Daylight Savings: XJet first round, Octavian second round, Petrobras Shopping, Jordan Valley Semiconductors and Q3 Summary

Catching up with some of the recent deals in the industry. Below is a short recap of what's been getting money these days:

1. Octavian Inc, a leading provider of Separately Managed Account (SMA) solutions in the Wealth and Investment Management (WIM) industry, announced the completion of a $10 million, second round of investment led by Vertex Venture Capital, together with Carmel Ventures and Gemini Israel Funds, Octavian's existing investors. [via]
   
   
   
2. Solar energy start-up XJet raises $9m. In stealth mode, XJet aims to redefine solar cells cost efficiency by using next generation deposition technologies. Following Shai Agassi's "Project Better Place", this investment strengthens Israel's position as a world leader in the export of renewable technology. [via]
   
   
3. Staying on energy, Globes reports that Brazilian energy giant Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras), the fifth largest oil refiner in the world, is examining Israeli cleantech for possible investment at the International Water Technologies and Environmental Control Exhibition and Conference - Watec 2007 in Tel Aviv.The sources added that the company will invest $112 billion in technology companies worldwide under its five-year plan. The bulk of this investment will go to renewable energy technologies, including $15 billion for biofuel. [via]
   
   
4. Intel invests $11M in Jordan Valley Semiconductors. The 12-year-old Jordan Valley develops tools for semiconductor metrology based on x-ray technology, with offices in Israel, U.S., Europe, and Asia. Intel's investment follows a funding spree of $31M since May, including Israel-based application management software company Aternity and Israel-based portable computing environment company Ceedo and Israeli-founded IP Phone provider, JaJah. [via]
   
   
   
   
5. VC Investments in Israel in Q3 up 9% compared to equivalent period last year. In the third quarter of 2007, 108 Israeli high-tech companies raised $414 million from venture investors – both local and foreign. The average company financing round was $3.83 million in Q3, compared with $4.38 million in the third quarter of 2006. [via]
   
   

Winners of the best venture-backed competition

Last Month, Red Herring and the Israel Venture Association co-sponsored a competition in Israel, limited to early stage companies with revenues of up to $10 million in 2006 supported by venture funds associated with the IVA.

Three Israeli startups received first prizes as the best young companies in their respective sectors.

And the winners are:






Software Category: Safend Inc.
Main Idea: Safend develops software to prevent data leaks in the organization, especially from authorized users.

• Founded: 2003
• CEO: Gil Sever
• Employees: 50
  
• Capital Raised: Safend has raised $9.65 Million in 2 rounds.
• Key Investors: Intel Capital, Walden Israel and Elron Electronics.
  

Communications Category: Unipier
Main Idea: A merger between Cash-U and Niragongo created Unipier, the developer of IPM - Intelligent Policy Management software that enables wireless providers to create, integrate and manage services fast.

• Founded: 2000
• CEO: Gabby Levy
• Employees: 60
• Capital Raised: Unipier has raised $43 Million in 4 rounds
• Key Investors: Greylock Partners, Intel Capital, Carmel Ventures, Fidelity Ventures, Pitango Venture Capital
  
  

Life Sciences Category: G.I. View
Main Idea: G.I. View has developed Aer-O-Scope, a new colonoscopy device that consists of a disposable camera embedded in a balloon that propels itself through the colon, providing a 360 degree view.

• Founded: 2003
• CEO: Dr. Benad Goldwasser
• Capital Raised: $29 Million in 4 rounds
• Key Investors: Israel Healthcare Ventures, Delta Ventures, Zielgler Meditech Medical Partners

See the rest of the finalists here.