Ten Israeli Startups Leading the Effort Against Coronavirus
Israeli Startups Take On COVID-19
Last year, I wrote that Israel is the original Startup Nation, and today, as the entire world is combating the coronavirus pandemic, that statement rings truer than ever. While tech and medical companies around the world are working at breakneck speed to develop vaccines, digital medical solutions, robotics, and more, Israeli startups have established themselves as leaders in the global effort.
Here are 10 Israeli startups that are making a difference in the fight against corona.
Sight Diagnostics
Sight Diagnostics, a Tel-Aviv based blood diagnostics company, is working with Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital to perform testing of patients who have tested positive for COVID-19. The company has equipped Sheba with its flagstaff OLO machine, the first complete blood count device for point-of-care. Having OLO in the coronavirus wing of the hospital mitigates the risk of contaminating blood samples and also provides critical insights based on complete blood counts of coronavirus patients.
TytoCare
Unlike others, Israeli health startups have had a much easier time securing funding during the crisis. Israeli-founded TytoCare raised $50 million in early April. The company has developed a handheld exam kit that allows physicians to examine the lungs, heart, throat, ears, skin, abdomen, and body temperature of patients without actually touching them or being near them. During the pandemic, the kit is being used to reduce the number of visits to clinics and hospitals.
Rezilient
Founded by Tanya Yarkoni after the birth of her second daughter, who is autistic, Rezilient is a platform dedicated to ending caregiver burnout and chronic stress. The app is currently in its pilot stage and provides training and personal coaches to caregivers. During the coronavirus pandemic, when caregivers have been on the frontlines, an app that offers emotional support can be invaluable.
Vocalis Health
Using an AI-based platform, Vocalis Health is developing a platform that can evaluate a person’s health status based on their voice. Naturally, the company is now working on a way to diagnose COVID-19. Toward this end, it is taking voice samples from carriers in various stages of the virus, comparing it with the voices of non-infected people, and working to create an AI algorithm to detect the “vocal fingerprint” of COVID-19.
SaNOtize
Founded by Israeli-Canadian Dr. Gilly Regev, SaNOtize has developed and patented a Nitric Oxide Releasing Solution to treat microbial infections. Pre-COVID-19, it was mainly used to treat and prevent strep throat, athlete’s foot, infected wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, sinusitis, and the flu, but today, the company is using its solution to develop treatment for corona. The company was recently granted approval to conduct a Phase II prevention and efficacy trial for early treatment of the virus.
EarlySense
Headquartered in Ramat Gan, Israel and Woburn, Massachusetts, EarlySense was founded in 2004, but the sensors it produces are being relied upon today more than ever. They can be placed under patients’ mattresses and can monitor sleep, vital signs, and motion. In the case of coronavirus, detecting changes in breathing patterns can be lifesaving.
Temi
Temi is an Israeli-developed, AI-powered personal robot, which today is being used in hospitals, medical centers, nursing homes, and other institutions to help minimize human-to-human contact. Recently, Temis were used in Hong Kong to disinfect a study space so 50,000 students could take crucial exams. Not only do Temis disinfect, but they also dispense hand sanitizer and take people’s temperature.
MigVax
MigVax is a company that was formed by the Migal Galilee Research Institute for the sole purpose of finding a treatment for COVID-19. To date, MigVax has secured a $12 million investment via OurCrowd. In early March, scientists at MigVax announced that they had successfully created a vaccine for poultry who were succumbing to coronavirus. Scientists are now working on modifying the vaccine for human use.
K Health
Founded in 2016, K Health offers an AI-powered platform that provides data-driven information about users’ symptoms and health. When the coronavirus outbreak began, the company developed a variety of solutions, including risk assessment and testing center information for the U.S.
A Bonus: Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM)
Israel is known for its tech and medical startups, but it is also a pioneer in the world of non-profits. (It has some 45,000 of them.) Tikkun Olam Makers is one such example. Founded in 2014, its purpose is to create and distribute affordable solutions for people living with disabilities, veterans, the poor, and the elderly. TOM operates in 24 counties and has a network of more than 4,500 volunteers. Since the onset of COVID-19, it launched a new initiative to deliver one million PPE (personal protective equipment) units, share know-how, and support local manufacturing and distribution of solutions at below-market costs. So far, volunteers have delivered over 42,000 PPE units to essential workers around the world.
The Key Is Chutzpah
Israelis may have a bit of chutzpah and impatience, but these are the traits that drive technological innovation forward, especially during difficult times. It is how Israel became a standout startup nation before coronavirus struck, and it is how Israel will continue to drive innovation as we get through this crisis.
