Pitango First

growth-positive

The article discusses the growing trend of business-to-government (B2G) partnerships, highlighting how companies of all sizes are increasingly engaging with government entities to achieve scale, longevity, and global expansion. Chemi Peres, Managing Partner at Pitango, emphasizes the benefits of B2G collaborations, such as long-term contracts and stability, which are becoming more accessible due to digital transformation and the integration of innovative technologies. The article also explores how private sector innovation is influencing diplomacy and international relations, with examples of countries investing in tech infrastructure and dual-use technologies. The piece suggests that Israel should enhance its investment in dual-use capabilities and support Israeli companies in penetrating foreign B2G markets.

growth-positive

Pitango, a veteran Israeli venture capital fund, has leased 1,400 square meters of office space in Melisron and AFI Properties Landmark A high-rise office tower in Tel Aviv for NIS 40 million annually over 10 years. This move is indicative of the shift in Israels venture capital sector from Herzliya to the Sarona district of Tel Aviv. Pitango, founded in 1993, has invested $3 billion since its establishment and has $465 million available for investment. Despite facing increased competition from younger and foreign funds, Pitango continues to make prominent investments.

growth-positive

The Israeli artificial intelligence (AI) industry is seeing significant growth, particularly in the area of AI security. The Pitango First venture capital fund has highlighted Israels substantial presence in the generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) security market. The market for cybersecurity solutions based on AI is expected to grow from $19.2 billion in 2022 to $154.8 billion in 2032. Companies such as Nvidia and Palo Alto Networks have already made strategic moves in this direction. It is estimated that in the past year there were between eight and ten Seed rounds for Israeli cyber AI companies, averaging $5-6 million. Pitango First has compiled a list of startups developing security solutions for GenAI, many of them Israeli.

Growth-Positive

Yair Cassuto, General Partner at Pitango First, has highlighted the importance of the Japanese market for companies that have reached a certain level of maturity. Speaking at the Israel-Japan Conference in Tokyo, Cassuto noted that Pitangos relationship with Japan began 27 years ago and has since seen significant opportunities for creating business and innovation partnerships between the Israeli and Japanese ecosystems. He cited the example of Forescout, a former portfolio company, that established a partnership in Japan, and Via, which has created a footprint in the Japanese market.

growth-positive

Aviv Barzilay, Senior Associate at Pitango First, spoke about the importance of generative AI and large language models (LLMs) in the tech industry at Calcalist’s Tech on the Beach event. He highlighted how these technologies are changing the way startups operate. Pitango First, a part of Pitango, the largest VC fund in Israel, focuses on early-stage startups and has invested in several promising companies, including AI21 Labs. Barzilay expressed confidence in the potential of Israeli entrepreneurs in the AI sector, despite joining the game a bit late.