AfiMilk

3. Israeli researchers desalinating sewage for agricultural use

Investment
4. Clean Technology Investment Rebounds

5. Why Israeli Stocks and Currency Should Outperform Now

Information Technology
6. Israeli Experts Create Deep Zoom Tool for Videos

7. Touch in Windows 7: Just for show?

8. Cyber-security looms large for ATC

9. Virtualization co Neebula raises $5 million

Miscellaneous
10. Young Jewish leaders gather for global summit

11. Netanya aims to be Middle East’s Ibiza

12. LIFE in Israel in 1948 – Part 1

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During the week of June 21, 2009, Microsoft confirmed acquiring the motion sensing technology company, 3DV and its connection to Project Natal. Ad optimization platform, TodaCell raised $1 million and networking and business continued at TheMarker conference in New York. For these stories and more, check out this week’s 11 Israel-related headlines below.

Cleantech
1. Renault’s EV Features A Swappable Battery

2. Water, Water, Everywhere. And Not a Drop to Drink?? Part I

3. Converting Air into Water In Israel

Investments
4. Where Tel Aviv meets New York / Schmoozing business at TheMarker conference

5. Tel Aviv Stock Exchange

Information Technology
6. Exclusive: TodaCell Raises $1 Million for Mobile Ad Optimization Platform (Interview with CEO Moshe Vaknin)

7. Conduit’s Browser Toolbars Serve Up Web Sites To Go

8. Magic Delivers Stronger .NET Client with uniPaaS 1.8

Miscellaneous
9. Microsoft confirms 3DV acquisition, Project Natal connection

10. StePac introduces degradable packaging

11. British teens get a taste of Orthodox Israeli life on reality TV