ActiveBase, Cbeyond, and Celta Consult join AICC

Ramat Gan–based ActiveBase , established in 2002, has developed ‘on-motion’ database security and application performance software applications. Current customers and partners includeVerint (NJ), at&t (through Amdocs), National Bank of Hungary, General Electric (Hungary), Teva Pharmaceuticals, Phoenix Insurance, Cellcom, First International Bank, Orange, Ness (Israel), and others.

ActiveBase products are based on patent pending Database Network Router (DNR) technology, transparently installed between applications and databases, with database traffic routed through it (inline proxy). Unique underline DNR technology enables ActiveBase to deliver many capabilities including “Knowledge Policy Packs” for speeding packaged business applications, “Gentle Block” and “on-the-fly Data Scrambling” for controlling and securing applications without any changes required to application code or databases configuration. Application is beneficial for security, privacy, quality assurance, and troubleshooting. The product is sold through software resellers and integrators specializing in Oracle database.

The company is represented in the Southeast by Roswell- based Silos-Connect. Alon Rosenthal, ActiveBase VP of Marketing and Tony Cannizzo of Silos-Connect joined AICC Software Committee.

Using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and a 100% Cisco network, Cbeyond delivers to small business customers (an entrepreneurial class of customer with 4-200 employees – generally using 4-48 phone lines) an integrated package of high quality local and long distance telephony services, high-speed, T-1 Internet access and Internet-based applications for about the same price that small businesses typically pay for local and long distance phone service alone.

Steve Zimba, VP Marketing and Product Development joined the AICC Telecommunications Committee.

Celta Consult is focused on international Telecom, IT, Media and Entertainment (TIME) markets, and help successful niche technology enterprises seeking multi-national market expansion with global operators and service providers across Europe, Latin America and the United States, focused on shortening a client’s sales cycle, validating market entry opportunities and product placement strategies, positioning through a global executive network.

Ronaldo Venci, Partner Operations,  joined the Software, Telecommunications, CleanTech and Professional Committees.

Checklight Presents at AICC Security Committee June Meeting

AICC’s June Security Committee meeting was hosted by Lt. David Roskind of the City of Sandy Springs Police Department who presented the goals of the SSPD within 2 years to increase situation alertness from voice and video feeds, and external information and predictive analytics by integrating them at a central location and the desire is to implement “bleeding edge” technologies and create state of the art technology infrastructure that can serve as a model to other law enforcement entities in the Metro area. A plan to reach out to Southeast Security Integrators was discussed and addopted. The group congratulated Israel/Atlanta based Vumii’s award recognition by the Wall Street Journal naming Vumii Winner of Technology Innovations Award and Red Herring naming the company as winner in the North America 100. Twelve Members and staff attended the meeting chaired by David Schwartzenfeld of Marsh.

Bob Thomas presented Checklight, a Kiryat Tivon-based company that has developed novel, fast, inexpensive, and highly sensitive quality control bioassays to monitor different parameters of water quality, hygiene, and proteolytic activity. CheckLight’s proprietary technology utilizes non-pathogenic luminous marine bacteria as sensitive sensors. Although the use of bacterial luminescence for quality testing has been widely used in the water industry, CheckLight’s scientific team has succeeded in simplifying the bioassay by delivering user-friendly products that can be easily used in either the field or laboratory setting.

The ease of use of the Checklight kit for safety and security in detecting accidental and malicious contaminations (organics and metals) in water makes it an excellent tool for first responders. It can be operated by a trained technician to provide fast results indicating if contamination exists. Israeli water security company Whitewater has seen the potential in this product, and now owns 26% of Checklight. The company has been selling in Europe and Asia, and is now trying to enter the US market. The cost of a single kit is approximately $6,000.

Checklight has recently joined AICC and is looking for distributors for their kits and introductions to water utilities, environmental monitoring authorities, fire departments, and homeland security agencies.

Additional companies introduced are Yavne-based E.D.I.G. Construction Management Ltd. established in 1971 that has developed a decompression chamber to simulate aircraft flight and detonate explosives on the ground rather than in the air using pressure, time, RF and other detonation approaches. The simulation (decompression) chamber is used to subject air cargo to a simulation of the flight pressure variation pattern, such that explosive charges with barometric triggers would not explode in mid-flight. The system is approved by the El-Al security authorities, and is installed by E.D.I.G. at El-Al’s cargo stations worldwide. E.D.I.G. has also supplied simulation chambers to other clients abroad such as Rome’s Airports Authority and other airports in Italy.  EDIG provides full service and technical support for the chambers worldwide. The company is looking for introduction to airlines and airport authorities.  TimeNeto is a Haifa-based spin out of biometric identity services company IQS, that developed biometric web-based time & attendance, and real time monitoring products for multi-branches chains and small and medium businesses around the globe to add efficiency, save costs and prevent fraud.

Pharma Focus Israel Presents at AICC Medical Committee June Meeting

AICC’s June Medical Committee meeting was hosted by Mark Braunstein of Georgia Tech at the ATDC in Atlanta who gave a compelling presentation on why Healthcare IT is necessary to slow the growth of healthcare costs and why Atlanta and Israeli companies should be at the center of the Healthcare IT growth being accelerated by the current Stimulus package. Atlanta has 100+ companies involved in Healthcare IT including 3 of the top 5 companies, original sources of technology (e.g. Georgia Tech), and providers and provider training (e.g. Emory). Israeli companies have technology and talent to bring to the critical needs: more intelligent clinical knowledge systems and user interfaces that allow doctors to operate systems in patient care, not just at their desks (e.g. voice recognition).

Ran Frankel of Pharma Focus Israel discussed the benefits of doing clinical trials in Israel. As an AICC member, Pharma Focus would like the Chamber’s help in opening doors to biotech companies in the Southeast to enable Pharma Focus to market their services. Two approaches that have worked to date for Pharma Focus: Identifying disease states with higher concentrations in Israel (e.g. Crohn’s Disease) and targeting US companies working on those diseases; and having a relationship with an Israeli key opinion leader who will work on a study for a US-based company.

Other companies introduced to the committee include Ardia Medical a Haifa-based company that develops state-of-the-art medical systems which assist pathologists in daily cancer diagnosis, Healarium a Tel Aviv-based company, that has developed a web-based consumer healthcare software solution that integrates with existing healthcare solutions (such as PHR or EMR, and those available from content providers), so that it adds outreach value to existing services, and MND Diagnostics a Ness Ziona-based company that has developed a groundbreaking approach to molecular diagnostics by employing specific enzymes as biomarkers for detecting disease activity when quick, timely decisions concerning the treatment of choice are critical for maximum impact.

The committee recapped the very successfull reception for the Israel BIO delegation, and talked about the August 27th Professional Seminar that will feature Israeli medical device company Spirocor. Twenty six members and staff participated in the meeting chaired by Nancy Sousa at her first meeting as Committee chair.

ActiveBase Presents at AICC Software Committee June Meeting

AICC’s June Software Committee meeting was hosted by Phil Rubin of  rDialogue at the Webber School in Sandy Springs. ActiveBase presented their technology.  The committee accepted the concept of a series of educational events focused on Israeli innovation developed by a sub-committee and asked the team to continue their work towards a launch event and Bill Dale of GreenRoad Technologies updated the committee on the recend financing round closed and the progress the company has been making recently. Nineteen AICC members and staff attended the meeting chaired by Lorin Coles.

Tony Cannizzo introduced Ramat Gan–based ActiveBase , represented in the region by Roswell- based Silos-Connect. Established in 2002, ActiveBase has developed ‘on-motion’ database security and application performance software applications. Current customers and partners includeVerint (NJ), at&t (through Amdocs), National Bank of Hungary, General Electric (Hungary), Teva Pharmaceuticals, Phoenix Insurance, Cellcom, First International Bank, Orange, Ness (Israel), and others.

ActiveBase products are based on patent pending Database Network Router (DNR) technology, transparently installed between applications and databases, with database traffic routed through it (inline proxy). Unique underline DNR technology enables ActiveBase to deliver many capabilities including “Knowledge Policy Packs” for speeding packaged business applications, “Gentle Block” and “on-the-fly Data Scrambling” for controlling and securing applications without any changes required to application code or databases configuration. Application is beneficial for security, privacy, quality assurance, and troubleshooting. The product is sold through software resellers and integrators specializing in Oracle database.

The company is asking the committees assistance in introduction to potential end clients (large corporations), technical consultants, and resellers.

AICC Member YCD Multimedia Raises $12 Million For In-Store Digital Media Solutions

Source: Techcrunch

YCD Multimedia, an international provider of in-store digital media solutions has closed its Series E investment round, a new financing package totaling $12 million. This packages includes conversion of a bridge loan facility and new equity investment led by Pitango Venture Capital and Arts Alliance Digital Ventures.

YCD Multimedia software integrates with existing retail and communications applications, and delivers a range of digital media – music playlists, visuals, etc. – to on-site digital signage. This allows traditional retailers, banks, hotels etc. to run digital promotion and advertising campaigns on screens and video walls throughout physical locations.

Founded back in 1999, YCD Multimedia boasts offices in the US, UK and Israel and an international reseller network. The company is headed by CEO Barry Salzman, former President of DoubleClick’s global media business. YCD joined AICC in 2009.

Kennesaw, GA based CryoLife Inc. Joins AICC

Kennesaw based CryoLife Inc. joined the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, SE Region as a corporate member. Founder, President and CEO Steven G. Anderson will join the AICC Medical Committee.

Founded in 1984, CryoLife, Inc. was the first biomedical company to commercially develop low temperature preservation of implantable human tissues for cardiac and vascular surgical reconstruction. Today, in addition to our ongoing advancements in tissue preservation, the company pioneers research in the development of implantable biological devices, surgical adhesives, and biomaterials for use in cardiac, vascular, general and reconstructive surgery.

Olista presents at June AICC Telecommunications Committee Meetting

AICC’s June Telecommunications Committee meeting was hosted by Andy McGuire and Ian Klein of GSMA at their Atlanta offices. Following a presentation by Olista, the committee reviewed and refined its methodology of working with Israeli and US companies. As part of the 2009-2010 program of work, the plan for the US-Israel Mobile Business exchanged was discussed and Ori Lavie of the Israel Mobile Association (IMA) updated on the Atlanta leg of the IMA US tour scheduled for the begining of July. Twenty four AICC members, guests and staff attended the meeting chaired by Maggie Bellville.

Avihai Segal, Vice President of Business Development introduced Olista, a Netanya based company that provides cutting edge customer experience analytics solutions that enable mobile and broadband operators to increase the success of their services offerings. Olista’s comprehensive software solutions provide a deep understanding of your customers’ behavior patterns and the tools to act upon it to optimize your users’ experience of every service.

Olista was established in 2004. Since 2006, the products have been installed in multiple sites, and current production implementations include leading Tier1 operators in Europe. The Company is led by an experienced team of telecom professionals in mobile communications infrastructure products and mobile VAS, and is backed by leading venture capital firms including Gemini and Evergreen.

2009 Eagle Star Awards – The Finalists and Winners

2009 Deal of the Year – Finalists

And the winner is….

2009 Israeli Company of the Year Finalists

And the winner is ….

AICC member GreenRoad Technologies Raises $15M from a new investor

Source: Globes Online 5/31/09

GreenRoad Technologies Inc. has raised $15 million in a financing round led by DAG Ventures, a new investor.

GreenRoad CTO Ofer Raz and chief of safety Hod Fleishman founded the company, which is based in California, has sales offices in the US and UK, and an R&D center at Or Yehuda, in Israel. The company develops solutions for improving driver safe and fuel-efficient driving habits. The company’s system has sensors that analyze up to 120 separate driving events in real-time, and transmits the data to a red-yellow-green LED light display, which provides the driver with immediate feedback. The device also transmits the safety data via cellular modem to the GreenRoad servers to evaluate overall driving risk and skills.

Green Road technology improves driver safety, and significantly reduces crashes and fuel consumption by instantly identifying risky drivers and empowering them to change their behavior behind the wheel. GreenRoad’s flagship service offering is GreenRoad Safety Center. This service combines in-vehicle technology with integrated web applications that continuously rates driving skills and behavior, trains drivers in real time by providing feedback as they drive, and sustains behavior improvements through continuous reinforcement. By improving driver safety, GreenRoad Safety Center significantly reduces crashes and fuel consumption.

Bill Dale, GreenRoads’ Atlanta based sales manager for the Southeast presented earlier this year at AICC’s Software Committee meeting, and the company joined AICC shortly therafter. In addition to Dag Ventures, GreenRoad is funded by leading private equity investors including Benchmark Capital, Balderton Capital and Virgin Green Fund.

Full Globes Article

Guest Post: Why Does Your Company Need a Green Story?

R. Krishna Avva

I know what you’re thinking … my company doesn’t do anything green, or I’m not green enough, or nobody cares anyway.

Green is the new differentiator in this tight economy. Studies have shown that if you have a green presence, customers are willing to pay a premium up to 16% to use your products or services. Interestingly enough, they will penalize a company up to 28% if they are not green, when compared to green companies. You don’t even have to sell green products or services to use this differentiator in your story. I’ll explain this a little later.

So, what does a green presence mean? Basically, your company has to prove any or all of the following:

• Your products or services save your users/clients costs in energy consumption, resource utilization and/or operating expenses.
• Your products or services help your users/clients save their clients/users costs in energy consumption, resource utilization and/or operating expenses.
• You have a green strategy in your practices.
• To a lesser extent, you are doing your part to save the planet.

What if you don’t sell green products or services? No worries. If you have a strategy to be green in your operations or approach, these activities can be explained in your green story. If you support or sponsor green initiatives with your partners, you can have a green story.

What is a green story? A green story is a case study or white paper you use to explain how you are green, in either your products or services or the way your company behaves and operates. The components of a green story include:

• Detail the problem needing to be solved
• Describe the journey to determine a solution
• Describe the solution your company provided
• Talk about the benefits gained
• Intersperse customer testimonials to give it a more authentic tone
• Maybe include some specific features and functionalities, but this may be saved for a separate sales brochure

Another important facet is the story needs to be engaging. A conversational tone helps the reader feel you are sitting across the table and talking directly to them. No need for formal words and complicated technical terms.

Finally, a green story is no different than any good business story except for the addition of doing the right thing. All good business stories must address elements of cost savings, competitive edge and customer testimonials. A green story takes it to the next level and puts you ahead of your non-green competition.

About Krishna Avva
Krishna Avva is the Cleantech Storyteller and President/CEO of Avva Communications. He is responsible for the planning, execution, and delivery of communications-related projects and initiatives for his clients. From a green perspective, he has been developing a range of documentation for his clients from initial business plans for start-ups with elevator pitches to guidebooks for end-users, to case studies, white papers and success stories utilized by clients to explain their products/services in a clear and concise format.

Cleantech Storyteller joined AICC in 2009

For more ideas on how to tell your green story:
Krishna@cleantechstoryteller.com or 678-935-7343.