Sequoia Funds Snaptu to Power Apps on Java Phones
Tel Aviv based startup Snaptu has received an undsiclosed round of funding from Sequoia Capital. Snaptu, previously known as Moblica, brings iPhone-style apps to any phone that can run a Java application (according to Snaptu, most phones do).
Battery Ventures Announces New $750 Million Fund
Amidst a 72% decline in funds raised by Israeli venture capital funds in 2009, Battery Ventures announced the completion of its new fund, BV-9, totaling $750 million. This is one of the largest funds raised in the first quarter of 2010 as VC funds struggle to raise money due to poor performance and low liquidity.
Israeli VC Funds Struggled to Raise in 2009
The latest IVC report shows that Israeli VC funds were able to raise only $229 million in 2009, a staggering 72% less than $803 million raised in 2008 and the third lowest amount raised per annum in the last decade.
Will Catch Media be the iTunes for the Android Phone?
Last year, Eric Schmidt has promised to buy a start up a month as Google re-kindles its M&A activities. Aardvark and reMail were the most recent buys and now, several sources report that theIsraeli start-up Catch Media might be next.
Eyecon’s media companion software gives consumers control over content across media units
Enter Eyecon, an Israeli startup that enables consumers to improve their overall home media experience by providing a central media control point via mobile devices. The solution aggregates a user’s media from multiple libraries across devices – music, videos and pictures stored across devices, in addition to the internet and TV – and makes this content searchable and controllable via the application interface.
VC Cafe Turns Four
VC Cafe was born four years ago, in December of 2005. Back then, under goisrael.blogspot.com, my goal was ambitious but simple. VC Cafe was to be a source of positive news about Israel, beyond what one sees on CNN or BBC by providing a spotlight on early stage Israeli start ups, which often conceive brilliant ideas [...]
5min Wins Top Spot in TechAviv’s Peer Awards
TechAviv, the members-only meetup group for Israeli start ups, has concluded its starup competition the “TechAviv Peer Awards”. The top spot was awarded to Israel’s 5min.com,the leading online platform for how-to, instructional and knowledge videos, which was crowned as the most promising Israeli web start up in 2009. Colnect was a close runner up.
Global From Day One: Innovid Approaches Product/Market Fit with iRoll™
Innovid, a New York-Headquartered company which maintains an R&D Center in Tel Aviv, has developed a “clickable canvas” technology which enables advertisers to add interactive capabilities to new and existing video content
Tel Aviv-Yaffo Celebrates Centennial Year
2009 was Tel Aviv’s centennial year and the city’s mayor and municipality marked the occasion with this lovely clip “Tel Aviv 100″.
CloudShare Raises $10 Million, Goes out of Stealth
CloudShare, an Israeli start up previously known as IT Structures, has reported a series B of $10 million led by its existing investors Sequoia Capital and Gemini Israel Funds as well as new investor Charles River Ventures. This ‘Up Round’ brings CloudShare to a total of $16 million raised to date.
CloudShare offers a Virtual Sales [...]

