Last Updated on December 8, 2021

5 top Israeli companies sold in 2020 for over $1 billion. 

On the eve of Israel’s 73rd birthday, we can ask ourselves if this small little country of ours is a start-up nation or an industrial powerhouse? Israel currently has a population of just over 9 million people. Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.  4.5 percent of Israel’s GDP goes to research and development, the highest proportion in the world.  Israel also has largest number of startups per capita in the world –  approximately 1 startup for every 1,400 people.  Not all of them are success stories and every year, about 80% of them fail.

Who are the top Israeli companies?

Lots of startups means a lot of innovation and entrepreneurship (and lots of employment opportunities) as well as a lot of global attention and investment.

In a list which was compiled by PWC (Price Waterhouse & Coopers) and in spite of the ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic, here are 5 success stories – some of the top Israeli companies sold to international companies in 2020 at valuations of over $1 billion as well as IPO’s (an initial public offering)

1. Mellanox, a computer chip-maker was acquired by NVidia for a whopping $7 billion making it the 3rd largest exit in Israel’s history.

2. Lemonade, an insurance technology company, went public on the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) at a valuation of $1.6b

3. Armis, an IoT (internet of things) security firm was acquired by NY-based Insight Partners at a company valuation of $1.1b

4. Moovit, the app that reports public transportation schedules, in real time, which are often more accurate than those provided by the transport companies themselves.

5. Nyxoah; this Israeli-Belgium sleep disorder treatment company completed an IPO on the Euronext stock exchange, raising $100m at a company valuation of $423m

Our little country is an appealing market for overseas investors. Mega US manufacturers like including General Electric, General Motors, Microsoft, IBM, Google, Apple and others, have R&D centers in Israel and many other overseas companies have an R&D presence in Israel.

As the coronavirus digs its claws, one can only wonder what success stories 2021 will bring.

Look back on some of Israel’s notable inventions and remarkable innovations