Trendlines Group, an Israeli business development consulting firm, is setting up a new $25 million venture capital fund to invest in early stage and established Israeli companies. The group has retained Alan Weinkrantz And Company to handle media relations for the fund.
The new Trendlines Israel Fund is focused on companies with superior growth potential that can additionally create capital and jobs within Israel.
"With unemployment there exceeding ten percent, combined government cutbacks and a general economic decline, the need for capital for young businesses that can create jobs in Israel is greatly felt," explained Alan L. Weinkrantz.
According to Steve Rhodes of Trendlines, "We have positioned the fund to appeal especially to individual supporters of Israel -- both Christian and Jewish -- who previously have generally not been approached for venture investment in Israel."
Trendlines representatives will be in the US during the week of October 20 meeting with accredited investors for the fund.
The Trendlines Israel Fund seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation through investments in established or early-stage companies that have the potential to undergo IPOs, or be acquired. Focusing on creating jobs in Israel, the fund is especially interested in the security, medical, and information technology fields.
The Trendlines Group has been operating in Israel for 10 years. The group consists of the US-based Trendlines International Inc.; Trendlines International Ltd., founded in Israel in 1993, in which Lachman Goldman Ventures (a US-based investment firm) holds a minority position; and Trendlines Capital Markets Ltd., established by Trendlines International in partnership with Israel's largest underwriter, Bank Hapoalim's Poalim IBI Underwriting and Investments.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on 13 October, 2003