The venture capital fund Team8 recently launched its Tiktok page accompanied by the digital agency Havas Blink, thus becoming the first venture capital fund in Israel to address entrepreneurs through the social network.
The foundation recognizes that the age range of TikTok users is expanding more and more. About 30% of the billion users are between the ages of 25 and 44, so this makes this social network a significant center of activity.
“As part of Team8’s understanding that the next entrepreneurs are the young generation that needs to be talked to in the networks they are in, the foundation set up a page that will bridge the gap and bring the most interesting and successful people in the Israeli and global high-tech community in an informal and very authentic way to the platform,” the company’s announcement reads.
According to them, the page provides a unique glimpse into the daily challenges of the entrepreneurs in the portfolio companies, advice and content videos. “TikTok has long been not just a platform for dancing and fun, but a learning and content platform with a sophisticated algorithm,” explains Assaf Azoulai, VP of Marketing at Team8. “We identified an opportunity to be one of the first high-tech entities in the world to be on the platform.”
The foundation explains that short videos are the best way to consume content today, and they plan to use other channels as well, including Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
The world is going to Tiktok
This move by Team8 joins a much wider trend. Around the world, venture capital funds, start-ups and entrepreneurs use TikTok in order to reach new audiences and emerging trends. The possibilities here are clear: in this way, the funds can reach start-up companies and various opportunities while deploying themselves, and companies in the portfolio will be able to gain a public profile by increasing exposure to their products.
Beyond that, entrepreneurs, companies and start-ups can strengthen their external communication with the help of the public – and thus make the industry follow their activities. The fact that it is fast-paced content that flows according to interests, makes this industry grow and gain a lot of prominence. Now, such a move by the first Israeli venture capital fund, may dictate the way forward for the entire industry.
Nebo Treblesi
Industrial Zone
Novidea’s insurance deal
The Israeli insurtech startup Novidea has signed an agreement with the insurance giant Gallagher, under which its technology will be integrated into the company’s systems. Sources in the industry estimate that the deal is estimated at tens of millions of dollars.
Gallagher was established in 1927, and its headquarters are in Illinois. It operates in 130 countries, employs over 30,000 people, and its annual turnover is 7 billion dollars.
Novidea was founded in 2009 by Roy Agababa, who serves as CEO. The company developed
A cloud platform that allows brokers and agents to increase sales and operational efficiency throughout the distribution cycle. The company has so far raised 38 million dollars, and employs about 150 people – 100 of them in the development center in Polg.
BDO expands towards the creative
BDO, one of the largest consulting and accounting firms in the world, is expanding its digital activities and acquiring the Haifa creative and user experience agency “Snorkel”.
Snorkel is a digital agency specializing in user experience and user interface, creative and branding. Among Snorkel’s prominent projects: design and characterization of the user experience of the Beyond loyalty program of the International Bank, the new ZONE digital wallet of Heitkazon, and e-commerce stores of Shilv and Rav Barih.
The company was established in 2009 as a boutique design studio by Avi Lesri and Dror Milkevitz, who focused their activities in the field of art and creativity. In 2016, Kobi Razon joined as a partner, and the company expanded its activities into the digital and user experience worlds.
Activity in 164 countries
BDO is an accounting and business consulting firm that is one of the five largest firms in the world, with branches in 164 countries. BDO Israel was founded in 1983 and operates eight branches in Israel, as well as Israeli desks in the United States, the United Arab Emirates, China, India, Vietnam and Eurasia. The firm currently employs approximately 1,700 people in Israel. As part of the deal, BDO Digital will merge Snorkel into it.
The CEO of Snorkel, Kobi Razon, said that “the process of user experience and creativity in digital products has long been no longer the last link in the chain of action. More and more companies realize that integrating a solution-based thinking methodology is critical to success.”
good news
Thousands of refugee children from the war zones in Ukraine participated in a fun day in the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, at the initiative of Rotary World Vigal Weinberger, founder of the association “Kuluna for all of us”, who even brought them packages packed by children from Kiryat Gat and Mashkelon.
“This is an important activity for increasing global solidarity,” says Weinberger. “Precisely against the background of the ruined villages of the abandoned Kyiv and in the shadow of the shelling and threats, it is a privilege to make the refugee children happy and strong.”
A few months ago, Weinberger sent shipments of humanitarian equipment to Ukraine through the association. “After World Rotary turned to countries around the world for assistance, our association gladly responded,” says Weinberger. “My father was born in Ukraine and my mother’s family is from Odessa. I ‘come full circle’ as an Israeli and a resident of the south, who knows the reality in our country very well, and am proud to realize this humanitarian project.”