Canadian-Israeli venture fund will invest in next-generation cyber-security, intelligence and physical security technologies.
- Investors include prominent Canadian business leaders.
- Advisors include a Who's Who of the Israeli cyber-security and intelligence world.
- HLS Fund's advisors will be in Toronto from Nov. 28 through Dec. 2.
TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2016 /CNW/ - One of the world's first venture funds devoted to homeland security is being launched in Toronto to invest in Israeli and Canadian cyber-security, intelligence and physical security technology companies.
The AWZ HLS Investment Fund has already invested in two Israeli companies and is vetting investments in other Canadian and Israeli companies. Homeland security is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, projected to grow to $544 billion by 2018.
Yaron Ashkenazi, the Executive Director of HLS GP Inc., the fund's Toronto-based general partner, who was a delegate to Toronto Mayor John Tory's visit to Israel last week, said: "There is no real cyber-security without advanced intelligence and physical security as well, and without all three acting together. Our investments will be focused on bringing premier technologies in these three critical elements from Israel, a global leader, to Toronto, an emerging technology hub."
The strategic advisors to the Fund include:
Haim Tomer – Former Head of the Intelligence Division of the Mossad, Israel's National Intelligence Agency.
Erez Kreiner – Former Director of the Cyber Security Division of the Israel Security Agency (ISA).
Gary Barnea – Former Director of the Protection and Security Division of the Israel Security Agency (ISA).
Lt. Gen. (Ret) Michael Day - Former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Special Operations Forces Commander, CAF senior Military Officer in the Defence Policy Group, and the Chief Strategic Planner for the future of the CAF
Mr. Ashkenazi will be joined by the three Israeli advisors in Toronto during the week of November 28th, to advance the establishment of Canadian subsidiaries of the Israeli companies invested in by the HLS Fund.
Mr. Ashkenazi and the three Israeli advisors will be available for media interviews throughout that week.
SOURCE AWZ HLS Investment Fund
Bob Ramsay, 4l6 822-3452, [email protected]
Share this article