US-based Ibex Investors raises $106m fourth Israel fund

Ibex Israel team credit: Roei Shor
Ibex Israel team credit: Roei Shor

Ibex founder Justin Borus: Despite the ongoing war our LPs recognize the opportunity to make outsized returns precisely from opportunities such as these.

Denver-based investment firm Ibex Investors has announced the closing of its fourth Israel fund, Ibex Israel VC II LP, amounting to $106 million, for investment in early-stage Israeli startups. Besides investing in young Israeli companies, Ibex also invests in listed Israeli companies through its hedge funds. Since the launch of its first Israel-focused fund in 2012, Ibex has made 40 early and growth stage investments in Israeli startups. Among the firm’s portfolio companies are Visionary.ai, Honeycomb, Appwrie, BeamUp, and Weka.

Ibex’s previous fund, also focused on early-stage Israeli startups, was raised in 2020, and amounted to $100 million.

Ibex founder and chief investment officer Justin Borus said, "Doubling down on Israel underscores our commitment to the Israeli ecosystem as a leading market for technology. Despite the ongoing war and challenging global macroeconomics, our LPs recognize the opportunity to make outsized returns precisely from opportunities such as these. Most of the world’s greatest innovations come as a direct result of war and conflict and we believe this time will be no different."

In an interview with "Globes" in 2022, Borus said, "We know that the sexiest and most interesting investments in Israel are in privately-held and public growth technology companies." In the same interview, he said, "We like moving between private and public investments." He also said that following a four-day visit to Israel in 2011, inspired by the book "Start-up Nation" by Dan Senor and Saul Singer, he started to channel the firm’s investments to Israel. "In Israel there was everything I love in small companies - fewer investors are interested, and the potential for profit is greater. In addition, while startups in Silicon Valley developed apps for photographing cats, in Israel the companies solved significant problems."

Commenting on the new fund, Ibex Investors partner Nicole Priel said, "Why Israel? Why now? The answers couldn’t be any more clear. We firmly believe that the Israeli tech entrepreneur possesses an innate sense of drive, creativity, and perseverance required to turn ideas into reality. We maintain our conviction that this is an opportune time to be building ventures and are committed to partnering with ambitious entrepreneurs from inception as they build the leading companies of tomorrow."

Ibex’s Israel team is led by Priel, who focuses on early stage investments, and Gal Gitter, who focuses on growth stage and secondary investments in areas such as cybersecurity, cloud security, fintech, insurtech, and others. The Israel office has recently added Aaron Rinberg as a partner and Alon Cinamon as an associate, bringing it to a total of seven people.

Borus founded Ibex Investors in 2003. The firm currently has some $1 billion under management.

Published by Globes, Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on February 21, 2024.

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2024.

Ibex Israel team credit: Roei Shor
Ibex Israel team credit: Roei Shor
Microsoft campus in Herzliya  credit; Eyal Izhar Microsoft: Exempt Israel from AI-chip export restrictions

Israel is among countries mentioned in a blog post by Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith criticizing the restrictions.

Paz gas station credit: Tali Bogdanovsky Gasoline prices in Israel to fall Saturday night

The maximum price of government price controlled 95 octane gasoline at self-service pumps in Israel will fall on Saturday at midnight March 2, 2025, by NIS 0.08 per liter to NIS 7.23 per liter.

Tel Aviv credit: Shutterstock Tel Aviv master plan sees 600,000 residents by 2035

The Tel Aviv District Planning and Building Committee has approved for deposit the TA/5500 master plan for Tel Aviv-Yafo.

Mizrahi Tefahot Bank  credit: Eyal Izhar Mizrahi Tefahot to pay huge dividend on record 2024 profit

The bank reported net profit of NIS 5.5 billion last year, up 11% from NIS 4.9 billion in 2023.

Sheba, Tel Hashomer Hospital Photo: Tamar Matsafi Israel's Sheba climbs in "Newsweek" world hospital top ten

Last year "Newsweek" ranked Sheba Medical Center in ninth place and previously it was in tenth place.

Cyberattack  credit: Shutterstock Israel second most targeted country for cyberattacks

The report by Radware found that Israel suffered 1,550 cyberattacks in 2024, second only to Ukraine which suffered 2,052 attacks.

BIG Fashion Glilot credit: Dror Marmor Israel's biggest mall opens Thursday

BIG Fashion Glilot strip mall is in Ramat Hasharon's new office park, adjacent to Cinema City Glilot.

Tesla Model Y credit: Shutterstock Can Tesla stage a comeback in Israel in 2025?

After taking Israel by storm four years ago, Tesla has gradually lost market shares to Chinese rivals but this trend could change this year.

Ghost jobs illustration: Tali Bogdanovsky 10% of Israeli tech vacancies are ghost jobs

Ethosia CEO Eyal Solomon says the proportion of "ghost" jobs - vacancies that have been advertised but not filled and continue to appear on the company's website - has jumped dramatically in recent years.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Transport Minister Miri Regev credit: Marc Israel Sellem Jerusalem Post Jerusalem Red Line extension awaits ribbon cutting

Opening the light rail extension has been delayed while a date is found for a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Transport Minister Miri Regev.

Tel Aviv light rail Light rail fares in Israel jump 33.3%

Bus fares will also rise 33.3% after the 2025 budget is passed.

Quantum Machines founders credit: Eyal Izhar Israeli co Quantum Machines raises $170m

Sources say that the company's valuation, which before the latest round was $520 million, has now risen to $670 million.

Pay cuts illustration: Shutterstock Treasury plans pay cuts for doctors, teachers, and civil servants

The move is intended to ensure that the budget savings target of NIS 5 billion shekels in 2025 is achieved, as part of efforts to reduce the state budget deficit.

Shekel credit: Shutterstock Vladirina 32 Shekel weakens after BoI rate call

Poria Financial Planning chairman Or Poria: There is growing uncertainty over the collapse of the hostage deal, and the increasing probability of renewed fighting in the south.

Daniel Aronovitz credit: Joseph Laor Insight Partners: $6b and still investing in Israel

Insight Partners newly appointed Israel partner Daniel Aronovitz tells "Globes" about the US firms plans for Israel and reveals the huge extent of past investment.

Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron credit: Eyal Izhar, Tali Bogdansky BoI Governor: We hope for two rate cuts in second half

Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Amir Yaron tells "Globes" he remains concerned about inflation, higher demand than supply, and real estate balloon loans.

Twitter Facebook Linkedin RSS Newsletters גלובס Israel Business Conference 2018