News Briefs

Israeli startup Kryon Systems, which develops performance support systems for organizations, has announced that it has raised $1 million. The financing round was led by American Angel investors. The company says it will use the funds for development and expanding its customer base.

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Israeli company ASOCS, which develops embedded processors for converged communications on mobile devices, has raised $3 million. Globes reports that the financing round was led by American VC Taylor Frigon Capital Partners. The latest round bring the company’s value to $35-40 million.

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Israeli startup Interlude, which develops interactive video clips and commercials, will announce the closing of a $15 million financing round. Calcalist reports that the financing round includes new investors, such as Innovation Endeavors and NEA. In 2011, Interlude raised $3.2 million from Sequoia Capital.

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American internet giant Jive has acquired Israeli company StreamOnce. Though the sum was not disclosed, financial magazine Calcalist reports that the deal is estimated at over $10 million. StreamOnce is a tool for creating a customized team space within an organization’s preferred social for enterprise system.

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Israeli company Mellanox, which develops end-to-end connectivity solutions for database servers and storage systems, has announced that it is acquiring American privately-held company Kotura for $83 million.

Kotura deals with developing advanced connectivity technology using silicon photonics devices for faster web applications. Mellanox estimates that it will open its first US-based R&D center at Kotura’s current location.

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Israeli biotech company Cell Cure Neurosciences, a subsidiary of biotech giant BioTime, has announced that it has received a $1.33 million grant from The Israeli Chief Scientist Office.

The company says that it will use the funds to finance the development of its latest product, OpRegen, a cell-based treatment for macular degeneration, an age-related condition that impairs vision. The company has also announced that it will apply for human trials of the treatment this year.

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Israeli startup Any.Do, which developed a task management app, has announced the closing of another seed financing round, raising $3.5 million. The Israeli app beat out its competitors and has the largest market share of all iPhone task management apps.

The financing round included investments from existing investors Genesis Partners, Innovation Endeavor and Blumberg Capital, joined by private investors. This is the company’s second seed round, having raised $1 million in 2010.

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A new planet has been discovered outside the solar system. The discovery was made by Tel Aviv University professor Tsevi Mazeh and his students. The team was able to identify the planet using a light-measuring method, based on legendary physicist Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. The planet, named Kepler-76b, is located 2,000 light years away.

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The Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research (SIDEER) was dedicated last week at the Sede Boqer campus of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The Institute is one of three that comprise the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research.

“Switzerland and Israel have strong bilateral relations that are gaining strength,” said Swiss Ambassador to Israel Andreas Baum. “We are looking forward to potential cooperation in the future, to scientific partnerships and exchanges,” he added.

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Israeli company Funtactix, which develops online games, has won a Webby award. The Webby is the equivalent of the Academy Award for digital achievements. It is given out annually by the Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Funtactix won the Webby in the “Best Social Game” category, for its online rendition of the movie Hunger Games.

The Academy was founded by Guy Kawasaki, and judges include such high-profile players such as Richard Branson, Ariana Huffington, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, Jerry Greenfield (Jerry of Ben and Jerry’s), Simpson’s creator Matt Groening, and others.

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Israeli company Wochit, which offers automatically-edited raw footage to news organizations, has raised $4.75 million. The funds were raised from Redpoint Ventures, Cedar Fund, and Greycroft Partners.

The company specializes in licensing raw footage and producing videos that can be used by publishers. TechCrunch reports that according to Wochit co-founder and CEO Dror Ginzberg, the process is about 95 percent automated, which drastically reduces the time and cost associated with producing timely news videos.

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Israeli startup Wix, which offers its users a free website building platform, has started offering Google apps to its clients – a result of cooperation with the web giant. Wix has approximately 33 million users, which can now enjoy a two-click install of apps by Google, such as Gmail.

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Israeli company LabStyle Innovations, which developed Dario, a smartphone-based medical device and diabetes management system, announces the final closing of a financing round, raising $10 million.

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Israeli company Mapal Green Energy, which develops sewage treatment technology, has announced that it has raised £1.5 million in a series B financing round. The funds were invested by British private equities fund Charles Street Securities Europe.

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Online retail giant eBay is setting up an incubator in Israel. Calcalist reports that the incubator, to be built at the company’s Israeli headquarters in Netanya, will focus on startups dealing with online trade, social networks and big data.

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