I think that as you have stated in other posts, the fact that “infrastructure technology” which was the strongest edge of many Israelis companies in the past, does not mean that competing in a “hype” market of WEB apps is that where value is created. the problem is that developing new infrastructure technologies today requires a much higher level of funding, hence the R&D centers of CISCO, Intel and many other in Israel.

I my believe the days where a “free” ICQ like product would result in 500M$ sale to another company is can not exits in today’s market.

Yossi Vardi, is still taking the same approach of ICQ with Fring (a great product, but no real business model, they actually signing deals with manufacturers where THEY pay them revenue share and not the opposite), therefore i ask “what is the business model?” every company, selling a service and not a technology (and don’t get companies sell me stories about we have developed a great new thing doing, a very small thing that can be replicated in software in 100 different ways), needs to have a revenue stream, a highly lucrative business model with partners that would recognize the value and maybe some day deliver the exit strategy everyone are aiming for (instead of building a company – which i think a much better approach).

well, nuff said for now, i only wish the best to all the Israelis start-ups and hope to see lots of USD, Euros and whatever currency people have flowing to Israel.

Eyal.

I have to agree with the first comment writer, Fact based criticism, objective analysis and both positive and negative feedback are needed. Things don’t improve simply by telling everyone to back slap one another.

Eventually all this Intellectual Property turned out to be the basis for civilian oriented industry which laid the foundations of the Israeli high-tech now days.
(The local fast-food burgers are still suck though)

Egypt receives about 70% ( $1.8 billion) of the foreign aid money that Israel receives per year. But Egypt does not produce innovations that reflect the American aid you speak about.

Stop complaining, and start working.

I think all of us want a peaceful resolution to the conflict, one that assures safety and prosperity to all. When we accomplish that, it will be no thanks to those shrill elements with hidden agendas hell bent on presenting a one sided view and on demonization. That applies to both sides of the conflict by the way.

If you’d sent your project to me I may well have been prepared to spend time on it gratis providing certain criteria were met. Many designers often do that for projects and people they believe in. You’d be surprised at how often some of us work off the clock.

As for the softly softly approach to startups – I couldn’t disagree more, the ability not to separate self worth from business success or failure as an essential one that has to be learned.

Stephen Pickering
Little Rock, AR

And yet they raised over $100 million for the idea. Not that I’m a genius, far from it. If I could so quickly find the problem in that business, why couldn’t all the VCs who poured their money into it?

Most of the Windows operating systems were developed by Microsoft-Israel.

The Intel microprocessor in your computer was most likely made in Israel.

Voice mail technology was developed in Israel. Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R&D facilities outside the US in Israel. The technology for the AOL Instant Messenger ICQ was developed in 1996 by four young Israelis.

In proportion to its population, Israel has the largest number of startup companies in the world. In absolute terms, Israel has the largest number of startup companies than any other country in the world, except the U.S. 3,500companies mostlyin hi-tech).

With more than 3,000 high-tech companies and startups, Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the world apart from the Silicon Valley, U. S. Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the U.S.

Outside the United States, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies.

Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with 145 per 10,000, as opposed to 85 in the U.S., over 70 in Japan, and less than 60 in Germany. With over 25% of its work force employed in technical professions. Israel places first in this category as well.

This is a technical blog. Israel is a technology leader ‘Nuff Said.

Imagine that Israel never existed. Would the economic malaise and political repression that drive angry young men to become suicide bombers vanish? Would the Palestinians have an independent state? Would the United States, freed of its burdensome ally, suddenly find itself beloved throughout the Muslim world? Wishful thinking. Far from creating tensions, Israel actually contains more antagonisms than it causes.

Do not be under any illusion that opposition to Israel’s existence, is inherently antisemitic so spare us all your racism and let’s keep it focussed on the tech!