Startup Investing

8 Israeli Tech Trends, 8 Crazy Nights 2014: Internet of Things (2/8)

8 Israeli Tech Trends, 8 Crazy Nights 2014: Internet of Things (2/8)

Dec 18, 2014 | , ,

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...

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OurCrowd’s Jon Medved featured on Fox News: “Is Israel the next Silicon Valley?”

OurCrowd’s Jon Medved featured on Fox News: “Is Israel the next Silicon Valley?”

Dec 18, 2014 | , , , ,

Yesterday, OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved was interviewed by Fox News’ KT McFarland about Israel’s developing tech sector. His company is seen as funding the next generation of Israeli Startups through both equity-based and donation-based crowdfunding. Cooperation with the U.S. is seen as a driving force behind the boost in exports. Medved says he is co-investing with several American companies in the auto and telecommunications industries, among others, on new development projects. In the interview, Jon discussed the Israel tech industry boom, its record year in startup investments, Israeli technology innovations that are changing the lives of many worldwide, and the Startup Nation’s strong partnership with the US.   View the video below or play it on Fox News here. Watch the latest video at...

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8 Israeli Tech Trends, 8 Crazy Nights 2014: Online Lending (1/8)

8 Israeli Tech Trends, 8 Crazy Nights 2014: Online Lending (1/8)

Dec 17, 2014 | , ,

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 1/8: Online Lending How a trend is born:  According to estimates, lending institutions generate $870+ billion each year in fees and interest from over $3.2 trillion in lending. The lending industry is larger than the automobile and airline industries combined! Here’s the issue: the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-2009, when consumers and small businesses needed access to credit more than ever, many banks stopped offering loans and lines of credit. The combination of this liquidity crunch, new bank regulations and increased dissatisfaction with the quality and cost of banking services resulted in significant friction in the traditional lending industry and set the stage for the emergence of one of the hottest sectors of innovation in the world today: alternative finance and online lending. Who’s who:  In Israel, not only are companies aiming to build the online lending...

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OurCrowd’s Jon Medved featured on CNN: “The ‘beating tech heart’ of Israel”

OurCrowd’s Jon Medved featured on CNN: “The ‘beating tech heart’ of Israel”

Dec 11, 2014 | , ,

On December 9-10th, OurCrowd hosted its inaugural Global Investor Summit, the world’s largest equity crowdfunding conference. On the eve of the event, OurCrowd CEO Jonathan Medved was interviewed by Richard Quest on CNN’s “Quest Means Business.” In the interview, Jon discussed the future of the Israeli economy in the Startup Nation, the country’s innovative technology sector, how Israeli startups create jobs and benefit the entire world, and the upcoming Global Investor Summit — where over 1,000 of our investors and entrepreneurs converged to learn more about OurCrowd’s platform and our unique investment opportunities. View the video below or play it on...

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Don’t believe these 4 myths about equity crowdfunding

Don’t believe these 4 myths about equity crowdfunding

Dec 3, 2014 | , , ,

Equity crowdfunding is quickly finding its legs. For 2014, we estimated upwards of $700 million of capital invested in startups would be through equity crowdfunding platforms. Investors who have already migrated to these platforms are the early adopters, quick and flexible and open to trying an innovative new way to invest in the next Google, Facebook and Apple. However, many investors are still reticent to getting their feet wet since it’s still not entirely clear how equity crowdfunding works. This article dispels four myths about equity crowdfunding to offer investors a new investment track in some of the most exciting opportunities in the startup scene. Myth #1: Companies that choose crowdfunding couldn’t raise venture capital Raising money via crowdfunding channels may look easy, but in reality, it isn’t. And companies that are considering fielding an investment on an equity crowdfunding platform are, more times than not, choosing between many different sources of funding. Many of these companies have already raised an investment from an early stage venture capital firm or from other angel investors. Many will ultimately go on...

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