Which company is targeting a $400 million IPO and who is harnessing blockchain to deliver verifiable Covid-19 vaccines?

CTech Daily Roundup: Ahead of Israeli Space Week, ISA director reveals country’s goals for the great beyond

CTech 21:5624.01.21
IBM harnessing blockchain to deliver verifiable Covid-19 vaccine and health passes. Director of Blockchain and IoT Platforms at IBM Research in Haifa believes blockchain is the ideal technology to tackle the challenges of coronavirus. Read more

 

Glassbox aims to go public on TASE at a $400 million valuation. The software company has developed a system that allows organizations to track user app activity, and is aiming to raise up to $100 million in its IPO. Read more

 

Elephants. Photo: Shutterstock Elephants. Photo: Shutterstock

 

Israeli startups invited by Mastercard Europe and Enel X to FinSec Innovation Lab. The FinSec Innovation Lab was launched to offer startups the opportunity to test and develop fintech and cybersecurity solutions. Read more

 

‘Folding vehicle’ company City Transformer aims for TASE IPO in Q2. The company, which seeks EU approval for its urban electric vehicles to be marketed as quadricycles, is hoping to reach a valuation of at least $135 million. Read more

 

Discovery makes a splash in Israel TV market with acquisition of 21% of Reshet 13. Discovery and majority shareholder Len Blavatnik are set to invest over $20 million into the station in the coming year. Read more

 

AI image recognition company Pomvom eyeing $45 million IPO. The Israeli startup’s technology enables users to upload a selfie to a website and receive content that features them in real-time. Read more

 

Interview | Amid a decline in early-stage funding, TAU Ventures invites tech startups to its campus community. “We are comfortable leading a round or participating in it, but what we’re best at is serving as a home base for entrepreneurs in the most critical steps of their journey.” Read more  

 

Interview | Ahead of Israeli Space Week, ISA director reveals country’s goals for the great beyond. “Investing in space tech startups is important, despite the fact that the time to go to market is longer and the risks are higher,” says Avi Blasberger. Read more  

 

Interview | “The Israeli tech sector mobilized to battle Covid-19, but the government failed to enlist it.” Jonathan Benartzi, founding partner at Firstime talks investment goals, market trends, and the tech sector's leadership role in the country. Read more  

 

HR Post Covid | Virtual Yoga? Not for ClimaCell. When other companies rushed to give employees Covid-19 perks, ClimaCell instead asked its team what they wanted. This is what they said. Read more

 

Opinion | Israel cannot afford to depend only on buyouts and high-tech. High-tech is great, exports are essential, but you cannot just base an economy on miracles like huge exits. Read more

 

HR Post Covid | When the pandemic hit, Edtech company JoyTunes stuck by its nimble ways. By operating in small teams called ‘pods,’

JoyTunes managed to steer away from the iceberg known as Covid-19. Read more

 

Appointments | Vertex Ventures promotes Tami Bronner to Partner. The VC firm has been behind some of Israel’s most successful companies, such as Waze and SolarEdge. Read more

 

Round B | A business can’t be managed based on data alone. As much as we rely on figures for making business decisions, you shouldn’t sanctify KPIs. Read more

 

Opinion | Where did the money go? What brought the “capital of innovation in the Middle East” to scramble where it should have thrived? Read more