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- The VC Bridging Israel & Japan | Azrieli Group's €1B Agreement | Act Security Raises $40M
The VC Bridging Israel & Japan | Azrieli Group's €1B Agreement | Act Security Raises $40M
This Week in IsraelTech - Why Magenta is at the Nexus of Israeli Innovation ft. Ran Levitzky
Why Magenta is at the Nexus of Israeli Innovation
Since October 7th, the Israeli tech ecosystem has faced unprecedented challenges, yet its resilience stands out. Founders continue to execute, win global customers, and raise capital despite a more selective funding environment. Magenta Venture Partners sees the power of pairing Israeli innovation with deep international partnerships - especially with leading Japanese and other global corporates. This is particularly impactful in AI, cybersecurity, supply chain, and industrial tech, where global scale is essential. When cutting-edge technology meets global markets, strong companies are built, leaving Ran Levitzky and his team optimistic about Israeli tech.
You can learn more from our interview with Ran from Magenta Venture Partners from last year:
From Microsoft to Magenta VC: Ran Levitzky’s Journey in Israeli Tech 🇮🇱💡 What does it take to spot and invest in the next wave of Israeli unicorns? Ran Levitzky, Co-Founder & General Partner at Magenta Venture Partners, has spent years shaping the Israeli tech ecosystem from every angle - software engineering at Microsoft, product leadership at Google & EA, and venture capital at Viola Ventures before launching Magenta.
In this exclusive IsraelTech sit-down, Ran breaks down:
💡 The Israeli-Japanese VC collaboration behind Magenta and why it’s different
🚀 How Israeli startups turn crisis into opportunity
🧠 Why AI innovation isn’t coming from the IDF like cybersecurity did - and how to fix it
📈 The biggest investment trends in Industry 4.0, Fintech, and Enterprise SaaS
Is Israel missing its chance to lead in AI?
Watch now and let us know your takes.
A Year in Review
Shorts of the Week
AI research doesn’t start with whiteboards. It starts with GPUs. ft. Ori Goshen of AI21 Labs
Full self driving has been promised every year. Delivery keeps moving. ft. Omer Keilaf of Innoviz
Most data teams don’t get blocked by models, but by queries that never end ft Meni Shmueli DataFlint
This Week in Israeli Tech News
1. NVIDIA in Advanced Talks to Acquire AI21 Labs in Potential $2-3B Deal
AI21 Labs, one of Israel’s most ambitious AI ventures, is reportedly in advanced acquisition talks with Nvidia in a deal largely focused on talent. The company was founded by Prof. Amnon Shashua (Chairman), Prof. Yoav Shoham (Co-CEO), and Ori Goshen (Co-CEO). Nvidia, led by Jensen Huang and already an investor in AI21 alongside Google, would be making its fourth major Israeli acquisition, further strengthening Israel’s role as a strategic AI R&D hub.
Azrieli Group Signs €1B Norwegian Data Center Agreement
Under the leadership of Danna Azrieli, Azrieli Group reached a major agreement to build and operate an 80MW data center campus in Norway via its Green Mountain subsidiary for a leading global tech company. The project positions Azrieli as a key player in Europe’s digital infrastructure boom, building on prior contracts, including TikTok Norway and recent expansion into Germany.
Act Security Raises $40M Series A Following $20M Seed
Israeli cybersecurity startup Act Security secured a $40M Series A just four months after its seed round, bringing total funding to $60M. The company was founded by Jonathan Langer (CEO), Itay Kirshenbaum (CTO), Stephan Goldberg (CPO), and Ilai Fallach (VP of R&D), the former Medigate leadership team.
ServiceNow Makes $7.75B Bet on Israeli-Born Armis to Redefine Cyber Exposure Management
Armis, founded by Israeli entrepreneurs and now a global leader in cyber exposure and cyber-physical security, is set to join ServiceNow in a landmark $7.75B cash acquisition that brings IT, OT, IoT, and medical device security under one unified platform.
Syremis Therapeutics Launches With $165M to Advance Next-Generation Mental Health Medicines
Syremis Therapeutics is a Tel Aviv and Boston-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for serious neuropsychiatric disorders.
Culture Corner
The Gaza border population has surpassed pre-October 7 levels, marking a significant milestone in the government-led rehabilitation of the region. According to recent data from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, approximately 65,000 residents live in the region, compared to 62,000 on the eve of the October 7 attacks. The data was published by the Rebirth Directorate, which is responsible for the reconstruction and long term development of the Gaza Border region. The Gaza border communities of Nir Oz, Be’eri, Kfar Aza, Kissufim, and Holit, which sustained the most damage in the attacks, are still residing in community housing frameworks. It is estimated that 525 buildings were destroyed, and 23 communities were infiltrated by Hamas terrorists. Official figures estimate that 529 residents of the Gaza envelope were murdered, 112 residents were taken hostage to Gaza, and 288 children were left orphaned. More than two years later, the daunting data continues to strengthen national recovery priorities. It is estimated that 1,000 young people arrived at the start of the current academic year on September 1, and there are approximately 2,000 more students living in the area than there were prior. More than 3,000 new residents have moved to the region, with Sderot seeing the biggest increase. Residents across 42 of the 47 communities across the Gaza border have returned to their homes and have resumed daily life.
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