Elka Nir, CEO of Carmel-Haifa and Carmel Innovations
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Carmel-Haifa – the University of Haifa’s Economic
Corporation– has launched Innovations Fund II,
offering investors direct access to its newest
portfolio of promising, early-stage technology
start-ups.
“Our main mission is to assist faculty members translate innovative research into successful commercial products and services,” explains Elka Nir, CEO of Carmel-Haifa and Carmel Innovations. “We are extremely proud that our portfolio companies in Fund I secured financial backing to the tune of $8 million from leading global healthcare corporations. One of these companies, Protekt Therapeutics (formerly MemoFit) is developing a memory-enhancing drug based on Prof. Kobi Rosenblum’s research for delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. “Innovations Fund II will identify new projects with commercial potential in fields ranging from marine and agricultural sciences to information systems, artificial intelligence, and digital health.”
Inspired by the first Fund’s impressive track record, the Haifa Economic Corporation, the development arm of the Haifa Municipality, has announced it will invest one million dollars in Innovations Fund II, including $100,000 to support SEAERRA – an underwater vision start-up led by Dr. Tali Treibitz.
Carmel-Haifa is currently opening additional offices in the newly established Lorry I. Lokey City Campus, which will be home to Israel’s first School of Data Sciences and the Tauber Bioinformatics Research Center. “Our new branch in the City Campus brings us in close proximity to major tech players and accelerators, such as the new Digital Health Complex founded by Brad Bloom and Erel Margalit.”
“The launching of Fund II affirms the confidence of our investors in the unique investment vehicle and innovative projects offered by Carmel-Haifa, which enables them to advance pioneering research toward applied solutions and commercialization,” adds Nir. “Investors have the option of being involved in project selection and assume board positions, and may invest directly in the established start-ups at a later stage.”