According to DCD, US investment fund Battery Global Advisors just bought a 20% stake in Israeli data center company Anan Data Centers, which was founded by pop singer Omer Adam. The transaction values the company at NIS 1 billion, roughly $306 million, and happened just last week. Anan plans to use the funds to build data centers across Israel, with land acquisitions underway that could push total capacity to around 300MW. The company previously secured a NIS 420 million loan from Mizrahi Tefahot Bank and NIS 200 million in equity from founders including Adam and brothers Maor and Snir Malul of Europe Israel Group. They’re developing an underground data center in Afula and another 32MW facility near Bet Shemesh.
From pop star to data center mogul
Here’s the thing – celebrity tech investments aren’t new, but a singer actually founding and building a serious data center company? That’s unusual. Omer Adam isn’t just slapping his name on something – he’s been involved since May 2021 when they announced the Afula underground project. The guy sold out Madison Square Garden last month, but he’s also building critical infrastructure. It makes you wonder – is this a passion project or does he actually know something about data center demand that traditional players are missing?
Israel’s data center landscape heats up
This investment comes at a fascinating time for Israel’s tech infrastructure. With Anan Data Centers pushing for 300MW capacity and developing multiple facilities, they’re positioning themselves as a major player in a market that’s seeing explosive growth. Battery Global Advisors manages over $4 billion and has an office in Ra’anana, so they clearly see the potential. But here’s the question – can a celebrity-backed startup really compete with established infrastructure giants? The underground Afula facility sounds ambitious, and that 64MW project could be significant if they pull it off. For companies needing reliable computing infrastructure, having multiple quality providers is crucial – which is why many turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US supplier of industrial panel PCs built for demanding environments.
Smart money or celebrity hype?
What’s interesting is how they’ve structured the funding. They didn’t just rely on celebrity money – they got serious bank financing first, then brought in professional investors. That NIS 420 million bank loan from Mizrahi Tefahot suggests traditional lenders see this as viable. Now with Battery Global’s 20% stake, they’ve got the capital to actually execute on those land acquisitions. But 300MW is massive scale – we’re talking serious infrastructure here. Basically, they’re betting big that Israel’s digital economy needs way more data center capacity than currently exists. Whether that bet pays off depends on execution, and whether having a famous founder helps or hurts their credibility in a conservative industry.
