Ava Trade acquired for $105M, top 4 startups from Microsoft’s Demo Day, & OurCrowd’s singular successes

Startup Roundup

Playtech buys Israeli company AvaTrade for $105M

It turns out that early May reports about Playtech buying AvaTrade have had substantial merit. Playtech, founded by Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi, announced that it has agreed to buy currency trading platform AvaTrade for $105 million to expand its online trading platform. Playtech, which provides software used in sports betting and online casino games, is aiming to carve a niche in currency trading using its technology, as the gambling industry comes under pressure from higher taxes and tougher regulation. Learn more.

OurCrowd Events

	London, UK Panel on global finance July 6th, 2015 For more information Please click here	Tel Aviv, Israel Wearable tech & IoT July 8th, 2015 For more information Please click here
	Jon Medved in the USA A series of events in July with OurCrowd's CEO For more information Please click here	New York, NY Tech series reception July 13th, 2015 Accredited investors only Reserve your seat

Technology Corner

Here are the top 4 startups from Microsoft’s Demo Day

The sixth class of startups consisted of 11 companies chosen from a pool of 330 applicants. The companies chosen operate in the fields of e-commerce, marketing, fintech, cybersecurity, agritech, human resources, tourism and more. This class is considered to be one of the most successful with seven of the 11 companies having managed to raise or received offers of funding. Geektime selects its top picks of the four most interesting pitches. See the full list.

Trending Israeli Entrepreneurs

OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved on how he built a crowd-investing giant

Serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Jon Medved, currently the founder and CEO of OurCrowd, was interviewed by Simcha Gluck on Voice of Israel's "Innovation Nation." Jon describes his company’s unique crowdfunding and crowd-building opportunities. He tells about some of the top companies that come through its deal flow, and explains why he thinks Israeli innovation is just getting started. Hear more from Jon.

3 Israeli startups vie for $1M Chinese tech prize

Three Israeli startups have a shot at winning the million-dollar prize at China’s Shengjing Global Innovation Awards 2015 in Beijing this summer, and present their technology to such Chinese tech giants as Alibaba, Baidu, and Xiaomi. The three companies, chosen out of 180 start-ups that applied to competition when it was announced in January, will be among 20 that will compete for the million-dollar grand prize, as well as smaller awards. Learn more.

10 Israel-US collaborations get $8M funding

Israel-US Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation has approved $8 million in funding for 10 new projects between American and Israeli companies. The ten projects — in healthcare & wellness, advanced materials, advanced manufacturing technologies, and water innovations – were approved by the Board of Governors at a recent meeting in Washington DC. Learn more.