CTech’s Monday Roundup of Israeli Tech News
Commenting on Pentagon contract, Oracle’s Safra Catz blasts “One Cloud” plan. Israeli government divided on required response to U.S. tax reform
Commenting on Pentagon contract, Oracle’s Safra Catz blasts “One Cloud” plan. Speaking at a press conference in Israel Monday, the Co-CEO of Oracle confirmed she raised reservations regarding the process in which the Pentagon intends to choose a cloud provider in what could be a multi-billion contract in a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Read more
Israeli government divided on required response to U.S. tax reform. In January, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed a team to look into the possible impact the U.S. tax reform would have on the local economy. After months of debates, no consensus has been reached concerning the steps required to maintain Israel’s edge in the face of stateside tax reductions. Read more
Donald Trump. Photo: Getty Images
Cybereason was duped into hiring reference falsifying exec, The Information reports. The cybersecurity company hired an HR vice president who falsified his own references, according to the report. The event, part of the Cybereason’s fast-paced transition into a medium-sized company, raised tensions at the Boston-headquartered company and presented an element of distrust into the company’s culture. Read more
Merger sees first bitcoin mining company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Canadian cryptocurrency mining firm Bitfarms first announced a plan to merge with a Tel Aviv-listed shelf company, Blockchain Mining, in December 2017. Following the completion of the merger, Blockchain Mining stocks were up 49% by Sunday market close on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Read more
Tissue regeneration company Collplant wants to delist From Tel Aviv exchange. The Israel-based biotech company is trading on Nasdaq since January following a $5 million investment agreement. Read more
Cisco backs Israeli marketing conversation analytics startup Gong. Cisco Investments, the venture capital arm of multinational networking hardware and telecommunications company Cisco Systems, has invested an undisclosed sum in Gong, whose online service gives sales representatives insights into their interactions with customers by analyzing recorded phone calls and tracking keywords and topics of conversation. Read more
Israeli cannabis company signs deal with unnamed Canadian company worth “hundreds of millions of shekels.” Together Pharma, an Israel-based company focused on growing, exporting, and distributing medical cannabis, announced the deal days before Israel’s cannabis export reform was blocked yet again by a ministerial dispute. Under the terms of the agreement, the Canadian company will purchase 50 tons of dried cannabis—or the equivalent, five tons of medical cannabis oil—annually. Read more
Healthy.io brings smartphone urine tests to U.S. homes. The American National Kidney Foundation and Pennsylvania-based Geisinger Health System have partnered with the Israeli medtech startup to enable smartphone-based urine tests at U.S. homes. On Monday, the three launched a clinical trial to test the technology among Geisinger’s patients. Read more
Israeli defense contractor Elbit opens Berlin office. Elbit said its Berlin office will serve the company as it expands activity in Germany, which launched with the 2004 acquisition of defense manufacturer TELEFUNKEN Radio. Read more
Cybersecurity startup Empow raises $10 million, appoints new CEO. Empow develops a security information and event response software that tailors responses to specific threats.The company announced the appointment of former Fidelis Cybersecurity executive Peter George as CEO. Read more
