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StartupIsrael News:


Outbrain raises 5M$ from Gemini and Lightspeed

Outbrain (an LGI-Lab backed company) got more support from Gemini and lightspeed - a 5M$ round A investment. Outbrain allows bloggers to add a "rating" system feature to their blogs.

Read more here (Ouriel Ohayon's blog)

ICQ releases interesting data - they have 29million registered users

ICQ has given some interesting data today: There are 29 million registered users (1.2m in Israel). 80% of the users are aged 13-29. 

Read more here (Globes, hebrew) 

WPP digital invests 3M$ in nuconomy

WPP digital has invested 3M$ in Nuconomy which develops tool to measure users behavior in web sites. Yossi Vardi has invested 300K$ in a previous round.

Read more here (YNet, hebrew) 

Carmel Ventures finished raising 235M$ for their third fund

Carmel ventures have finished raising 235M$ for the new fund. They will continue their previous investment focus, investing in late-stage companies, including Internet ones.

Read more here (TheMarker, hebrew) 

Foxytunes sold to Yahoo! for 20-30M$

Foxytunes (maker of a popular firefox extension) was sold to Yahoo!, for an estimated 20-30M$.

Read more here (TheMarker, hebrew) 


SemantiNet raised 1.7M$

SemantiNet (developing some search-related technology) has just raised 1.7M$ from Giza. They claim to 'bring content to the user' which is better than having the user actively search for content, and also make a personalized product. Previous investors include Jeff Pulver and Yossi Vardi.

Read more here (Globes, hebrew) 

Also here (Israel Digital News)

eCamp Israel - An International Technology Summer Camp

eCamp Israel is an International Technology Summer Camp, opening the gates to the #1 success story of Israel – Technology Innovation. eCamp Israel introduces the campers to an enriching experience that touches their deepest emotions and spur creative energies in their minds, providing an original, creative and fascinating program, matching worldwide youth with Israeli peers in a unique way using universal language – Technology. eCamp Israel is an overnight summer camp where worldwide youth who love technology get together for an unforgettable experience.
 

Hingi on the verge of closing

There is a rumour that Hingi is on the verge of closing, and have fired 15 employees already. The company has a service that helps you identify a song that is currently playing on radio and then download it to your cellphone. 3.4M$ has been invested already, and the company tried to raise more money from VCs but was unsuccessful.

Read more here (TheMarker, hebrew)

Yahoo may be looking at buying Foxytunes

TechCrunch reports that Yahoo may purchase Foxytunes - the company that makes a popular FireFox extension. Yossi Vardi is one of FoxyTunes' investors.

Read more here (TechCrunch)

iMedix wins best 2007 new startup in Crunchies

Congratulations to iMedix - they just won the "best new startup in 2007" in the Crunchies contest.

Well done!  Other winners here.