Vertex in the News | 2005

Israeli high-tech and VC conference to take place in Tokyo next month
Conference sessions will be devoted to software, telecom, chips, investment opportunities in Israel and Japan, and more.
Author: Globes correspondent
Globes, Mar 13, 2005

13 Mar 05 12:20

On April 13, an Israeli high-tech and venture capital conference will be held in Tokyo. Representatives of the Israel Venture Association (IVA) and the Israel Association of Electronic and Information Industries (IAEI) will participate in the conference, which is sponsored by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Industry and Employment Ehud Olmert. As part of the conference, meetings will be held with senior representatives from the Japanese capital market and visits will made to leading Japanese companies.
The first session, entitled: “Israeli A Global Source of Innovation,” will be opened by Olmert. Also participating in this session will be a representative from the government of Japan, IVA chairman Yoram Oron, and Elron president and CEO Doron Birger, an IAEI board member. Avi Zeevi, a founding partner in Carmel Ventures, will lead a session on investment opportunities in Israel. There will also be conference sessions devoted to software, telecommunications, chips, investment opportunities in Japan and more.

Tokyo was selected as the venue for this conference out of recognition of the strategic importance of the Japanese market. Oron, the founder of Vertex Venture Capital, stated, “For many Israeli companies, Japan is a target market with significant growth potential for high-tech products and is viewed as a possible source for investments in the Israeli technology industry and venture capital funds.” Oron noted that this is the first time that the heads of Israeli venture capital funds and electronic industries will hold organized meetings with the top leaders of Japanese industry.

Birger emphasized the great importance of the conference in light of the significant expansion of business and technological cooperation between Israeli companies and the giants of Japanese industry. “Against the background of these conditions, the IAEI views the conference as an excellent opportunity for Israeli high-tech companies to make connections and promote technological and business cooperation with leading Japanese electronics companies, which are slated to participate in and around the conference.”

The IVA and IAEI cooperate in organizing high-tech conferences at the leading centers of capital and technology in the world, with the aim of promoting exports from Israeli high-tech industries, encouraging global investors to invest in Israel and to promote international collaboration, said Zeevi, a founding partner in Carmel Ventures. “These conferences have great importance in exposing Israeli companies, both new and old, to potential partners and customers throughout the world, and we call upon Israeli high-tech companies to take advantage of this and participate in the conference.”

Oron noted that Israel`s venture capital industry is expected to raise close to $1.5 billion next year, which he said was a significant part of the global venture capital industry. “The current wave of new investments is based on the very strong reputation of the Israeli venture capital industry and the anticipated improvement in the political climate in Israel,” he added.

The Israel Venture Association was founded in 1996 and is the representative association for the Israeli venture capital and private equity industries. Its objectives are to promote and stimulate venture capital activities in Israel, providing information, networking opportunities, publications, and international contacts for the benefit of investors and entrepreneurs active in the Israeli market. IVA membership includes over 150 Israel-based or Israel-oriented VCs, investment and holding companies, investment banks, service providers, CPA firms, and law firms.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on Sunday, March 13, 2005

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