CTech's Thursday Roundup of Israeli Tech News

NSO spyware used to target Moroccan human rights activists, says Amnesty. According to Amnesty’s report, the two activists received SMS messages with malicious links that would have installed NSO’s Pegasus spyware on their devices if clicked. Both previously faced harassment from the Moroccan regime over their activism. Read more

Interview | Israeli entrepreneur Aviv Tzidon wants to take part in the electric revolution. An embarrassing stint on the Israeli Shark Tank TV show eventually led Tzidon to establish innovative zero-emmision battery company Phinergy. Read more

NSO offices. Photo: Orel Cohen

FoodTech 2019 | Meet the 11 finalists of Calcalist’s foodtech innovation competition. On Monday, October 28, Calcalist, Israeli food processing company Tnuva, and accounting firm KPMG will announce the winner of their annual food innovation competition for Israeli startups. Read more

Playbuzz CEO Shaul Olmert to step down. Olmert has served as CEO of the content company since its founding in 2013. Tom Pachys, who co-founded the company with Olmert, will replace him as head. Read more

Akamai buys cybersecurity company ChameleonX. The employees of Tel Aviv-based ChameleonX will join Akami’s research and development center in Israel. Read more

Hiring tech startup Talenya raises $6.5 Million. Talenya develops AI-based bots that serve as virtual recruiters who scout for open positions by processing information from online sources, and are also capable of contacting suitable candidates and inviting them to a job interview on behalf of an employer. Read more

Israeli startup Seatback has a fix for bad posture. Seatback’s device, complete with 70 sensors, is embedded into a chair and can alert in the user in real-time when it detects slouching. Read more