CTech’s Daily Israeli Tech News Roundup

Head of Microsoft’s startup outreach programs to step down. After six years of leading Microsoft's startup outreach programs and building the company’s global startup accelerators program, general manager of Microsoft for Startups Tzahi (Zack) Weisfeld is stepping down and moving to a yet unspecified position at the company. Read more

Fewer Israeli startups raised more more money in 2017. While investments in Israeli companies totaled $5.24 billion in 2017, up 9% from 2016, the number of deals dropped from 673 to 620, according to a Wednesday report. Read more

Microsoft mulls appointment of new research head in Israel. Several people are on the shortlist to replace Yoram Yaacovi, who stepped down in September 2017, though Microsoft may also decide not to fill the position. Read more

With a spate of new agreements, Netanyahu and Modi strengthen ties. Israel and India agree to collaborate on cybersecurity, energy, and cinema productions during Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s six-day state visit to India. The visit comes at the heels of India’s cancellation of a 2016 deal to buy $500 million-worth of missiles from Israeli state-owned defense contractor Rafael. Read more

Bank of Israel buys $400 million to stabilize appreciating shekel. Israel’s central bank is hoarding U.S. dollars in attempt to slow down the appreciation of Israel’s currency, the shekel, against the dollar. The strong shekel is weighing particularly heavily on Israel's technology industry, considered the main growth engine of the Israeli economy. Read more

U.S.-based cybersecurity company Merlin invests $10 million in performance analytics startup Centerity. Israel-based Centerity counts Dell EMC, Siemens, IKEA and the Israeli parliament among its clients. Read more

Crypto data-marketplace IOTA Foundation comes to Tel Aviv. The Berlin-headquartered organization, which launched its own token MIOTA in 2016, intends to set up a research and development team in Israel. IOTA is currently setting up offices in Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. Read more

South African mobile company Cell C signs $7 million deal with interactive-TV startup Comigo. Israel-based Comigo will develop and manufacture set-top boxes for Cell C’s recently launched content service Black. Comigo’s technology uses AI to enhance the TV experience with added features and content. Read more

17 years later, express Tel Aviv-Jerusalem train line is inaugurated. After 17 years of planning and construction, Israel’s Minister of Transportation Yisrael Katz held a launch event ahead of the opening of a new express train line connecting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The ride on the new line, which is 41 miles long, is timed at 28 minutes. Read more

London-headquartered Crossrider Reports Revenue Growth After Shift from Adtech to Cybersecurity. The Israel-linked company says its revenue for 2017 is expected to increase by 16% to $65.8 million. Read more