Ten Israeli startups are set to compete next week in a virtual contest as part of the Startup World Cup 2021, an annual competition created by Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm Pegasus Tech Ventures. The competition made its debut in Israel recently with Tech It Forward, a boutique consulting and tech events agency, and launched a call for applications in December.
The competition began in 2020 with over 50 contests on six continents. Pandemic restrictions permitting, ten finalists selected from among all regional winners are expected to head to San Francisco in May 2021 for the finale with a chance to win a USD 1 million investment prize.
In Israel, ten finalist startups will take part in a live pitch competition next Tuesday, after which a winner will be selected by a panel of judges.
The ten startups are:
- Hargol FoodTech, an Israeli food tech startup developing grasshopper protein lines. NoCamels covered its recent developments and their potential impact.
- SensePass, a mobile payments solutions company and the developer of SensePay, an enterprise-grade payment technology designed to execute seamless payments through secured IoT communications.
- RobotAI, a software startup that transforms cameras into 3D measurement devices.
- Dealtale, a marketing analytics and data startup founded earlier this year.
- i-BrainTech, an AI-based neuro sports training platform designed to enhance the performance of individual athletes and empower coaches using data insights.
- ARpalus, a retail tech company that helps CPG (consumer packaged goods) companies and retailers execute in-store operations using augmented reality.
- Matricelf, a medical tech startup that grew out of Tel Avi University’s technology transfer firm Ramot. Matricelf developed a technology that enables the production of autologous engineered tissue composed of matrix and cells derived from patients’ omental biopsies.
- Pika, a technology startup focused on curbing the use of plastic. The company is currently developing a machine that cleans reusable diapers in one step.
- Serenus.AI, a medical tech company that develops solutions to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
- ExoProTher Medical, a biomedical startup developing a novel approach to cancer treatment.
Judges for the local competition will include Bill Reichert, partner at Pegasus Tech Ventures; Roy Caner, a senior partner and head of the high-tech division at the EBN & Co law firm; Tal Dori, CEO of IBI Capital; Delia Pekelman, the deputy head at Leumitech; Michal Michaeli, director of international economic development at Tel Aviv Global; Uria Fiano, a serial entrepreneur and Tech It Forward board member; and Snir Hassidim, corporate and business development at Checkpoint Software.