Opportunities galore for Singapore firms to tap Israeli technologies

LAST year saw great turmoil across much of the world - the collapse of much of the Middle East, the dismemberment of Ukraine, eruption of the Ebola epidemic, to name just three events. But in at least one small corner of the world - Israel, and among its tech companies in particular - it would be remembered as a record year.

Just a few weeks ago, it was announced that Israeli startups witnessed exits in the record amount of US$15 billion in 2014. Early-stage companies were also able to raise almost US$1 billion in financing rounds, an all-time record. Considering that Israel was plunged into a lengthy, 60-day conflict in Gaza between July and August 2014, these numbers are truly impressive on even a global scale.

So what made Israeli technology companies such a hot commodity in 2014? It seems that the explanation for this phenomenon is twofold. First, as Rubi Suliman, PwC Israel partner in its high-tech assurance practice, explained in a recent interview, "in 2014, the stars were aligned exactly right for Israeli high-tech". He cited these factors: The IPO (initial public offering) window "was open" in the United States and England; maturity of many Israeli companies and investors; major availability of money for high-tech from buyers and investors. And, of course, "the strength of Israeli high-tech that knew how to reinvent itself and adapt to the times", he added.