CTech’s Daily Israeli Tech News Roundup

Israeli startups are in for fierce competition for talent in 2018. AI and AR engineers, big data experts and developers of autonomous driving systems are expected to be in short supply in 2018 as multinational firms expand operations in the country, according to a new report. Read more

 

Globalization jumpstarts Israeli tech deals. The combined value of mergers, acquisitions and initial public offerings (IPO) of Israel-based technology companies jumped 110% in 2017, according to a new report by accounting firm PwC Israel. The combined amount totaled $7.4 billion, and the average deal value was $106 million, compared to $64 million in 2016. Read more

 

Another strong year for IPOs on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. With 20 companies having filed for initial public offerings in the past year, the stock exchange has attracted more companies looking to raise funds in 2017 than in the past five years combined. The trends appear to be continuing into the new year with several companies having made plants for listing. Read more

 

Israel Aerospace Industries CEO retires at the end of a record year. The Israeli defense contractor signed deals valued at $5.5 billion in 2017, in addition to having an order backlog valued at over $11 billion, which the company said is an all-time record. Read more

 

Competition for Mobileye. Starting next year, all new cars in Israel will be required to come installed with a driver-assistance system. Days before the car safety rule comes into effect, Israel’s Ministry of Transportation said it has amended the regulation, removing two clauses that would have benefited Mobileye, the local market leader in driver-assistance systems. Read more

 

Impact investing is diversifying traditional investment strategies. Venture capitalist and entrepreneur Allan (Chanoch) Barkat explains how the motivation of generating social or environmental impacts is affecting the venture capital market. Read more

 

Debunking the alarmist rhetoric around bitcoin. Far from being a threat to civilization, bitcoin stands to make the world a better place, writes Eran Shir the founder the Nexar. Read more

 

Kryon Systems doubles workforce. The virtualized agents developer expand its operations following a $12 million investment in October. Plans to open new offices in Germany and Singapore as well as an additional U.S. office, and onboard 60 new employees. Read more