As Israel observes Hanukkah – a celebration of the light among the darkness – it’s time to highlight the tech trends creating sparks within the Startup Nation.

Note, these trends are based on our deal flow – what our team sees on the ground.

Trend 2/8: Internet of Things

How a trend is born: 

Let’s talk impressive numbers: There are already more than 10 billion systems connected to the Internet (IDC) and by 2020 there will be nearly 26 billion devices on the Internet of Things (Gartner).

If you haven’t heard the term by now, Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the climbing trend of connecting “dumb” devices through an internet connection to collect and utilize actionable intelligence about everyday life. 

Who’s who: 

In Israel,

  • Sensibo: Sensibo is a tiny device that connects air conditioners to the internet. It can be used with any A/C that has a remote control.
  • Milla: Milla is a platform on which internet of everything devices can connect and interact, a consumer-facing interface layer for unified control of diverse devices and applications, and a marketplace for applications that operate devices across the Milla infrastructure.
  • Neura: Neura takes a user-centric approach to the internet of things, making the devices around us cognizant of the users they serve. By recognizing habits, and behavioral patterns, Neura enables things with predictive and adaptive abilities, making our digital experiences more human.
  • BT9: BT9‘s supply chain tracking platform offers a full-stack solution for granular monitoring of perishable goods transport, addressing an industry whose food waste alone is in the tens of billions of dollars.

What’s next:

Given the growing ubiquity of the internet, lower-than-ever costs of connected devices, and a cross-sectorial trend towards increased connectedness, it is our belief that IoT is poised for enormous growth in the coming years. When it comes down to investment, OurCrowd has selected the very top of the hundreds of IoT startups we’ve seen in the last year.

This year, OurCrowd invested in Milla and BT9, as mentioned above, and also non-Israeli company Pixie (accurate location of consumer items). We’re currently investing in Social Bicycles, a disruptive, turnkey bike-sharing platform.

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Check back with us each night of Hanukkah to learn about another tech trend sparking the Startup Nation!

Find out more about investment opportunities in Israeli startups.