Winners of the best venture-backed competition

Last Month, Red Herring and the Israel Venture Association co-sponsored a competition in Israel, limited to early stage companies with revenues of up to $10 million in 2006 supported by venture funds associated with the IVA.

Three Israeli startups received first prizes as the best young companies in their respective sectors.

And the winners are:

Software Category: Safend Inc.
Main Idea: Safend develops software to prevent data leaks in the organization, especially from authorized users.

• Founded: 2003
• CEO: Gil Sever
• Employees: 50
• Capital Raised: Safend has raised $9.65 Million in 2 rounds.
• Key Investors: Intel Capital, Walden Israel and Elron Electronics.
  

Communications Category: Unipier
Main Idea: A merger between Cash-U and Niragongo created Unipier, the developer of IPM – Intelligent Policy Management software that enables wireless providers to create, integrate and manage services fast.

• Founded: 2000
• CEO: Gabby Levy
• Employees: 60
• Capital Raised: Unipier has raised $43 Million in 4 rounds
• Key Investors: Greylock Partners, Intel Capital, Carmel Ventures, Fidelity Ventures, Pitango Venture Capital

Life Sciences Category: G.I. View
Main Idea: G.I. View has developed Aer-O-Scope, a new colonoscopy device that consists of a disposable camera embedded in a balloon that propels itself through the colon, providing a 360 degree view.

• Founded: 2003
• CEO: Dr. Benad Goldwasser
• Capital Raised: $29 Million in 4 rounds
• Key Investors: Israel Healthcare Ventures, Delta Ventures, Zielgler Meditech Medical Partners

See the rest of the finalists here.