Israel Tech Startups and Innovations: Weekly Roundup December 21 – December 27, 2024
New Startups / VC Funding
Israeli Startup FIZE Medical Launches Early Kidney Disease Detection Device with Advanced Fluid Monitoring Technology
FIZE Medical is an Israeli medtech startup that offers the FIZE-kUO, a groundbreaking device, anchoring FIZE’s fluid management platform technology, detects early signs of kidney deterioration. The firm raised $14 million in a Series A-4 funding round, led by Rapha Capital Management and its managed fund, Rapha Capital PE Life Sciences Fund VI, bringing total Series A funding to… Read More Here
Science/Culture
Ancient Mining at King Solomon’s Copper Mines Found Surprisingly Eco-Friendly, Study Reveals
A new Tel Aviv University study challenges the long-held belief that King Solomon’s Mines in Timna, Israel, posed health risks not only to ancient copper workers but also to modern-day residents living near the site.
The study, conducting geochemical surveys of 10th-century BCE copper production sites in the Timna Valley (dating to the time of Kings David and Solomon), found minimal and localized environmental pollution from ancient copper production, posing no risk to past… Read More Here
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Treatment Shows Promise for Multiple Cancers, Weizmann Scientists Report
“Build your enemy a golden bridge to retreat across,” a piece of advice from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, reflects a strategy employed by cancerous growths against the immune system. A new study in Cell Reports by researchers from Prof. Idit Shachar’s lab at the Weizmann Institute of Science reveals that an aggressive form of breast cancer induces nearby immune cells to form “molecular bridges” between themselves, suppressing immune attack and fostering immune tolerance. In a mouse model, an antibody treatment that blocks the formation of… Read More Here
For Hanukah: Ancient Jewish Temple Lamp from 300 CE Discovered in Jerusalem, Features Menorah and Sacred Symbols
During an Israel Antiquities Authority excavation near Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives, archaeologists unearthed a rare Late Roman-era ceramic oil lamp. Decorated with images of the Temple menorah, an incense shovel, and a lulav (date palm branch), the lamp—its nozzle marked with soot—was used for lighting roughly 1,700 years ago, offering a fascinating glimpse into Jewish religious and cultural life of that time.
The spectacular oil lamp will be presented to… Read More Here
New Cancer Treatment Acts Like GPS, Guides Multiple Drugs to Target Tumors, Israeli Study Shows
Tel Aviv University researchers have created a new platform that uses polymeric nanoparticles to deliver paired drugs to specific cancers, including skin and breast cancer. This combined delivery significantly improves both the drugs’ therapeutic effects and their safety.
The study was led by Prof. Ronit Satchi-Fainaro and doctoral student Shani Koshrovski-Michael from the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Tel Aviv University’s School of Medicine, in collaboration… Read More Here
Mergers and Acquisitions
FTV Capital Acquires Israeli Maritime AI Leader Windward for $270 Million in Cross-Border Deal
Windward, an Israeli predictive maritime intelligence company listed on the London Stock Exchange, is being acquired by U.S. investment firm FTV Capital in a $270 million deal, a 47% premium on Windward’s last closing price.
The acquisition, contingent upon Windward shareholder approval, is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2025. FTV Capital has secured… Read More Here
Italian Tech Giant TeamSystem Acquires Morning, Israeli Fintech Startup, in $150 Million Deal
TeamSystem, an Italian tech company that develops digital solutions for business management for companies and professionals, has signed a binding agreement to acquire shares representing 80% of the corporate capital of Israeli startup Morning by Green Invoice Ltd. While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, Calcalist cited “sources familiar with the deal” that said it is worth $150 million. Fortissimo invested $20 million in Morning in 2021 at a valuation of approximately $50… Read More Here
Coralogix Acquires AI Monitoring Platform Aporia to Strengthen ML Observability Solutions
Aporia, an Israeli startup that offers an artificial intelligence AI observability platform that lets developers monitor their AI tech and keep it safe, has been acquired by Israeli data analytics company Coralogix.
Liran Hason, CEO of Aporia, and Alon Gubkin, Aporia’s CTO, will be leading Coralogix AI. The entire Aporia team will move to Coralogix’s offices, where the technology they developed will be integrated, and the number of employees will be doubled in the next… Read More Here
Other Business Stories
WhatsApp Wins Landmark Legal Victory: Israel’s NSO Group Found Liable for Spyware Damages
Meta’s WhatsApp won a legal victory against Israel’s NSO Group cybersecurity firm after a federal judge ruled the spyware firm liable under federal law for a 2019 hacking incident that compromised over 1,000 WhatsApp accounts. The judge ruled that NSO violated US law and must pay damages to WhatsApp, as well as hand over the Pegasus source code.
According to the lawsuit, NSO used WhatsApp servers to send spyware to roughly 1,400 devices in April and May, according to a WhatsApp complaint… Read More Here
Israel Invests $30 Million to Launch First National Biotech Chip Lab, Boosting Medical Innovation
Israel will establish its first bio-devices and bio-chips laboratory with a landmark $30 million (113 million Shekels) investment, the Israel Innovation Authority announced. Led by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Baccaramos Technologies, this initiative aims to position Israel as a leader in global innovation. The lab will focus on developing advanced technologies such as intelligent medical implants, smart environmental sensors, and bio-based energy solutions. By integrating biology, engineering… Read More Here
