Hope for Israeli Startups

December 25, 2008 - 11:36 PM by DavidS · 3 Comments
Filed under: Business, General, Medical Breakthroughs, Technology, design 

Tivo, Skype, Java, and other technologies that we now wonder how we did without – all of them were first displayed and demonstrated at the world’s premier hi-tech show, DEMO. Being able to present at DEMO is a prestigious accomplishment, and in order to get in, you’ve got to have something special.

demo

This year, there are ten slots for Israeli companies at DEMO ‘09, and the lucky companies chosen to present this year – out of 300 applicants! – will be announced this Monday in Tel Aviv (yours truly has been invited to check it out). Those going on to the show (this year being held in Palm Springs, March 1-3) are practically guaranteed a shot at the big time (over the past four years, DEMO presenters have raised well over $2.5 billion dollars after the show). Previous Israeli entrants have included, among others, G.ho.st, which gives users a “personal computer” of their own from any terminal in the world, with it’s own operating system and software, and Vringo, which pioneered the business of video ringtones. Attending the show are dozens of computer businesses pros and journalists, as well as angels and VC’s.

Click to see video about DEMO \'09

Speaking of money: Is there any out there for startups anymore? Haven’t all the investors been scared off, after losing their shirts on the stock market and almost every other investment vehicle? Some have, sure. But in recent conversations with a whole raft of entrepreneurs, I’m hearing that there is money out there – and that because of the crisis, they may even have an easier time getting some. With stocks now considered suspect, investors are looking for places to put their money – and startups with good ideas and a good model are more attractive than ever, because they’re seen as a better bet than speculative stocks right now. Of course, that could just be the “happy face” talk they’re putting on to impress me (or reassure themselves) – but there’s a definite logic there. Besides, there’s this company, which just a couple of months ago netted $19 million in VC money. Not a bad take during a recession – or a boom, for that matter!

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TechAviv hits the web

November 30, 2008 - 11:48 PM by Harry · 1 Comment
Filed under: Technology 

TechAvivEarlier this month, TechAviv launched a new blog described as “1,000 Israeli entrepreneurs and investors that come together off and online to showcase, discuss and help fellow Israeli startups succeed.” Founded by Yaron Samid in the summer of 2007, Tech Aviv has built, first offline, a network of Israeli entrepreneurs located in Silicon Valley, New York City and of course in Israel. TechAviv came on my radar just a couple of days ago but has obviously been on the radar of every Israeli startup that I’ve ever heard of – evident in their list of Israeli startups and investors.

I’ve always been impressed by how unified and supportive the startup scene is here. It’s something I first noticed when working for a myriad of startups during the dotcom boom of the late nineties (none of which exist today!). Now with the advent of blogs and social networking this support system has become even more organized and successful. This past Wednesday, TechAviv hosted a meetup of several Israel-based startups at the IDC in Herzliya. Three startups, Devunity, Contrust and Waze all presented and showed off their websites and services. Next week I’m going to start a feature here called Israel 2.0 where I will focus and write about a different Israeli startup. Other big things are coming very soon on this blog, so stay tuned.

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