Lesley Anne Rubenstein spent most of her working life in Israel.
In fact, she established
the Initiative Center of the Negev, now Maayan Ventures. She is now CEO
of London’s Thames
Innovation Centre (TIC).
The TIC is a new 5,000 m2 ultra modern business centre that stengthens
its client companies by offering access to public and private finance,
business and technology support and flexible workspace for local, national
and international high-growth potential, innovative technology-led businesses.
Geographically well positioned, the TIC is within easy reach of key road,
rail and air connections. Central London is half an hour away by train,
the new Ebbsfleet and Stratford Channel Tunnel rail terminals are also
within half an hour. London City, Stansted, Luton, Heathrow and Gatwick
airports are easily accessible via the M25, which is about 15 minutes away.
The Centre is able to help its often fledging client companies by offering
commercial rates at least 60% cheaper than central
London. The business
and technology support, delivered by its 'Think Big' and 'South
London Business Solutions' teams, comprising innovation and technology
specialists, financial and marketing consultants, is provided to TIC tenants
at no cost to them as since the business support is funded by London and
Europe. The technology support team harnesses a collective
100+ years’ experience
in technology and innovation and provides insightful advice on every phase
of the development lifecycle from idea generation, through to technology
road-mapping, production and marketing.
The TIC supports the development of high-tech
and knowledge-led businesses and start-ups and attracts new business
investment into the area. The Centre is a launch pad for innovative companies,
providing both high quality workspace and comprehensive business support
and advice. With its multi-lingual, international business specialists
on hand, it offers the perfect solution for international companies, particularly
those interested in security, avionics, defence ICT and medical devices,
wishing to take advantage of the UK’s business potential. For more
information about the Thames Innovative Centre, contact Lesley
Anne Rubenstein at +44.208.320.1000.
November 2006 Israeli start-ups, US investors to meet in Philadelphia
25 start-ups and 80 investors are expected at the second annual Wolf, Block
law firm conference.
Batya Feldman, Globes[online] (November 15, 2006)
The Philadelphia law firm of Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP will
host a meeting between Israeli start-ups and US investors in early December.
This is the second annual meeting.
Wolf Block corporate and securities chairman David Gitlin believes that 25
Israeli start-ups and 80 US investors - half institutions and half angel
investors - will attend this year’s conference. Participants will include
Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA) arm Comcast Interactive Capital, Edison Venture
Fund, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and Trendlines International Ltd.
(an investor in the Misgav Technology Center incubator, which wants to make
more investments in Israel.
Two companies that participated in last year’s
conference, Safend Ltd. and Brainsavers, asked to attend this year’s
conference. LeanWay Ltd. and On Corpo.
Wolf, Block was founded in 1903. Gitlin says the firm
was founded by Jewish lawyers who could not find work. The firm became
one of the largest law firms in Philadelphia. “The firm has represented Jewish entrepreneurs
who eventually became Fortune 500 companies. Our large clients began small,
and we grew with them. Comcast, for example, was founded in our offices.
We have a tradition of working with small companies as if they are large
ones,” he says.
"Dozens of serious angel investors want to invest in
Israeli companies. Usually, US companies that invest in Israel are based
in Silicon Valley or the East Coast. Philadelphia has many venture capital
funds and other investors interested in investing in Israel."
September 2005
"Value Team, Trendlines to seek new
technologies in Israel"
Through Israel's Trendlines Group, European IT consultancy Value
Team hopes to close its first deal by late 2005.
From Globes[online] (September 26, 2005)
European IT strategy and consulting firm Value
Team has engaged the Trendlines Group to look for new Israeli technologies in order
to acquire or license them. Value Team is the IT consulting and services
company of the Value Partners Group, a major European management consulting
group.
Value Team is seeking innovative working technologies in Israel in the
fields of IT security as boundary protection, platform security, secure
communication, security management, and user management.
Value Team VP marketing Paolo Crini said, "We are aware of the high quality
of the Israeli high-tech industry, and we know that Israel is a cradle of
cutting-edge technologies. We are looking for innovative, appealing technologies
to broaden our solutions portfolio. We hope to close a first deal by the
end of the fourth quarter of 2005 or the first quarter of 2006."
The Trendlines Group is an Israeli-based business development and marketing
consulting firm. The company represents the State of Maryland in Israel. Through
its sponsorship of the MarketReach America program, and its investment in the
Misgav Technology Center (through the Trendlines Israel Fund), the Trendlines
Group looks for and supports new technologies and innovative companies in the
Israeli homeland security, software and life-science arenas.
May 2005
"Beacon Global invests $625,000 in Misgav Technology Ctr"
Beacon Global will likely make larger investments directly
into portfolio companies later on.
From Globes[online] (May 23, 2005)
US venture capital fund Beacon Global announced this week that it will invest
$625,000 in the Misgav Technology Center incubator.
This is Beacon Global's first investment in Israel. The fund is managed by Beacon
Global LLC, a merchant bank located in Maryland.
Misgav Technology Center CEO Steve Rhodes said, "The present investment will
enable Beacon to get an early look at our companies. In later stages, Beacon
anticipates making larger investments directly into portfolio companies."
Beacon is a $25 million fund. The $625,000 investment in the Misgav Technology Center represents 2.5% of its committed capital.
Beacon’s investment in the Misgav Technology Center will be carried out through an investment in the Trendlines Israel Fund, which invests in Misgav Technology Center companies. The Trendlines Group is the Misgav Technology Center's leading strategic partner after having committed to invest $2 million, via the Trendlines Israel Fund, at the beginning of this year.
The Misgav Technology Center was established in 1992 by Rafael Armaments Development
Authority Ltd., and the Misgav Regional Council, as a technological incubator
providing financial support, marketing strategy development, and assistance for
start-up companies developing new technologies. The Misgav Technology Center
invests primarily in life sciences and homeland security.
May 2005
News from Israel's Consul of Economic Affairs
Shai Aizin, Israel's consul for economic affairs in Los Angeles, California,
sent the following about some of the country's strengths in biotech:
Our office serves as a bridge between the Western United States and Israel. We
promote partnerships and the expansion of trade among businesses operating in
the two locales. We provide companies in Israel and the Western United States
with up-to-date information on industry trends, identifying investment opportunities,
and fulfilling requests to locate potential strategic partners. Our office facilitates
partnerships by organizing official visits to and from Israel, as well as arranging
business trips, meetings, and conferences for companies in both countries.
The Israeli biotechnology industry is a world pioneer in R&D. Israeli biotechnology sales have increased from $15 million in 1988 to $2 billion last year. The number of Israeli biotechnology companies has grown from just four companies in 1980 to over 200 in 2003 and includes some of the world’s leading firms.
The growing success of the biotech industry can be attributed to a strong academic
research base and steadfast governmental support. Indeed, 35 percent of Israel's
civilian research activities are devoted to life sciences and the country has
over 10 research institutes that invest significant resources in R&D.
Israeli researchers are involved in cutting-edge biotech research in fields such
as stem cells, genetic engineering, and drug development.
October 2004
"Israel's Magshoe provides a step ahead in security solutions"
From Israel21c (October 31, 2004) "... Meanwhile, six Israeli other
homeland security companies will be selected to participate in MarketReach America Homeland Security
2005, a business cooperation and development program that advises and assists Israeli homeland security
companies with the commercialization of their products and technologies for the US market.
The Maryland/Israel Development Center (MIDC) and Israel-based Trendlines Group,
a business development company specializing in US market strategies, have announced
the launch of the $400,000 program and the opening of the application period
that ends on 12 December 2004.
The companies that win through to participate in the program will interact with
top American security, technology and business experts.
According to MIDC executive director Barry Bogage, "Israeli companies are world-renowned
for the development of innovative, cutting-edge technologies in the security
sector. MarketReach America helps expand the horizons and opportunities for these
companies by opening doors and providing access to leading US experts."
SLP Inc. Appoints Ken Godish as Vice President and General Manager
SLP Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of SLP Ltd. has appointed Ken Godish as vice president and general manager.
Godish brings over 20 years of marketing and sales management experience in the medical device industry. He has played key roles in the successful start-ups of ResMed Corp. (NYSE: RMD) and more recently, InnoMed Technologies. Both are leading companies in the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing.
While at ResMed, Godish took sales from zero to over $30 million in the western half of the U.S. compiling 30 consecutive record sales quarters which led to six consecutive listing in Forbes magazines top 200 companies in the United States. He later was involved in the New Business Development group, which began initiatives to promote the treatment of sleep apnea in cardiology and stroke patients.
At InnoMed Godish was responsible for sales in the U.S. and Canada and oversaw the marketing efforts of the company.
Godish has an MBA from Illinois Institute of Technology and an undergraduate degree in economics.
SLP Inc. is located in St. Charles, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. SLP Ltd. develops and manufactures disposable, "smart" sleep sensors. It is one of the MarketReach America Life Sciences 2004 companies.
September 2004
Guardium Project Joins MarketReach America ICET 2004 Program
The Lahav Division of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has combined C4I (command, control, communication, computer, and intelligence) development and unmanned security vehicle technology to produce the sophisticated Guardium first responder solution for perimeter security.
Based on continuous data input from the field, the Guardium system reacts immediately to contain, communicate, and control intruders until backup support arrives to significantly improve incident response times, minimize the manpower required for continuous monitoring, and reduce security personnel's exposure to physical danger.
The Guardium project joined the MarketReach America ICET 2004 program in June. The other ICET 2004 participants are dsIT Technologies, Jetro Platforms, Share-Manage, TeleCont Communications, WizCom Technologies.
The Courage Institute Travels in Fast Company
The September issue of Fast Company magazine is devoted to the topic of courage. From the picture of the cowardly lion on the cover to profiles of courageous leaders and articles by John McCain and other leading thinkers about courage, the magazine is full of interesting thoughts about courage.
Merom Klein Ph.D., founder of The Courage Institute, contributed to the “Playbook” section of the magazine. He developed “The Courage Quiz,” which is based on the 5 Courage Factors as one way to exhibit courage in the face of challenging moments of truth. The Courage Institute provides organizational development, conflict resolution, and change management interventions to some of the world’s most successful companies.
July 2004
MarketReach America Companies Prepare Road Shows
The five MarketReach America Life Sciences 2004 participants — Andante Medical Devices, Chiasma, ETView, Multi Gene Vascular System, and SLP — are hard at work during the final stage of the three-stage business development program.
In other news of the companies ... SLP, developers of the “smart sensor” platform for testing sleep disorders at home, recently made the first shipment of its SleepStrip product to a major U.S. distributor. The company unveiled its sensor tester at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies show in June in the United States. ... Multi Gene Vascular System completed a $4 million institutional round led by Tamir Fishman Venture Capital (TASE: TFVC) and Europe’s Fantine Group and Ofer Brothers Hi-Tech. ... Arik Avni, CEO of Andante Medical Devices, recently appeared on Israeli television to discuss the company’s innovative lower limb rehabilitation device.
Multi Gene Vascular Systems (MGVS) Completed $4 Million Institutional Round
The round was led by Tamir Fishman Venture Capital (TASE: TFVC) and Europe's Fantine Group and Ofer Brothers Hi-Tech. The company has developed a therapeutic technology that utilizes the patient's own modified vascular cells for stimulating the growth of new blood vessels. The technology is especially well suited to patients that cannot undergo angioplasty or conventional bypass surgery. The other technology employs bio-engineered grafts (for use in bypass surgery) in the legs and in hemodialysis access sites. MGVS is currently conducting toxicity studies and expects to begin clinical trials in the United States in early 2005.
February 2004
5 Biotech Companies To Win USISTF Development Grants
From Globes [online] (February 17, 2004) The US-Israel Science and Technology Foundation grants are part of the MarketReach America program.
Five Israeli biotechnology companies will win US-Israel Science and Technology Foundation (USISTF) grants under the MarketReach America program. The five companies will be chosen from 20 candidates. Each will receive 500 hours of business consultancy, worth $70,000, and opportunities to meet potential investors and distributors in the US.
MarketReach America is a multiyear program of Trendlines International and the Maryland/Israel Development Center. The program aims to help Israeli biotechnology companies enter the US market. The 20 candidate companies are now going through the selection process. The five winners will be presented at the Bio-Tech Israel 2004 conference in May.
The three-day Bio-Tech Israel 2004 conference is part of the 3rd National Biotechnology Week, and will include an exhibition where Israeli and foreign companies will discuss genetic illnesses and genetic treatments, neurobiology, nanorobotics, the borders between nanotechnology and high-tech, bioinformatics, genetic therapies, and other topics. A special track will be dedicated to raising capital for Israel's biotechnology industry.
The Lahav Division of 