Israeli investment platform launches new post-pandemic fund

An Israeli investment platform has launched a fund specifically focused on companies and technology that are expected to play leading roles in the post-coronavirus world.

OurCrowd, whose portfolio already includes companies working to mitigate the coronavirus crisis and its effects, announced its Pandemic Investment Fund this week, noting how working life for many will soon change permanently.

It follows recent comments from Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella that the crisis had led to “two years of digital transformation in two months”.

New digital diagnostic tools have been approved and will remain in-use once the current pandemic has settled, downloads of remote working apps have soared, firms’ cybersecurity set-ups have shifted to account for home-working, and the use of AI-driven customer service software is set to double.

“The rapid spread of the coronavirus has validated our vision of a connected digital world poised to solve any crisis through global communication and rapid response,” said OurCrowd chief executive Jon Medved.

“To ensure that we get the world back on track, there is now an urgent need for innovation. Technology can help us overcome many of the problems resulting from the crisis. It’s time for tech to move fast and fix things.”

The Fund plans to raise $100 million for investment in urgent technological solutions for the medical, business, educational and social needs triggered by global pandemics and other health emergencies.

It will tap into areas such as vaccines, testing, personal protection, therapeutics, diagnostics, remote monitoring, digital health, remote working, distance learning, home exercise and cybersecurity, and is open to private individuals willing to invest a minimum of £40,000.