Israel Science Technology - venture_capital

Israeli high-tech companies raised $1.62 billion in 2006 - highest in 5 years

noreply@blogspirit.com (ARPU~UP) — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 17:10:00 +0100

402 Israeli high-tech companies raised $1.62 billion from local and foreign venture investors in 2006, according to IVC Research 2006 summery. The capital raised by Israeli startups last year was the highest in 5 years and 21% above the $1.34 billion raised by 378 companies in 2005.

105 Israeli high-tech companies raised $477 million in the fourth quarter 2006, a 25% increase from the $381 million raised by 87 companies in the third quarter and an 80% jump from the $264 million raised in Q4 2005.

In 2006, Israeli venture capital funds invested $651 million in Israeli high-tech companies, about equal to investments made in 2005 ($655 million) and 2004 ($665 million). The Israeli VC share of the total amount invested in Israeli technology companies was 40%, compared to an average of 43% in the previous 7 years and 49% in 2005.

Israeli venture capital funds invested $60 million in foreign companies during 2006, compared to $95 million in 2005 and $107 million in 2004. Two investment, totaling $10 million, of the 33 investments were First investments, and the remainder were Follow-on.

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Lightspeed and Gemini initiate Web 2.0 Lab to invest in Israeli internet startups

noreply@blogspirit.com (ARPU~UP) — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 07:15:00 +0100

Lightspeed Venture Partners and Gemini Israel Funds initiate Web 2.0 Lab that intend to support 7-10 emerging Internet startups with an initial investment of up to $1 million each. The new Lightspeed -- Gemini Internet Lab will focus on investments in technologies related to the Internet and Web 2.0, which develops by seed stage companies with operations in Israel.

Gemini Partner Danny Cohen and General Partner Tali Aben together with Lightspeed General Partners Ravi Mhatre and Jake Seid will lead the initiative. The two venture funds plan to quickly seed good ideas and than expose them to the Internet community in Silicon Valley.

Israeli high tech companies raised $1.34 billion in 2005 from VC investors

noreply@blogspirit.com (ARPU~UP) — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 22:25:00 +0100

378 Israeli high tech companies raised $1.34 billion in 2005, from local and foreign venture investors, 8% percent decrease from the $1.46 billion raised in 2004, but 32 percent above 2003 levels. According to a new survey of IVC Research Center.

“The eight percent decline in 2005 reflected a slow fourth quarter,” said Efrat Zakai, Director of Research at IVC. “Q4 was the weakest quarter for fund raising in two years. We believe this is only a temporary decrease and project a return to earlier levels in the coming quarters.”

88 Israeli high-tech companies raised $264 million in fourth quarter of 2005, a 21% decline from the $336 million raised by 90 companies in the third quarter 2005, and a 28% drop from the $366 million raised by 113 companies in the fourth quarter of 2004. The average company financing round each in Q4 2005 was $3.0 million, compared with $3.7 million in the previous quarter and $3.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2004.

In 2005, Israeli VCs invested $655 million in Israeli high-tech companies, about equal to investments made in 2004 ($665 million). The Israeli VC share of the total amount invested in Israeli high-tech companies was 49%, up sharply from the 42% average of the previous six years.

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