Good news for the small and medium-sized businesses in the northern periphery: the social economic forum of the business sector presidency in collaboration with “8200 for small businesses” of the 8200 unit alumni association, are launching a project that will help them reach their economic potential and increase income.
In fact, this is a multi-participant event, which also includes Tnuva, Bank Hapoalim, Morning, Ahinoam Association, the Federation of Craft and Industry and the Lahav organization. So far, two successful pilots have been conducted in collaboration with the bank, in which businesses increased their sales by tens of percent, and now the official launch is taking place.
The project offers 50 businesses from the north support and accompaniment for three months, when each of them will receive a customized, dedicated acceleration plan, and will be able to use 230 mentors who are 8200 graduates and professionals from leading companies in the economy. At the end of the program, each business will be entitled to continue the activity for a year with Keren Shemesh, which encourages business entrepreneurship.
“75% of our employees live and work in the peripheral areas, which makes us one of the largest employers in the north and south,” says Eyal Melis, CEO of Tnuva. “The new venture will help businesses, and increase productivity in the economy.”
The fintech company morning (from Green Invoice House), which was established in 2011 and offers a digital toolbox for business management, already works with about 120,000 small and medium-sized businesses, so the connection to the project is natural. According to Lior Wilchinsky, co-founder and CEO of the company, “Small businesses are one of the main layers that move the wheels of the Israeli economy. In most cases, these are businesses that are managed by one person, who specialized in an excellent service or product, out of a place of passion and inner burning.
“In practice, running a business includes many layers that require knowledge, expertise and especially time. Many businesses close due to the lack of knowledge and tools, as well as poor planning in establishing the business and managing its cash flow. The current project is designed to meet exactly this need.”
Elbit invests in Bnei Brak
The president of the high-tech defense company Elbit Systems, Bezalel Butzi Machlis, together with the company’s management, inaugurated this week the new complex for software development in Bnei Brak, which operates in cooperation with the I-ROX company.
The new complex replaces the previous complex, and makes it possible to double the number of skilled female software engineers from the ultra-Orthodox society to 200. In the coming months, another 100 female engineers who are in training are supposed to join them. The engineers are involved in software development for Elbit Systems projects, including developments for the Hermes 900 UAV, which is used by the IDF as well as a number of other armies in the world.
Machlis believes that integrating women from ultra-Orthodox society into advanced software jobs that are significant for the security of the state, enables a two-sided return for society and its employees. According to him, “We aim to copy the model to other localities in Israel where we have factories or near them, such as Arad.”
The I-ROX software house, led by Batzi Tzur and Ruti Margaliot, is a software boutique that specializes in sorting and recruiting high-quality female software engineers from ultra-Orthodox society, building technological development teams, training and enrichment courses for high-tech professions.
Danny is old
President of Elbit Systems in Bezalel Machlis, Ruthi Margalit in Tsi Tzur from joint CEOs of Airox, David Margalit / photo: Elbit Systems
President of Elbit Systems in Bezalel Machlis, Ruthi Margalit in Tsi Tzur from joint CEOs of Airox, David Margalit / photo: Elbit Systems
The new neighbor in Migdal FZ 1
The fintech company T-REX, which develops analytics products for the planning and management of complex investment instruments, is moving to new offices in Migdal Paz 1 in the stock exchange complex in Ramat Gan, as part of the process of expansion and recruitment of developers.
The offices are located on the 10th floor (out of 19), and span the entire floor – an area of about 800 square meters. The average rent is about NIS 120 per square meter – so it is a rent of close to NIS 100,000 per month
For comparison, according to data from the Natam company, the average price per square meter in the stock market is NIS 129 – that is, higher. However, it should be taken into account that both parties invested about NIS 4,000 per square meter in the renovation of the property. The contract was signed for a period of five years, with an option for another five years.
T-REX was founded in 2012 by Benjamin Cohen, who serves as CEO, and it developed a platform that allows organizations to assess value and risks in relation to complex investments, reduce operating and capital expenses and improve performance, through SaaS and big data solutions. To date, the company has raised -$75 million, from Viola Fintech, Citi and Riverstone, among others.The company currently employs about 100 people in New York and Tel Aviv.
According to Arad Shaver, VP of Technology at T-REX, the location was chosen, among other things, because it allows “creating important strategic and business connections between the many high-tech companies located there. In preparation for the move, we rebuilt the offices so that they fit the hybrid way of working, which requires available and fast communication capabilities between the employees in the office and those at home and abroad.”
T-REX company offices / Photo: T-REX
good news
The Ministry for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev and the Galilee will provide approximately 3,000 small business owners in the periphery with support totaling NIS 45 million for the establishment, operation and advertising of e-commerce stores.