ILTH NEWSLETTER ISSUE 8

Welcome to the Eighth edition of ILTH newsletter!

In April, Lithuania organized a strong campaign to attract more Israel fintech companies looking for a new European base. The Bank of Lithuania has invited Israeli fintech startups to apply for the Baltic nation’s fast-tracked licensing program Startup Visa, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Many meetings with fintech companies and relevant organizations, a startup pitch competition (organized by Startup Lithuania) and round table discussions were held, leading to many new ideas and initiatives for further cooperation between Israeli and Lithuanian companies and government departments.

We hope you enjoy this edition!

The Hub Team

Upcoming events

May 7 -9: TAU Innovation Conference 2017, Tel Aviv

TAU Innovation Conference 2017 is shaping up to be a benchmark event both in the region and worldwide. TAU Innovation Conference brings together 7,000 of the world’s top technology leaders, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs. More information about the event: http://tau-innovation.com/index

May 23 -25: Biomed, Tel Aviv

The 16th BIOMED 2017 Conference and Exhibition, to be held May 23-25, 2017 in Tel-Aviv, Israel. As the leading event of Israel’s life sciences industry, Biomed has positioned itself throughout the years as the main annual meeting place for players of Israel’s healthcare industry with their colleagues from around the globe. More information about the event: http://kenes-exhibitions.com/biomed2017/

May 24, 25: Login startup conference in Vilnius, Lithuania

Login is the largest gathering of the IT and tech community in the Baltic States with more than 6000 participants yearly.

We are exited to announce that Zvika Kezurer the Chairman at Israel Lithuania Technology hub is going to be speaking at the Login Startup conference in Vilnius. More information about the event: http://login.lt/en

June 5: Geektime Code, Tel Aviv

Join over 1,000 of Israel's top technology experts, developers, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists for cutting edge sessions on the latest technologies, platforms, trends, and startups at Geektime Code Elevation. If you are in the Israeli tech industry, this is a day you can’t afford to miss! http://techfest.geektime.co.il/code/

Past events

April 4: Round table discussion “Smart Cities”

The ILTH with the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the State of Israel organised a round-table discussion on " Smart Cities". The discussion addressed cooperation opportunities. Participants were Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania in Israel H.E. Mr. Edminas Bagdonas, Commercial Attache Raimondas Martinavicius, the Hub team and “Go Vilnius” director Darius Udrys the official development agency of the City of Vilnius as well as with several significant Israel companies including MyCity 360, SaferPlace, Mobile SmartCity Corp and Israel Smart Cities Israel institute.

April 3: LOGIN Startup Fair & Lithuanian Startup Visa in Tel Aviv

Team Startup Lithuania with Hub assistance organized an event to promote its LOGIN Startup Fair and Lithuanian Startup Visa Roadshow. In addition an Israeli startup pitch battle took place. Lithuania has launched its Startup Visa, a process that opens the door for non-EU startups and talent to the European Union and broader Western markets. We thank Rise Tel Aviv, Go Vilnius, Triniti law firm and others for their support before and during the event. The selected competitions winners: SwitchRTC, Distribyte and Labsuit are coming to LOGIN Startup Fair in Vilnius. Read more here.

April 3: Destination EU 2017: The fastest pan-European license for your fintech

On 3 April, at RISE Tel Aviv, Invest Lithuania with Bank of Lithuania organized the event “Destination EU 2017 The Fasters Pan European License for FinTech”.

The Board Member of the Bank of Lithuania, Marius Jurgilas and Invest Lithuania Team delivered the presentation about the unique opportunities for the Fintech business in Lithuania. Following with the panel discussion with Israel participants from companies: BLender, Moneta, Simplex and Wix.

As Lithuania looks to attract Israelis to its capital city, a few companies have already made the move. Among the Israeli fintech firms already active in Lithuania included venture capital firm Moneta, fraud-free payment system Simplex and peer-to-peer lending company BLender. In addition, cloud-based web development platform Wix.com has offices in Vilnius.

Jerusalem Post breaking news about the event- LITHUANIA COURTS ISRAELI ‘FINTECH’ COMPANIES.

Also, please see the following presentations:

* the presentation from the Bank of Lithuania

* the presentation from Invest Lithuania

* Fintech-in-Lithuania summary sheet

March 8: Chamber and Hub reception

On 8 March, at ‎ the Israel Export Institute, the Israel Lithuania Chamber of Commerce and The Israel Lithuanian Technology Hub held the annual meeting to present it`s summary of activities of 2016 and plans for the rest of 2017, we also welcomed the new Lithuanian Commercial Attache, Raimondas Martinavicius.

Len Judes and Zvika Kezurer made a presentation about the past activities of the Chamber and Hub and introduces the future plans for 2017.

Ambassador E. Bagdonas expressed his gratitude to the members of the Chamber and Hub for the contribution to Israeli-Lithuanian business cooperation.

Among our welcomed quests, were Mr. Odd Magne Reme the Chairman of INOVA BALTIC investment house and Deputy Chairman of the Norwegian- Israel Chamber of Commerce Mrs. Maly Danino the Executive Director of Nitzan, a non-profit organization established in 1964 to help children and adults with learning disabilities, shared her experience in Lithuania. Her systems are now being taught in Lithuania where it has been approved by the Department of Education. Maly Danino book “Coach your Child to Success” has been translated into Lithuanian. Read more: www.nitzan-israel.org.il

January 16: Global Investors Summit OurCrowd 2017, Jerusalem

Global investors summit Ourcrowd gathered thousands of attendees from around the globe – investors, Venture capitalist, Multinational partners; entrepreneurs, startups, journalist and more. There are 6000+ participants from 80 countries here. OurCrowd is the leading crowd investing platform for accredited investors. OurCrowd has raised over $400 million in equity crowdfunding for its 100+ portfolio companies.

Tomas Navardauskas represented Hub at 2017 OurCrowd Global Investor Summit in Jerusalem.

February 16: Celebrating the restoration of Independence of Lithuania

The celebration of the Anniversary of the Restoration of Independence of Republic of Lithuania took place at Tel Aviv Museum of Art with the concert "Window to Lithuania", performed by the great Lithuanian Trio : Dalia Dedinskaite (violina),Gleb Pyšniak (violončelo) and Robertas Lozinskis, (klavir) was beautiful and inspiring.

Diplomacy.co.il breaking news - the classical meets the contemporary in Lithuanian National Day in Tel Aviv.

The Hub is proud to support NITZAN, and its manager Mali Danino and Anat Katzenelson, in their joint project with the Ministry of Education of Lithuania. Congratulations on publishing the translated guide book "COACH YOUR CHILD TO SUCCESS" into Lithuanian - VESK SAVO VAIKA I SEKME!

February 7-8: International Tourism Exhibition - IMTM 2017 - Visit Lita

Lithuania presented its tourism potential at the International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM 2017) in Tel Aviv.

IMTM is the official and only professional exhibition for the tourism trade market in Israel. Visitors were welcomed by the representatives of the Lithuanian State Department of Tourism and major Lithuanian cities and resorts at the colorful Lithuanian stand. Alongside with official delegation seven Lithuanian tourism companies took part in the event. Billboards with invitation to visit Lita was widely distributed in the streets of Tel Aviv.

Walla breaking news, an Israeli portal about Vilna and Lita.

January 8: THE LATEST HUB SUCCESS STORY "Lithuania is Right-Hear"

The Israeli, Ra’anana based innovative accessibility solution for blind and visually impaired start up, is coming to Lithuania following a new partnership Right-Hear has recently entered with a local Lithuanian company.

Following a recent visit made to Vilnius by Idan Meir (CEO of Right-Hear), together with Len Judes and Zvika Kezurer, respectively, Chamber Chairman, Hub Director, and Hub Chairman, the Israeli Start Up has recently signed a business contract with Audre Grybauskaite to promote the innovative solution of Right-Hear in Lithuania. "This is a very important step for us since we believe that the blind and visually impaired people in Lithuania deserve a more accessible and independent life - just like in any other place in the world" - said Meir.

The Right-Hear solution is already operating in hundreds of venues in Israel and abroad, however, Lithuania is to become one of the first European countries to implement this technology! For more information about the Right-Hear solution watch this video.

January 5: Unistream's investment committee

Ambassador of Lithuania Edminas Bagdonas and Tomas Navardauskas representing Israel Lithuania Technology Hub (ILTH) participated at Unistream's investment committee, which took place at the CITI Bank Labs in Tel-Aviv. The idea to participate at the event was to understand how Israeli youth are involved in educating entrepreneurship. Ongoing discussions if we can establish and connect Unistream model in Lithuania.

Investment committee is an empowering and uplifting peak event for Unistream's participants (youth ages 16-18), who dream of one day entering the business and entrepreneurial worlds as adults. The committee's goal is to mimic the process entrepreneurs undergo when developing their start-ups, speaking in front of potential investors.

The Judges' panel was made up of high level business executives, representatives of the foundations/host company, Unistream's executives and the organization's founder and chairman, Rony Zarom.

Unistream, founded in 2011 by Rony Zarom, cultivates high potential youth and young adults from underprivileged communities and diverse backgrounds. Unistream's participants establish start-ups, becoming entrepreneurs in their own right; thus narrowing the deepening gaps in Israeli society. Our programs partner with hundreds of leading business people and entrepreneurs.

December 28: Ceremony of 5th Global Lithuanian Awards, Presidential Palace Vilnius

On 28th December 2016 the Presidential Palace hosted the Global Lithuanian Awards - memorable opportunity to recognize and reward the achievements of global Lithuanians and their friends for the economy, science and culture of the country. This year, the honorable Selection Panel had to choose Laureates in 8 categories from 35 nominees representing 10 countries.

Tomas Navardauskas was nominated for the GLL awards for Global Experience for Lithuanian Business. Tomas participated in round table panel - Comprehensive map of economic, political and cultural initiatives in Lithuania.

In the morning before the Ceremony of Global Lithuanian Awards, GLL in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, created the opportunity for Laureates and Nominees of Global Lithuanian Awards, global and local overachievers as well as representatives of newly formed Lithuanian Government to sit around the table for a constructive discussion on the topics of favorable business environment, social capital and high-level education as steps towards Global Lithuania. More details http://www.gllawards.lt/en/gll-forumas/ and summary by Delfi the leading Lithuanian newspaper.