Which VC raised $250 million and why is an Israeli tracing app raising privacy concerns?

Predictive care startup Clew gets emergency FDA approval to help treat Covid-19 patients. Clew’s system can assist medical teams in remotely identifying patients who are likely to experience common coronavirus complications, including respiratory failure and hemodynamic instability. Read more

An Israeli tracing app is raising major privacy concerns. Photo: Shutterstock

Israeli-Australian VC firm Square Peg raises $250 million in commitments. The funding is intended for Square Peg’s fourth core fund as well as a separate fund dedicated to later-stage investments in existing portfolio companies. Read more

Greek PM discusses cybersecurity with JVP chairman amid state visit to Israel. “We are pleased to help Greece meet the cyber challenges it faces,” said Erel Margalit. Read more

Space Florida, Israel Innovation Authority announce winners of innovation partner funding. In October 2013, Florida and Israel established a $2 million recurring joint fund to support research, development, and commercialization of aerospace and technology projects that benefit both Israel and Florida. Read more

Nielsen Innovate to invest 2 million shekels in Pudding.ai. Pudding.ai generates insights and answers questions in real-time on companies’ social media accounts including on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Read more

Cybersecurity company Salt Security raises $20 million. Salt Security uses artificial intelligence algorithms to develops protection tools for application programming interfaces (API). Read more

Major Israeli and international tech groups launch new innovation center. Korea’s Hyundai Group, Israel-based Tadiran and Taavura-Livnat groups., and the Netherlands based-VDL Group, establish Quantum Hub to promote partnerships and growth. Read more  

Opinion | How economic uncertainty is pushing financial institutions towards alternative data. Derived from non-traditional sources for financial information, alternative data is becoming an increasingly important tool for investors, in the aftermath of Covid-19, due to a lack of relevant up-to-date data that reflects the current marketplace in real time. Read more

"The pandemic created an opportunity for startups to create an alternative to higher education." Roei Deutsch, the co-founder and CEO of live video course marketplace Jolt said during Calcalist and Nespresso’s “Coffee Break,” a series of talks about the employee experience in the new routine following the pandemic. Read more

Israeli Covid-19 patient tracing app is raising privacy concerns in the U.S. GlobeKeeper’s SAFE tracing app works with a smartphone or tablet’s Bluetooth technology to communicate with other devices in range. Read more

Israel signs deal to acquire Covid-19 vaccine from Moderna. Moderna announced it was concluding its phase two testing for the vaccine and plans to begin phase three with 30,000 participants in July. The company claimed it could start production of the vaccine as soon as September of this year. Read more