Israeli high-tech companies raised a record $6.1 billion in 623 deals in 2018, an increase of 16.5 percent compared to the $5.24 billion attracted in 2017, according to a joint report from the IVC Research Center and the law firm Zag-S&W .
The IVC Research Center is a data source and business information company in Israel’s high-tech industry.
Of the companies that raised funds in 2018, two firms were outstanding with mega-deals for over $1 billion each: Orbotech was acquired by KLA-Tencor for $3.4 billion, and NDS was acquired by Permira for $1 billion.
Orbotech describes itself as a leading provider of process innovation technologies, solutions and equipment serving the global electronics manufacturing industry. NDS develops Video Software Solutions.
According to the report, in December alone Israeli startups raised over $400 million, which can be added to the $4.5 billion raised in the first nine months of 2018, and another $1.2 billion estimated to have been raised in October and November.
Syqe Medical, which develops a metered-dose inhaler for cannabis, is the startup that raised the biggest sum in December with $50 million, followed by Optimus with $40 million, conversation intelligence platform Chorus which raised $33 million, and heart failure treatment company Whitwell that raised $30 million.
While 2018 is the sixth consecutive year that saw an increase in fundraising for the Start-up Nation, the number of deals diminished to 623 deals from 661 in 2017.
More than 100 companies raised $20 million or more for a total of $4.1 billion, four times the sums raised in 2013.
In 2016, Israeli firms raised $5.1 billion in 655 deals, and in 2013 Israeli tech firms raised $2.95 billion in 571 deals.
IVCwill publish its full report January 9.