Astute investors invest in Israel’s high tech, in spite of – and due to – global economic slowdown.
1. While global economy has slowed down substantially, and investment capabilities are shrinking, astute investors leverage declining market valuations, and invest in Israel’s breakthrough export-oriented high tech industries, expecting a promising “exit” when the cycle turns upward.
2. Germany’s Carl Zeiss has acquired Israel’s Pixer for a few scores of million dollars (Globes, Aug. 7, 2008).
3. Opus Capital’s General Partner, Ken Elfant: “Israel is the only site for our investments, other than the US. Since 2006 Opus invested in 6 Israeli companies” (Globes, Aug. 6).
4. Cisco and Motorola Ventures have co-led a $22MN 3rd round of private placement – joined by the Silicon Valley Accel Partners & Sequoia, Vodaphone and Telefonica – by Israel’s Amobee (Globes, Aug. 6). Cisco has led a $16MN 3rd round – joined by the Silicon Valley Greylock Partners and by Miven Venture Partners – by Israel’s Celeno Communications (Globes, July 30). Intel Capital participated in a $10MN 6th round by Israel’s Expand Networks (Globes, Aug. 5). APEX participated in a $9.5MN 3rd round by Israel’s Crescendo Networks (Globes, July 25). Greylock Partners and Crossbar Capital participated in an $8MN 2nd round by Israel’s Payoneer (Globes, July 28). US, Australia and So. Africa private investors invested $8MN in Israel’s Plurality (Globes, July 30). The Silicon Valley Draper-Fisher-Jurveston participated in an$8MN 1st round by Israel’s Cayma Agro-Business (Globes, July 24). Triple Point Capital invested $7MN in Israel’s Zend (Globes, July 15).