Author: tanya shakhlieievych

We’d like to share a few thoughts and inform you about the actions we are taking at INcapital Ventures. We are living in unprecedented times, with situations evolving very quickly and governments around the world making new policy statements every day. However, some observations are emerging, offering a path forward in these tumultuous times.

COVID-19 has accelerated trends that were already taking place. Legacy business models are being replaced or enhanced with digitized forms. Adoption of technology throughout different sectors will allow businesses to continue to operate and not only survive but also gain competitive advantage. Many of these changes are here to stay and support new ways of interacting between businesses, their employees, shareholders, and consumers. Indeed, the next phase of the Innovation Economy is taking shape now. Technology start-ups will play key roles in these transformations, offering solutions that will alter the way we do business. In general, due to their size, operational efficiency and understanding of customers’ pain points, start-ups can move quickly and adjust to changes in the competitive landscape, consumer demand, and availability of resources. While some start-ups are well-positioned to weather the storm and come out winning, others will fail to drive enough value to sustain their customers and maintain the liquidity required to continue to operate. In some cases, start-ups that cater to certain niches may find their customer base failing to sustain activity altogether.

Like any crisis, the survival of the fittest will clear the path for accelerated growth for those technology start-ups that remain standing. Indeed, some of the best and biggest tech companies grew on the feet of crisis.

At INcapital, we have lived through several crises and economic downturns while operating our own business and we learned how to capitalize on these market opportunities. This experience allows us to advise our founders and create tailored plans to help them move forward. We don’t believe in “one size fits all” and other general statements. Each business possesses a unique set of circumstances. These include managing liquidity and working capital, HR, operational challenges and consumer demand shifts. We are in close contact with our founders and have been having active discussions with them regarding solutions and opportunities.

As Albert Einstein said, in the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunities. INcapital is committed to capitalizing on these opportunities and continuing to look for new businesses that will thrive and come out on top. We are currently in the process of adding a new portfolio company. Please stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.

Please feel free to reach out to our team to learn more about our outlook and opportunities.

Regards,
Inbar Haham & Natty Nashman

Journalist Mignon McLaughlin once said that when we first fall in love, we feel that we know all there is to know about life. Perhaps she was right. Anyway, that is how entrepreneurs usually feel about their ideas.

When building their companies, entrepreneurs are forces of nature. Passionate about their project and energized by what they plan to do for the world, they describe their vision with shining eyes and others enthusiastically follow them on board.

Whatever You Do This Valentine’s, Do Not Fall In Love

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AI adoption levels are higher than they’ve ever been in the enterprise. According to a January survey conducted by Gartner, corporate use of AI grew 270% over the past four years. But developing, deploying, and managing AI applications at scale requires a platform that supports doing so, which is what startup company Iguazio provides. Its investors believe it has legs: Iguazio announced that it has secured $24 million in a funding round led by INcapital Ventures with participation from existing and new investors including Samsung SDS, Kensington Capital Partners, Plaza Ventures, and Silverton Capital Ventures, bringing its total raised to around $75 million following a $33 million series B in July 2017.

Iguazio raises $24 million for AI development and management tools

The team at the Jewish National Fund Montreal always thinks outside of the box. Such is certainly the case for their own distinct version of the hit CBC TV program The Dragons’ Den. Next Monday night at Evo Montreal downtown, five teams of Montreal’s most promising entrepreneurs will have the potential to win up to $500,000 in investment funds when they showcase their unique ideas before a Hall-of Fame roster of Canadian business leaders at the JNF’s TechShuk 2020 (Shuk is the Hebrew word for market).

The panel of “Lions” consist of power couple Anne-Marie Boucher & Mitch Garber; pharmaceutical giant Jonathan Goodman & Victoria Park Medispas boss Jeff Hart; Clementia Pharmaceuticals Canada CEO Clarissa Desjardins & Michael Kors Canada President Debra Margles; and Group RMC Principal Nick Bakish & INCapital Ventures Co-Founder and Managing Partner Inbar Haham. For all of the details log on to www.jnftechshuk.ca

Local takeoff on the Dragons’ Den: up to $500,000 in investments funds up for grabs

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Outside it was freezing cold and windy, but inside it was warm and ready for the ladies of the Big Apple to arrive at the launch event of ICON’s Women in Tech NY chapter. We have been hosting ICON WiT events in Palo Alto and San Francisco for the past 3 years, but this was the first time we were doing this in NY and my team and I were thrilled.

Women in Tech NY — A Community is Born