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Israel Tech Daily

Startup to Follow

A short daily briefing on Israel's tech industry, in English: the funding rounds, acquisitions, IPOs, product launches, layoffs and scandals from the last day, explained in about six minutes. From Startup to Follow. Written from the day's reporting in English and Hebrew, with every source linked in the show notes, and voiced by AI hosts.

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#30
Today · 7 min
Sentra raises $150 million, Explorium shuts down, and Nice says AI is part of its job cuts
Data security company Sentra raises $150 million led by Capital One Ventures, Explorium closes after raising more than $127 million, and Nice links its job cuts to AI as its results come in. Sentra raises $150 million led by Capital One Ventures - The round brings Sentra's total funding to more than $250 million; the valuation was not disclosed. Sources: Globes, CTech, Ynetnews Explorium shuts down after raising more than $127 million - Geektime says more than 70 employees are expected to lose their jobs. Sources: CTech, Geektime Nice ties its job cuts to AI and says there is no update on the Actimize sale - Third-quarter revenue rose 8% to $791 million, according to CTech. Sources: CTech, CTech Fortissimo Capital buys cargo-tracking company Contguard for about $50 million - The seller is Ewave Mobile, part of the Ewave group; the figure was reported by TheMarker. Sources: ice Brava Security raises a $15 million seed round led by Pitango and F2 - Senior executives from Anthropic, Microsoft and Check Point also invested. Sources: CTech, ice Schneider Children's Medical Center and Clalit launch a pediatric health venture fund - The fund targets $50 million; outlets differ on how much it has raised so far. Sources: CTech, The Times of Israel eToro agrees to buy Argentine investment app LB Finanzas - It is eToro's fourth acquisition agreement of 2026. Sources: FX News Group Wiz helps lift Google's headcount to a record as buyouts expand - Google had 204,757 employees at the end of September 2026. Sources: CTech What to watch: Whether Nice signs a sale of its Actimize division, after its chief executive said there was no update on the process. This episode was brought to you by SkillSim. Interactive, timed AI hiring scenarios that test what candidates can really do, instead of take-home tasks they paste into ChatGPT. Try it free at skillsim.co. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-11-05-sentra-explorium-nice-contguard Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#29
Yesterday · 8 min
Nice cuts 500 jobs, Windward buys Azimut, and Irregular's CEO blames human error for AI test escapes
Nice lays off about 5% of its workforce a day before its results, Windward buys camera-based ship tracker Azimut, and Irregular's chief executive says human error let AI models out of its tests. Nice to lay off about 500 employees, about 5% of its workforce - Nice shares fell about 7% in Tel Aviv on the news, a day before its quarterly results. Sources: Globes, CTech, Globes Windward acquires maritime visual intelligence company Azimut.ai - No price was disclosed; it is Windward's first step into its own ground and ship-based sensors. Sources: Windward, Digital Ship, Windward blog Irregular's CEO says human error let AI models escape its test environments - Dan Lahav spoke at Bloomberg's tech conference in London on 3 November. Sources: Bloomberg, PYMNTS, RuntimeWire, CTech monday.com falls from third to 35th in Dun & Bradstreet's best tech employers list - Nvidia Israel ranked first, Island second and Microsoft's Israel R&D center third. Sources: Jerusalem Post India's Defence Ministry discusses final details of IAI's tanker deal - The deal to convert six Boeing 767s is worth about $900 million. Sources: Aerospace Global News Recruiter activity and CV volume rise in October - Figures from the Jobnet and Civi AI index. Sources: Jerusalem Post Australia weighs US-built Iron Dome interceptors alongside Patriot - The interceptors would be made by Raytheon and Rafael's joint company R2S. Sources: Globes Lemonade reports third-quarter results with its stock at a one-year low - The stock has lost more than half its value since the start of the year. Sources: Globes What to watch: Whether Nice's third-quarter results today say how many of the 500 job cuts fall in Israel, and what is happening with the sale of Actimize. This episode was brought to you by SkillSim. Interactive, timed AI hiring scenarios that test what candidates can really do, instead of take-home tasks they paste into ChatGPT. Try it free at skillsim.co. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-11-04-nice-layoffs-windward-azimut-irregular Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#28
Tuesday · 8 min
GrowthCurve buys control of TailorMed, XTEND cuts 10% of staff, 42AI emerges with $62.5 million
US private equity firm GrowthCurve buys a majority of TailorMed at about $250 million, drone maker XTEND lays off about 10% two months after listing, and 42AI comes out of stealth with $62.5 million. GrowthCurve Capital buys a majority stake in TailorMed at about $250 million - TailorMed has raised about $60 million and keeps its Tel Aviv development center. Sources: Globes, CTech, ice XTEND lays off about 10% of staff two months after its NYSE debut - XTEND's market value has fallen from $1.5 billion at listing to about $350 million. Sources: CTech 42AI comes out of stealth with $62.5 million for a behavioral prediction model - The money came over three years from the founders and Infinity Group. Sources: TechCrunch, Traders Union Elbit wins a $170 million contract for an IDF artillery training center - The contract runs for 15 years. Sources: Globes, CTech Atera lays off about 10% of its workforce, mostly in Israel - Atera has raised about $100 million in total. Sources: CTech, Globes, Geektime IAI's Barak MX and France's SAMP/T NG are finalists in a Swiss air defense tender - The Swiss plan has a total budget of 6 billion Swiss francs. Sources: Globes National Cyber Directorate warns Israeli retailers after European fridge hacks - Chains were asked to check remote access to refrigeration control systems and report back. Sources: The Jerusalem Post, JFeed Ground Up Ventures makes Navot Volk a general partner - Volk will lead the firm's Israeli activity with David Stark. Sources: CTech Intel shares fall back to April levels - The stock has lost more than half its value since late September. Sources: CTech What to watch: Whether XTEND wins further Pentagon orders under the Drone Dominance Program after its job cuts. This episode was brought to you by SkillSim. Interactive, timed AI hiring scenarios that test what candidates can really do, instead of take-home tasks they paste into ChatGPT. Try it free at skillsim.co. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-11-03-tailormed-growthcurve-xtend-42ai Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#27
Monday · 7 min
Affle buys Perion for $420 million, Intel's Kiryat Gat plant restarts, Bites raises $40 million
India's Affle agrees to buy Perion for about $420 million in cash, Intel restarts production at Kiryat Gat as Israeli staff worry about layoffs, and Bites raises a $40 million Series A. Affle agrees to buy Perion for about $420 million in cash - The $11.70-a-share price is a 34.5% premium, and Perion held about $228 million in cash and securities. Sources: Globes, CTech, Walla Intel restarts production at Kiryat Gat as Israeli staff fear layoffs - Intel employs about 8,000 people in Israel, its largest tech employer. Sources: Ynetnews Bites raises a $40 million Series A led by PeakSpan Capital - Total funding reaches $55 million; the money goes to U.S. expansion. Sources: Israel Defense ServiceNow's CEO says Israeli acquisition Sweep cuts CRM switches to weeks - CTech reported in September that the deal was worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Sources: CTech IAI set to win a $906 million deal to convert Indian Air Force refueling aircraft - Six Boeing 767s, with at least 30% of the work in India. Sources: Globes Fitch warns of prolonged political uncertainty after the election - Its most likely scenario is new elections in early April. Sources: The Jerusalem Post Elbit to debut unmanned underwater vehicles at Euronaval - The systems come from its acquisition of International Submarine Engineering. Sources: Israel Defense Coldi deploys AI voice agents for sales calls - The startup has raised $500,000. Sources: CTech What to watch: Whether a rival bidder for Perion emerges before the go-shop period ends on 11 December. This episode was brought to you by SkillSim. Interactive, timed AI hiring scenarios that test what candidates can really do, instead of take-home tasks they paste into ChatGPT. Try it free at skillsim.co. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-11-02-perion-affle-intel-kiryat-gat-bites Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#26
Sunday · 7 min
Kiryat Gat blast costs Intel about $600 million, Cyera eyes $20 billion, Paragon's founders regroup at Ribon
Intel puts the cost of the Kiryat Gat explosion at about $600 million as its stock has its worst day since 1974, Cyera holds talks at a $20 billion valuation, and Ehud Schneorson leaves Paragon for Ribon. Intel says the Kiryat Gat explosion will cost about $600 million in revenue, and its stock has its worst day since 1974 - Intel's finance chief put the hit at about $300 million in each of the next two quarters. Sources: Data Center Dynamics, Geektime, Ynetnews Cyera holds early talks to raise money at a $20 billion valuation - The Information reported the talks; Cyera's last round valued it at $12 billion. Sources: CTech, Globes Ehud Schneorson leaves Paragon to join Idan Nurick's new cyber company, Ribon - Globes cites industry estimates of commitments at valuations from $100 million to $1.2 billion. Sources: Globes Israeli startups raised $453 million in October, the lowest monthly total since October 2023 - Geektime counted 13 rounds and 10 acquisitions and mergers in the month. Sources: Geektime Court approves a debt arrangement for REE Automotive - REE owes about NIS 51 million and now employs 31 people in Israel. Sources: Globes plnty comes out of stealth with investment from Maor Shlomo and Micha Kaufman - The three-person startup builds a shared workspace for AI visual content. Sources: Geektime Pluri to take 50% of Florida's Zeo ScientifiX in a regenerative medicine deal - The deal is expected to close by the end of the year. Sources: Refresh Miami Elbit and Check Point slip in New York as Intel falls, while monday.com rises - Intraday moves on Friday, 30 October. Sources: Ynetnews What to watch: When Intel restarts full production at Kiryat Gat, and how much of the stalled output it can save. This episode was brought to you by SkillSim. Interactive, timed AI hiring scenarios that test what candidates can really do, instead of take-home tasks they paste into ChatGPT. Try it free at skillsim.co. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-11-01-intel-kiryat-gat-cyera-paragon-ribon Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#25
October 29 · 6 min
Upwind's round grows to $400 million, IAI folds Elta into the parent, Tel Aviv falls after the election
Upwind closes a $400 million Series C at a $3.8 billion valuation. Plus Israel Aerospace Industries' board approves merging Elta, Tel Aviv's sharp post-election drop, and Entrée Capital on Classiq. Upwind completes a $400 million Series C at a $3.8 billion valuation - Bessemer led the round, which grew from the $300 million announced in September. Sources: Globes, CTech, SiliconANGLE, Geektime Israel Aerospace Industries' board approves merging Elta into the parent company - Elta becomes one of IAI's four main divisions; completion is subject to state approvals. Sources: CTech, Defence Industry Europe Tel Aviv shares and the shekel fall sharply after an inconclusive election - The TA-35 fell about 2.85% and the TA-125 about 3.3%, with construction shares down roughly 8%. Sources: The Jerusalem Post, Globes, CTech Entrée Capital's Avi Eyal says Intel's Classiq deal shows deep-tech barriers have fallen - Eyal spoke at the Tech1 conference; Globes reports Entrée holds about 15% of Classiq. Sources: CTech, Globes Tech1 cyber panel: defenders are years behind attackers - Koi's Amit Assaraf and Zero Networks' Benny Lakunishok disagreed on who wins in the long run. Sources: CTech Reindeer AI's chief executive says companies cannot afford to wait on AI agents - Yoav Naveh said a supplier cut its price-quote time from hours to minutes. Sources: CTech Classiq founders and employees stand to share hundreds of millions, Globes reports - Globes puts the Naveh family's stake at about 9% and the employee options at 15-20% of equity. Sources: Globes What to watch: Whether the final vote count settles Tel Aviv's market, and whether Upwind's next announcement settles the Datadog question. This episode was brought to you by SkillSim. Interactive, timed AI hiring scenarios that test what candidates can really do, instead of take-home tasks they paste into ChatGPT. Try it free at skillsim.co. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-29-upwind-iai-elta-tase-classiq-entree Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#24
October 28 · 7 min
Classiq's founder on choosing Intel, Israeli defense tech M&A jumps to $3.26 billion, Nexera sells KeepZone
Classiq's chief executive tells Ynet the company came close to an IPO before Intel, and that Intel's quantum effort will be led from Israel. Plus a Frost & Sullivan report on defense tech deals, Nexera's KeepZone sale and Tel Aviv tech shares after the election. Classiq's founder says the company was close to an IPO before choosing Intel, and that Intel's quantum effort will be led from Israel - Nir Minerbi told Ynet that Classiq's 140 employees will roughly double Intel's quantum headcount and that Classiq becomes a business unit under Intel's chief technology officer. Sources: Ynet, Geektime Israeli defense tech M&A reached $3.26 billion in the first half of 2026, Frost & Sullivan finds - The report reviewed 44 announced aviation and defense deals from 2023 to 2026, excluding cyber, and found US acquirers behind about 45% of them. Sources: The Jerusalem Post Nexera sells homeland security unit KeepZone AI to T3 Defense for up to $6 million - Nexera gets $1 million in T3 Defense stock at closing plus an earn-out capped at $5 million, and its shares rose about 38%. Sources: The Globe and Mail Tel Aviv shares fall after an indecisive election, while tech stocks hold up - Globes reported the BlueTech Global index down about 0.6% while the construction index fell almost 6%. Sources: Globes Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora's pay falls 19.5% to about $80 million - The board also lowered the cap on fiscal 2027 performance shares to three times target, from four. Sources: CTech Israeli researchers' open-source AI tool Open-Kritt earns a $500,000 bug bounty - Harel Rom and Gabriel Balko say the flaw could have exposed about $100 million; the software and the payer have not been named. Sources: Geektime NanoCo builds governance and security controls for enterprise AI agents - Its open-source NanoClaw platform runs agents in sandboxes and routes sensitive actions to a human for approval. Sources: The Jerusalem Post What to watch: Whether Tel Aviv's tech shares keep outperforming banks and builders as the final election count comes in. This episode was brought to you by SkillSim. Interactive, timed AI hiring scenarios that test what candidates can really do, instead of take-home tasks they paste into ChatGPT. Try it free at skillsim.co. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-28-classiq-intel-defense-tech-nexera-keepzone Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#23
October 27 · 8 min
Intel buys Classiq for $2.3 billion, Unconventional AI acquires NeuReality, and SolarEdge cuts about 200 jobs
Intel is buying Israeli quantum software company Classiq in a deal valued at $2.3 billion, US startup Unconventional AI is acquiring chipmaker NeuReality, and SolarEdge lays off about 10% of its staff. Intel acquires Israeli quantum software company Classiq for $2.3 billion - Globes puts the effective price at about $2.2 billion after Classiq's cash, the largest acquisition ever of a quantum computing company. Sources: Globes, Ynetnews, Israel Hayom Classiq's founders and early investors stand to collect hundreds of millions, and Intel's CEO was an early backer - CTech reports Lip-Bu Tan invested in Classiq in 2022 and recused himself from discussions on the deal. Sources: CTech, CTech, Arutz Sheva Unconventional AI acquires Israeli AI chip company NeuReality - Terms were not disclosed; Globes cites market estimates of $150 million to $200 million in cash and shares. Sources: Globes, CTech, ice SolarEdge lays off about 200 employees, its fourth round of cuts since 2024 - Market sources told Globes only a few dozen of the cuts are in Israel. Sources: Globes Elbit wins about $200 million in Asia-Pacific contracts for helicopter surveillance and training systems - The customer was not named and the contracts run over up to five years. Sources: CTech, Globes Microsoft offers buyouts to up to 60,000 employees - CTech separately reported pre-dismissal hearings for about 50 Copilot Studio staff in Israel this month. Sources: CTech Bezeq says AI traffic among its private customers has tripled in three months - CEO Nir David said data traffic used to double every two and a half to three years. Sources: Globes Israel's Defense Ministry signs a 150 million euro naval deal with Cyprus - Israel Shipyards builds the patrol vessel and Rafael supplies its naval systems. Sources: Globes What to watch: Because Intel is paying partly in its own shares, what Classiq's founders, investors and employees finally receive will move with Intel's stock price. This episode was brought to you by SkillSim. Interactive, timed AI hiring scenarios that test what candidates can really do, instead of take-home tasks they paste into ChatGPT. Try it free at skillsim.co. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-27-intel-classiq-neureality-solaredge Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#22
October 26 · 8 min
US seeks control of Israeli tech in aid talks, Check Point sees election cyberattack surge, monday.com rallies
Globes says technology control, not money, is the sticking point in US aid talks. Check Point reports a surge in cyberattacks on Israeli organizations before the election, and monday.com's stock is up about 81% since April. US seeks control of Israeli defense technology as the price of future aid, Globes reports - The current US aid agreement expires in 2028, and both sides have agreed future military financing will be sharply lower. Sources: Globes Check Point reports a surge in cyberattacks on Israeli organizations ahead of the election - Attacks averaged 2,700 a week in early October, up 55% from a year earlier. Sources: CTech monday.com stock is up about 81% since April after layoffs and a push into AI agents - The company reports third-quarter results on November 9. Sources: Globes IAI gets a bond reprieve from the Israel Securities Authority, and its union chief says hiring is slowing as AI spreads - IAI's NIS 154 million bond series can be deferred to April 2027 while a disclosure dispute is resolved. Sources: CTech, Ynetnews Malaysia's prime minister raises the prospect of a full Waze ban after barring civil servants from the app - Waze says claims that it collects sensitive government information are false. Sources: CTech, Urban Acres Mobileye shares fall to a new all-time low ahead of Thursday's results - Mobileye closed at $6.54 on Friday, a market cap of $5.6 billion. Sources: Globes Palantir CEO Alex Karp calls Israel the minor exception in an AI race led by the US and China - Karp did not explain the remark or name an Israeli company. Sources: CTech Six Israeli-linked companies appear on Time's Best Inventions of 2026 list - They include Aidoc, Nanox, SpotitEarly, Bria, Beewise and Doona. Sources: JNS Women are about 5% of CEOs at private Israeli cyber companies, Innovation Authority data shows - CTech's look at gender bias in Israel's cyber industry cites Israel Innovation Authority figures. Sources: CTech What to watch: Mobileye reports third-quarter results on Thursday, with its shares at a record low and no successor yet named for CEO Amnon Shashua. This episode was brought to you by SkillSim. Interactive, timed AI hiring scenarios that test what candidates can really do, instead of take-home tasks they paste into ChatGPT. Try it free at skillsim.co. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-26-us-aid-technology-check-point-monday Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#21
October 25 · 8 min
Tech backlash to Netanyahu's crypto plan, Fireblocks cuts 7% of staff, and FIMI's $65 million Maytronics bid
Israel's tech industry and the Bank of Israel push back on Netanyahu's call for a crypto-based alternative economy, Fireblocks cuts about 7% of its workforce, and FIMI offers $65 million for half of Maytronics. Netanyahu's call for a crypto-based alternative economy draws fire from tech leaders and the Bank of Israel - Netanyahu said on Saturday that crypto is one tool among several and it is not certain it will be used, Globes reports. Sources: Calcalist, CTech, Globes Fireblocks cuts about 7% of its workforce, including dozens of jobs in Israel - It is the company's third round of cuts since 2023, CTech reports. Sources: CTech FIMI offers $65 million for half of pool robot maker Maytronics - Maytronics was worth about $2.9 billion at its 2021 peak, CTech reports. Sources: CTech Denmark picks the Anthem cruise missile from Israeli-linked defense startup Covenant - Denmark did not disclose the price or the number of missiles. Sources: CTech Swap Commerce buys Israeli AI startup Vizby months after its founding - Industry sources put the price in the millions of shekels, The Jerusalem Post reports. Sources: The Jerusalem Post Bill Ackman says he has invested about $100 million in Israel Sources: Calcalist AI companies are buying the Slack messages and emails of shut-down startups Sources: Geektime Omer Adam's data center company Anan valued at over $1 billion after a Crusoe deal Sources: ice What to watch: Whether the alternative-economy plan Netanyahu says he has requested is ever published, and how tech companies and investors respond after the election. This episode was brought to you by SkillSim. Interactive, timed AI hiring scenarios that test what candidates can really do, instead of take-home tasks they paste into ChatGPT. Try it free at skillsim.co. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-25-netanyahu-crypto-fireblocks-maytronics-fimi Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#20
October 23 · 7 min
Upwind and a reported $4 billion Datadog offer, Visa's reported Fireblocks talks, and Wiz on a major PHP flaw
Reports say Upwind turned down a $4 billion offer from Datadog and Visa is in talks to buy Fireblocks, Wiz researchers help expose a major PHP flaw, and 2Delta gets backing from Bill Ackman and Eric Schmidt. Upwind reportedly turns down a nearly $4 billion acquisition offer from Datadog - The Information reported the offer and Globes says Upwind rejected it, while CTech says it learned the reported offer was not made. Sources: Globes, CTech Visa is reported to be in advanced talks to buy Fireblocks for about $2.5 billion - The report comes from Axios, and Fireblocks denies it. Sources: Globes, Bizportal Wiz researchers help expose PHP2Shell, a serious flaw in the PHP language behind most websites - Patches were released on 21 October, a day early, after details leaked. Sources: Calcalist, Globes AI efficiency startup 2Delta raises tens of millions of dollars from Bill Ackman and Eric Schmidt - Ackman disclosed the investment while visiting Israel for a conference at Sheba Medical Center. Sources: Calcalist, Globes, Globes Papaya Gaming's CEO says the company will fight a $719 million US judgment - Papaya is appealing and has asked courts in Israel and Delaware to pause collection. Sources: Globes OpenAI, Anthropic and SpaceX build sales presence in Israel Sources: Globes Cantor Fitzgerald and Oppenheimer see Wix's recovery continuing Sources: Globes Eventer Technologies agrees to buy the remaining 49% of its Israeli subsidiary for $5.1 million Sources: TradingView What to watch: Whether Upwind announces the $300 million round at a $3.8 billion valuation that Globes and CTech say it is completing now. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-23-upwind-datadog-fireblocks-visa-wiz-php Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#19
October 22 · 6 min
Sheba's ARC merges with Redesign Health, Mave raises $34 million, and Israel weighs a tax on tech options
Sheba Medical Center's innovation arm ARC merges with New York's Redesign Health, cyber startup Mave raises $34 million, Modelyo raises about $17 million, and a plan to tax unexercised options draws opposition. Sheba Medical Center's innovation arm ARC Global merges with New York's Redesign Health - Calcalist puts the deal at tens of millions of dollars, paid to Sheba, with about 10% going to the state. Sources: Calcalist, PR Newswire Cybersecurity startup Mave raises $34 million for AI agents that investigate security alerts - The total includes a $28 million Series A led by Red Dot Capital Partners. Sources: Business Insider, Walla Modelyo raises about $17 million for a confidential cloud platform - The round was led by US-based OlivTree; the company was previously funded by its founders. Sources: CTech, Israel Hayom Finance Ministry and Tax Authority weigh a higher tax on tech workers' unexercised options - Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said he opposes the options proposal, Globes reports. Sources: Globes JFrog's market value climbs to about $11.5 billion, roughly monday.com and Nice combined - The shares are up about 55% this year after falling roughly 50% into February, CTech reports. Sources: CTech Rylo signs a collaboration with Nvidia to develop real-time sign language translation - Calcalist reports Rylo recently raised $85 million, bringing its total to $101 million. Sources: Calcalist Vintage Investment Partners raises $920 million, taking assets under management past $4.8 billion - Tzlil Kovetz and Ilan Leiferman were promoted to partner. Sources: CTech Nvidia unveils a security architecture for AI agents built on its Israel-developed BlueField-4 chip - Jensen Huang presented it at GTC in Berlin, Globes reports. Sources: Globes Thailand buys IWI's Arbel anti-drone system, according to Globes sources - No deal value was reported. Sources: Globes What to watch: Whether the proposal to tax tech workers' unexercised options goes to the government for a decision, after Finance Minister Smotrich came out against it. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-22-sheba-arc-redesign-health-mave-modelyo Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#18
October 21 · 7 min
Elbit buys underwater drone maker ISE, RGo Robotics winds down, and XTEND shares hit a new low
Elbit Systems completes its purchase of Canadian underwater vehicle maker ISE, RGo Robotics sells licenses to its technology as it winds down, and XTEND falls to about a third of its listing value. Elbit Systems completes the acquisition of Canadian underwater vehicle maker International Submarine Engineering - Elbit did not disclose the price, describing it as not material. Sources: Globes, CTech, The Jerusalem Post RGo Robotics winds down and sells licenses to its technology, including to John Deere's Blue River - Blue River will open its first R&D center outside the US in Israel, according to TheMarker. Sources: Ice XTEND shares hit a new low, about two-thirds below its listing valuation - The slide continued after a $40.5 million US military order, CTech reports. Sources: CTech Stripe recruits a general manager to launch operations in Israel - Stripe's payment processing is not yet available in Israel, according to Globes. Sources: Globes Israel Shipyards and Rafael near a naval deal with Cyprus - CTech puts the deal at about 150 million euros; Globes says over $100 million. Sources: CTech, Globes SanDisk moves its northern development center to the North High-Tech Park in Bar-Lev - About 120 employees will move from Tefen, CTech reports. Sources: CTech Qualcomm plans performance-based job cuts worldwide - Qualcomm has not said whether its Israeli operation will be affected. Sources: CTech Meta's Ray-Ban and Oakley AI glasses go on sale officially in Israel - Meta says prices in Israel start at 1,590 shekels. Sources: Geektime Tel Aviv court rejects EA's jurisdiction challenge to a proposed loot box class action - The court has not ruled on whether loot boxes are gambling. Sources: CTech What to watch: Whether Israel Shipyards and Rafael sign their naval deal with Cyprus in the coming weeks, as CTech expects. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-21-elbit-ise-rgo-robotics-xtend-stripe Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#17
October 20 · 7 min
Boomi buys Elementary, TTM pays $650 million for Ophir's optics business, and doubleAI launches Maxwell
Boomi buys Israeli data observability startup Elementary for about $40 to 45 million, TTM Technologies agrees to buy Ophir's Jerusalem optics business for $650 million, and Amnon Shashua's doubleAI unveils its first code execution model. Boomi buys Israeli data observability startup Elementary for about $40 to 45 million - It is Boomi's third Israeli acquisition, after Rivery and Lunar.dev, according to CTech. Sources: CTech, Business Wire TTM Technologies agrees to buy MKS's Ophir Optics business in Jerusalem for $650 million - The deal excludes Ophir's laser measurement business and the Ophir brand, which stay with MKS. Sources: Globes, Yahoo Finance Amnon Shashua's doubleAI unveils Maxwell, a code execution model to cut computing costs - doubleAI has raised about $200 million from investors including Nvidia and Dell, according to Globes. Sources: Globes, PYMNTS, Digital Today Laser maker Civan Lasers prepares a Tel Aviv IPO at up to 1.8 billion shekels - Civan supplies a core technology for the Iron Beam laser defense system, Globes reports. Sources: Globes Elbit Systems wins a $235 million rocket artillery contract from a European country - Sources told Globes the client is Azerbaijan; Elbit did not name it. Sources: Globes, CTech Transmit Security co-founder Mickey Boodaei hands the CEO role to Matt Thompson - Boodaei becomes active chairman, according to Calcalist. Sources: Calcalist Drone software company High Lander brings its total funding to $30 million - The size of the latest investment was not disclosed. Sources: Ynetnews Alma Ventures holds a first closing for a $40 million mental health fund with Sheba Sources: Globes Intel reports a suspected gas leak at its Kiryat Gat plant days after a fatal explosion - Fire and Rescue Services said the incident was contained within the plant. Sources: CTech Pelephone is close to buying mobile operator Wecom for about 265 million shekels - A final agreement is expected in the coming days, according to Ice. Sources: Ice What to watch: Whether doubleAI's claimed compute savings hold up once Maxwell reaches more customers. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-20-boomi-elementary-ttm-ophir-doubleai Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#16
October 19 · 8 min
Israel plans a 200 MW cap on data centers, OpenWeb staff threaten liquidation, and IAI faces an IPO deadline
Israel's Electricity Authority outlines a 200 megawatt cap on new data centers, OpenWeb's Israeli employees threaten to seek liquidation, IAI has six weeks to rescue its IPO plan, and senior managers leave monday.com. Israel's Electricity Authority outlines a 200 megawatt cap on each new data center - Grid operator Noga received connection requests totaling about 27,000 megawatts, according to Calcalist. Sources: Calcalist, CTech OpenWeb's Israeli employees demand to be paid from company funds or they will seek liquidation - OpenWeb is under a court-appointed temporary trustee and in a dispute with its lender, Liquidity. Sources: Globes Israel Aerospace Industries has six weeks to resolve a disclosure impasse blocking its IPO - IAI plans to sell at least 20% of its shares at a valuation of about NIS 100 billion, according to CTech. Sources: CTech Senior product and engineering managers are leaving monday.com after its reorganization - monday.com cut about 20% of its global workforce in a reorganization announced in July. Sources: Calcalist Israeli tech employs about 18,000 fewer people than pre-pandemic growth implied, a Reichman University paper finds - The policy paper is by the Phoenix Capital Market Research Institute at Reichman University. Sources: CTech Alice and AI21 say they trained an NVIDIA Nemotron model to resist prompt injection - The results come from the companies' own tests, not independent evaluations, Ynetnews notes. Sources: Ynetnews Google and IAB Europe drop Discover-Tech from their vendor lists after the Citizen Lab spyware report - Follows Friday's report that researchers tied Discover-Tech's ads to Candiru spyware. Sources: PPC Land SpotitEarly, Beewise and Bria AI make TIME's list of the year's best inventions - Three Israeli companies are on the list, according to Globes. Sources: Globes Car group Colmobil is still recovering from a cyber incident five days on - The company says it has notified the regulators and is investigating the source. Sources: Globes What to watch: Whether the Justice Ministry or the Israel Securities Authority resolves IAI's disclosure problem before its only bond series falls due on 1 December. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-19-data-center-cap-openweb-iai-monday Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#15
October 18 · 7 min
Hex-Rays buys Ventris for up to $35 million, Rocket buys Geniez AI, and Gauzy's CEO leads a rescue
Belgian reverse-engineering firm Hex-Rays buys six-person Israeli AI security startup Ventris, Rocket Software buys mainframe AI startup Geniez, Gauzy's CEO leads a $7 million rescue, and John Paulson gives Hebrew University $250 million. Hex-Rays, maker of IDA Pro, buys Israeli AI security research startup Ventris for $30 million to $35 million - Ventris has six employees, was founded in 2025 and never raised outside capital, according to CTech. Sources: CTech Rocket Software buys Geniez AI, an Israeli startup building AI agents for mainframes - The price was not disclosed; Calcalist estimates it at up to $100 million. Sources: CTech, Quasa.io Investors led by CEO Eyal Peso put $7 million into Gauzy under a court-approved debt arrangement - Gauzy has lost 98% of its value since its Nasdaq IPO, according to Globes. Sources: Globes John Paulson gives the Hebrew University $250 million, including for a new Faculty of Engineering - The Mount Scopus campus will be renamed the Alina and John Paulson Campus. Sources: Globes, The Jerusalem Post, CTech The Innovation Authority and Labor Ministry put NIS 25 million into programs for women in tech - The money, with matching private funds, goes to 15 programs. Sources: The Jerusalem Post Cellebrite reportedly presents LOKI, a boot ROM exploit for older Apple chips, at Hexacon - The report rests on a post by International Cyber Digest citing a conference slide. Sources: Pasquale Pillitteri CTech analysis: Varonis sells for about 8.4 times revenue, below its 2021 peak - Follows Friday's report of Proofpoint's $6.3 billion deal for Varonis. Sources: CTech What to watch: Whether the commercial court in Lyon approves a plan for Gauzy's French subsidiary, which the shares set aside for its trustees depend on. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-18-hex-rays-ventris-rocket-geniez-gauzy Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#14
October 16 · 6 min
Proofpoint buys Varonis for $6.3 billion, researchers tie Discover-Tech ads to spyware, and Axonica raises
Thoma Bravo-owned Proofpoint agrees to buy Varonis for about $6.3 billion in cash, researchers say Israeli ad firm Discover-Tech helped deliver Candiru spyware, and Axonica Labs, Skapion and Zenzap raise money. Proofpoint, owned by Thoma Bravo, agrees to buy Varonis for about $6.3 billion in cash - The $49.75 a share price is a 52% premium over the price before sale rumors began in June. Sources: Globes, CTech, Times of Israel, Bizportal Researchers say Israeli ad firm Discover-Tech used online ads to track users and deliver Candiru spyware - Citizen Lab says 45 Al Jazeera devices were compromised; Discover-Tech did not respond. Sources: Reuters, The Economic Times, The SOFX Report AI chip company Axonica Labs raises up to $80 million in a pre-seed round - Amplify Partners, Wing VC and Qualcomm Ventures lead; it has already raised $50 million. Sources: Globes Skapion, building a system against drone swarms, raises a $36 million seed round - UP Partners and Khosla Ventures lead; Iron Dome veteran Pini Yungman is founding architect. Sources: CTech Zenzap raises $44 million for a workspace where people and AI agents work together - Bessemer Venture Partners and Lightspeed Venture Partners led the round. Sources: Globes, Geektime BloomX raises $13 million for robotic crop pollination Sources: CTech Pilat Group plans to list in Canada through a reverse merger Sources: Globes Gil Shwed says he does not see the economic models that justify AI spending at this scale Sources: CTech What to watch: Whether US or European regulators open an investigation into Discover-Tech and Candiru, as Citizen Lab has asked them to. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-16-proofpoint-varonis-discover-tech-axonica Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#13
October 13 · 7 min
CrowdStrike in talks to buy Orion for $500 million, Salesforce buys Loops, and Freshworks buys Torii
CrowdStrike is in advanced talks to buy Israeli data security startup Orion for about $500 million, Salesforce and Freshworks sign Israeli acquisitions, CVC takes 40% of Fibrotex, and Microsoft cuts jobs at its Israeli R&D center. CrowdStrike is in advanced talks to buy Israeli data security startup Orion for about $500 million - Orion was founded in 2024 and has raised $38 million. Sources: CTech Salesforce signs a deal to buy Israeli AI analytics company Loops, its tenth acquisition in Israel - CTech estimates the price at about $30 million; Loops will join Tableau. Sources: Globes, CTech, Maariv Freshworks signs a deal to buy Torii, which tracks companies' software and AI spending - Terms were not disclosed; Torii has raised $65 million. Sources: CTech CVC buys 40% of Petah Tikva camouflage maker Fibrotex - Calcalist puts the price at about $350 million; the FT at about 250 million euros. Sources: CTech, European Business Magazine Microsoft calls about 50 Copilot Studio employees in Israel to pre-dismissal hearings - About half are expected to keep their jobs. Sources: Ynetnews Bank Leumi and Aspire set up a joint trust company for employee shares and options Sources: CTech Aliyah Ventures, a pre-seed fund for immigrant founders, completes its first close Sources: Ynetnews Ondas and Palantir set up Regna AI to build AI models for defense and government customers Sources: CTech What to watch: Whether CrowdStrike and Orion sign a deal, which Calcalist says is in advanced talks but not yet complete. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-13-crowdstrike-orion-salesforce-loops-torii Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#12
October 12 · 7 min
Amazon eyes Decart at $7 billion, HUB Security faces an insolvency petition, and One Zero cuts jobs
Amazon is reported to be in talks to buy Israeli-founded AI startup Decart for around $7 billion, a creditor asks for insolvency proceedings against HUB Security, One Zero lays off about 25 people, and Smotrich rejects a higher tax on stock options. Amazon is in talks to buy Decart, an AI startup founded by three Israeli engineers, for around $7 billion - Anthropic had discussed buying Decart for about $6 billion before deciding against it in September. Sources: Bloomberg, TradingKey, Israel Hayom A creditor asks the court to open insolvency proceedings against HUB Security - Consulting firm Asiag says HUB owes it close to $500,000. Sources: Globes One Zero lays off about 25 employees in its third round of cuts since 2024 - The digital bank says AI and automation let it run with a leaner structure. Sources: CTech DIG Ventures closes a $120 million third fund for enterprise and AI startups in Europe and Israel Sources: Pulse 2.0 Finance Minister Smotrich rejects a higher tax on high-tech employees' stock options - Globes says the recommendations target the 2027 Arrangements Law, which the next government will pass. Sources: Globes Similarweb proposes a pay package of up to $10 million in shares for incoming CEO Michael Ackerman Sources: Globes San Francisco AI insurance startup Corgi opens a business presence in Israel Sources: TheMarker IAI unveils POINT@AIR, an aerostat-based radar, in Washington Sources: CTech Maris-Tech receives a $10 million order, its largest ever, for airborne video systems Sources: Israel Defense What to watch: Whether Amazon and Decart sign a deal, which the Wall Street Journal says could come quickly if talks hold. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-12-amazon-decart-hub-security-one-zero Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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#11
October 11 · 7 min
Treasury weighs a tax break for founders, Mashinsky settles in New York, and Israeli cyber raises $2.4 billion
Israel's Finance Ministry is examining a capital gains exemption for tech founders, Celsius founder Alex Mashinsky settles with New York's attorney general, Israeli cyber startups raise $2.4 billion in a quarter, and Israeli defense firms exhibit in Morocco. The Finance Ministry examines a capital gains exemption of up to about NIS 45 million for tech founders - The ministry is also considering raising the tax on employee options under Section 102. Sources: Bizportal, TheMarker Celsius founder Alex Mashinsky settles with New York's attorney general and accepts a lifetime industry ban - The settlement carries up to $35 million in conditional payments. Sources: Geektime, crypto.news Israeli cyber startups raise at least $2.4 billion in the third quarter, nearly half the global total - About 20 of 26 disclosed Israeli rounds went to companies securing AI agents and machine identities. Sources: CTech Israel opens its first national pavilion at the Marrakech Airshow as IAI reportedly negotiates a LORA sale - No contracts were announced at the show. Sources: CTech, Yabiladi US Army fields the first Bradleys with Elbit's Iron Fist, while French cargo workers refuse an Elbit-bound shipment - Elbit declined to comment on the French shipment. Sources: CTech, CTech Limy, which helps brands appear in AI answers, has raised $10 million from Andreessen Horowitz - Globes profiles founder Aviv Shmani. Sources: Globes Chip startup Positron sets up a development operation in Israel - Positron was recently valued at $5 billion. Sources: TheMarker Israeli app Fisherman filters spam and phishing texts, including election messages Sources: Geektime Swaptix lets Israelis trade unwanted event tickets for platform credit Sources: Geektime What to watch: How the Finance Ministry defines who qualifies for the founders' exemption, and whether it raises the tax on employees' stock options at the same time. Full transcript: https://www.startuptofollow.com/israel-tech-daily/2026-10-11-treasury-founder-tax-mashinsky-cyber-funding Israel Tech Daily is written from the day's reporting and voiced by AI hosts. Corrections: editor@startuptofollow.com
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