Go Israel: Out of 8 stories on Techcrunch's homepage, 5 are on Israel: AllofMe, SeeToo, Google Israel, eToro and SuTree

The front page at TechCrunch looks as if it was taken out of VC Cafe today. Out of 8 posts displayed on the home page, 4 are related to Israel. If you scroll back one page, you'll see another one - not bad for a tiny country in the middle east.


Here's a quick recap:

1. Yossi Vardi invests in Tel Aviv Based startup AllofMe - the Israeli company is developing a timeline generator for digital assets. It puts your emails photos, documents and videos on a time scale, thus allowing you to keep track of your media while giving it a new perspective. Next time some one asks you "what did you do on your birthday?" AllofMe should help you answer the question. Addy Feuerstein is the Founder - the company was founded in May of 2007 and has 8 employees. (via TechCruch, Haaretz, Orli)
   
   
2. Yet another investment by Yossi Vardi - this time it's an Israel/New York City based startup called SeeToo, a web-based application that allows individuals to invite friends and family to watch home videos with them in real time in a chat room. It's a bit similar to Meebo Rooms and soon-to-be-covered by VC Cafe, Ekko TV. TechCrunch is giving away 500 invites - try to get yours here. Yoav Ilan, head of marketing and biz dev gave the demo to TechCrunch. Yoav- Can I also get a demo and some invites? (via TechCrunch)
   
   
3. Google Israel acting Evil - According to Globes Online, Google initially stated that “disclosing the blogger’s identity violated rulings on the balance between freedom of expression and a person’s right to his reputation” - BUT Google finally caved in and provided the IP address of an "anonymous" blogger to an Israeli court voluntarily as part of a defamation case against a politician. Not that I support protecting a criminal, but it's important to note: G wasn't forced to give the data - they volunteered it. (via Globes, Techchrunch)
   
   
4. Roi Carthy posted an interesting review of eToro - a visual Forex (Foreign Exchange) Trading platform that simplifies trading by allowing users to trade money in a game-like setting. The parent company is Israel-based Tradonomi Ltd - It is incorporated in Limasol - most likely for taxing purposes, with offices in Tel Aviv. Trandonomi is led by Ceo and co-founder Jonathan (Yoni) Assia. was founded in 2006 and has 30 employees. Most recently, eToro released an affiliate platform called eToro Partners. (via PR Web, Techcrunch and Linked in).
   
   
5. Bonus: scroll one page back and see an article on Israel's SuTree, an online index and library for free video lessons, tutorials, lectures and how-to's from all over the web. SuTree got a serious facelift and a content collaboration agreement with Israel based 5min.

On a related note, If you haven't done so already, please visit the new 'under construction' home of The Venture Capital Cafe at http://www.vccafe.com and subscribe to my feed. VC Cafe covers early stage companies, innovative technologies, and venture capital news with a spotlight on Israel. There's a bunch of new features and ideas on the way in December, as the VC Cafe celebrates two years!

Halloween Roundup: Google's platform, EasyStart, Ideas08 and more

A few quick bytes of recent news that didn't get their own post on VC Cafe:

1. Open Social, Maka-Maka and Google's Attempt to Bite From the Facebook Pie
   Marc Anderssen of Ning and blog.pmarca (highly recommended read) posted a great summary of the recent API announcement. Ning is participating in the open API initiative, along with hi5, linkedin, plaxo, salesforce, friendster and more. Others companies are taking the same route by opening their platform in a similar fashion, including MySpace, the 800 pound gorilla and the web-based instant messaging platform Meebo.com. The New York Times has the details.
   
   UPDATE: Ning Added a Screen Cast and screenshots of Open Social in action:
   
   Open Social Screen Cast
   
   Find more screencasts like this on Ning Network Creators
   Screenshots
   
   
   
2. eXelate Raises $4M for Delayed-Ad Exchange
   Carmel Ventures financed the round. The Israeli based ad platform eXelate offers a marketplace called the “eXelate Targeting eXchange” which is focused on what they are calling “Delayed-Ads.” eXelate was founded in 2006 by CEO Meir Zohar and CTO Elad Efraim, who were both previously with online ad network Oridian. Roi Carthy and a:c will tell you all about it.
   
   
3. Jamster and innerActive to Trial Mobile In-Game Advertising Service in the UK
   I sometimes get Press Releases forwarded through the blog - this was the most recent one: Jamster, one of the world's leading providers of digital entertainment, able to reach one in six consumers around the globe, and Israel based innerActive Smart Media, a leading provider of innovative ad-funded entertainment channel, have announced today a trial of a new Mobile In-Game Advertising service in the UK. Want to read more? There are plenty of sources...
   
   
4. Easy start will give you 100K to fund your idea - interest free
   The Dan David Foundation, annually awards 3 prizes of US$ 1 million each for achievements having an outstanding scientific, technological, cultural or social impact on our world. In a recent initiative, The Marker and Dan David announced EasyStart - a new - an interest free angel loan of 100K$ for early stage start ups. In return, EasyStart takes 25% of the venture, and will receive 18 monthly installments. In addition, The Marker magazine will provide exposure to the projects, including interviews with the founders. The risk is on them - if the start up fails, the entrepreneur files for chapter 11 and is not required to return a dime. If it works, a year from inception the start up will be entitled for additional grants of up to $120K. To apply, follow this link (Hebrew)
   
   
5. The Israel National Entrepreneurship Competition - Biztec 08
   BizTEC's mission is to be "A League" entrepreneurship competition, providing a framework within Israel that encourages entrepreneurs to act on their innovation and ultimately produce Israel's next generation of successful ventures.
   
   This year BizTEC has added a preliminary stage to the competition. After registration to the BizTEC website, teams will be able to submit a 1 page paper describing the IDEA concept of the venture. Teams are required to show an understanding of the business aspects for a new creative technological IDEA. The upcoming competition starts on November 4th in Israel. Register or submit your idea.
   

Google Office Launch in Israel

Small item from Google Blogoscoped. David Hetfield reports on Google's Tel Aviv office innaguration on June 4th.

Worth noting: "Why Israel?"

• Highest density of computer science talent worldwide
• Fantastic Universities
• Build local market understanding
• Fast moving enterepreneurial business environment
• Great local partners...and more.
  

Google is not alone in the holy land. Israel has been known for several years as "Silicon Valley of the middle east" and for a good reason. The Israeli high-tech industry is growing fast, both in technological achievements and in sales. Intel, Microsoft, Mercury, Amdox, Texas Instruments and many more are already there.