CTech's Tuesday Roundup of Israeli Tech News

Why Israel stopped all attempts by Chinese companies to buy local insurers. Sick on an overseas vacation? This startup hooks you up with local doctors

Why Israel stopped all attempts by Chinese companies to buy local insurers. Israel’s former capital markets watchdog tells Calcalist she had no intention of letting any government-affiliated buyer, Chinese or not, take over Israeli insurers. Read more

 

Sick on an overseas vacation? This startup hooks you up with local doctors. Israel-based Air Doctor develops an online marketplace for pre-vetted doctors. The company raised $3.1 million from French insurer AXA. Read more

 

Air Doctor founders Yegor Kurbachev (left), Yam Derfler, Efrat Sagi-Ofir and Jenny Cohen Derfler. Photo: PR

 

Cybersecurity startup Exabeam raises $50 million. Exabeam said it is on track to more than double its market size in 2018, having reported 250% market growth in 2017. Read more

 

Scientists on a mission to save squashed Israeli watermelon. After a barrage of complaints from consumers and sharp decline in sales, agricultural researchers are trying to bring the flavor back to the Israeli watermelon. Read more 

 

Founders Fund invests in a 911 startup backed by Ehud Barak. Emergency response startup Carbyne announced a $15 million Series B round on Tuesday. Read more

 

TV Channel for Man’s Best Friend Now Available on Satellite Broadcast Provider Dish Network. DogTV’s 24-hour broadcasts are designed to accommodate dogs with separation anxiety, keeping them occupied when owners leave the house for long periods of time. Read more

 

Israeli government and national broadcaster Kan exchange blows over Eurovision budget. In order to host the international song contest, Kan must submit 12 million euros in securities by Tuesday night but is refusing to do so unless the Israeli government agrees to cover expenses. Read more

 

Sara Netanyahu wore flight attendant uniform to launch El Al’s new Dreamliner. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, a former flight attendant for national carrier El Al, received the plane in a Tuesday ceremony. Read more

 

News Briefs

 

Scooter startup Bird has landed in Tel Aviv. Read more

 

Jerusalem-based content creation startup Lightricks to set up shop in Europe. Read more