February 25th 2010 · Read More · No Comments
Picture from Forbes
As we all know by now, Israel is the Start-Up Nation so we’ve compiled a list of the top Israeli VCs, twitter accounts that chat about the VC world, VC blogs and other Israeli Investment blogs that might find helpful on your search for the next move forward.
Venture Capital Companies in Israel
Battery
“While we remain open to all creative thinkers, there are some very strong sectors in Israel that we are particularly interested in, such as: Advanced Materials & Clean Tech, Communications Services & Infrastructure, Financial Services & Tech-Enabled Businesses, Internet & Digital Media
Semiconductors & Components.”
Benchmark
“At Benchmark Capital, we’re focused on helping talented entrepreneurs build great technology companies. That’s what drives us and everything we do — from how we organize our firm to our investment strategy.”
Carmel Ventures
“We invest primarily in early stage companies in the fields of Software, Communications, Semiconductors, Internet, Media, and Consumer Electronics.”
Gemini
“Communications & Wireless, Consumer Electronics, EnterpriseSoftware, Internet and Semiconductors”
Giza
“Giza has invested in 93 companies in the sectors of Communications, IT, Software, Life Sciences, Media, Internet, Gaming & Entertainment, with 31 exits”
Greylock
Jerusalem Venture Partners
“JVP is focusing on building market leaders in the areas of digital media technology, including gaming and virtual worlds, mobile media & advertising, semiconductors & hardware for media distribution, and enterprise media.”
Pitango
“Pitango Venture Capital is Israel’s largest venture capital firm and a lead investor in seed, early and expansion stage companies..”
Sequoia Capital
General Helpful Information
January 31st 2010 · Read More · No Comments
We don’t know who is speaking (yet, I’m sure they will announce soon) – but we know we are sponsoring, where it is and when it is:
TechAviv Founders Club – February Meetup
Feb24Wed 6:30 PM
- Location
-
IDC Herzliya
Ivcher Auditorium
Kanfei Nesharim St.
Herzelia
This is a private home or office
- Who’s coming?
-
7 Yes / 0 Maybe
143 spots left
Who’s hosting?
Yaron Samid
Presenters will be announced shortly. 
Yes, we’re sponsoring Tech Aviv in February – so if you’ll be at the event find us and say “Hello”! (or “Hi” if hello isn’t your thing…)
December 29th 2009 · Read More · No Comments
Platonix Joint Ventures works on software R&D for equity with start-ups, creating a win-win for both sides as the start-up has a partner whose success goals are aligned with their own. Ours is an ongoing relationship – which means that both sides have more at risk if it goes sour and as such both sides work harder to be certain the whole succeeds.
The win for start-ups is the quality of the work and the alignment of incentives. The partners at Platonix have worked together as a team since their Israeli army days in the 8200 unit and have over a decade of high level software process and coding behind them individually. Their incentives are aligned with the company because the software start-up equity only pays when the startup company earns profits or has an exit.
The investors on the VC side also win. They have less risk because of the experience offered by the brilliant, fun and easy to work with (yes, we’re modest) team at Platonix. Instead of having an entrepreneur learning it all the hard way, Platonix’s serial entrepreneur experience is an advantage when working with the software firm to implement processes and policies that lead companies to success in a quicker time period. Furthermore, it allows investors to put in a smaller first investment (as opposed to a traditional VC) and learn more about the company before deciding to invest a significantly larger amount. We help investors hedge their risk.
One of the most common issues in Israeli start-ups is running out of money before the sales and marketing stage. As such, when the time comes to actually market the product for sale, they don’t have the money to hire someone or the expertise to do it successfully themselves. This is one of the many ways that working with Platonix can help. We allow start-ups to save their precious cash resources for when they actually have a product to sell, thus increasing their chances of survival and success.
All around, it’s a winning combination. If you’re interested in learning even more about Platonix please check out our website.
December 26th 2009 · Read More · No Comments
The idea of Startup Weekend, which was actually held during the week as Shabbat makes working on the weekend a no-no, is 52 hours to present, create and pitch a start-up idea. As Platonix Joint Ventures is always looking for new, promising software startups to fund and work with, it seemed the place to be.
According to Joel Leyden of Israel News Network, Startup Weekend had “attendees from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Ashdod, Hadera, Ra’anana, Afula, Holon, Sderot, Kiryat Shomona, Katzrin, Rehovot and Herzliya.”
Yishai, Itay, Itai and Shai from Platonix didn’t just sponsor Startup Weekend, they participated in it as well.The event started off with Itay and Itai sitting with me (Shira) in the front row of the event, debating (quietly) which presentation would have the most likely success story. Some presentations made no sense, others sounded a bit too over the top. In the end we were told to choose 2 teams and work with one (which seems a bit silly looking back, we should have only joined one team). Itay and I joined what would end up being AttenDance, an application aimed at maximizing the social experience at events. Itai (note the i at the end of his name) joined ShopJet, a widget meant to bring the Amazon level experience to smaller online shops. Shopjet was my second choice, but I never got the chance to actually join them over the “weekend”.
Due to Hannukka and other obligations there was a bit of tag-teaming on the coding side of things. Itay couldn’t make it on Thursday, so Yishai came to code for him instead, but he returned on Friday for the finishing up of the work and presentation of actual product. Itai was with ShopJet for the whole 3 days. Shai came on Friday to give some extra help where it was needed.
In the end we created two strong beta products. However, only one of our Beta products actually demo’d correctly. As Murphy’s Law would allow, anything that could go wrong – will, and that was the case with the AttenDance presentation. Not only did the demo fail miserably, but the PPT presentation was lost as well. Meaning that poor Gene was stuck on stage with no visual element to explain the product (which worked on the actual phone, but not on the demo software for some unknown reason). Fortunately, not all was lost for Platonix as Itai’s team won the runner-up position.
Overall, Startup Weekend was a lot of fun had by all. The food was great and the people were wonderful as well. The video of Startup Weekend is here.
November 25th 2009 · Read More · No Comments
Platonix Joint Ventures is excited to announce its sponsorship of the first Startup Weekend Israel on December 16th – 18th. Taking place at the IBM Offices in Petach Tikva, the event isn’t actually on the weekend. As it needs to be Kosher, Startup Weekend Israel will be held on Wednesday through Friday.
The people of Platonix will be participating in the event and are looking forward to meeting and working with the startups.
Come join Platonix at Startup Weekend and mingle with other like minded entrepreneurs, VCs, lawyers, developers and designers.
Discounted tickets are available until November 26th 10:00pm using the discount code swearlybird.
Make sure you bring your “laptop, good attitude, and creative energy”.
Click here to follow SWIsrael on Twitter.
Click here to follow PlatonixJV on Twitter.
Hope to see you there!
October 14th 2009 · Read More · No Comments
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August 29th 2009 · Read More · No Comments
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August 28th 2009 · Read More · No Comments
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August 28th 2009 · Read More · No Comments
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May 8th 2009 · Read More · No Comments
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