14 | JUNE 29 • 2023 be for the city of Detroit. ” Itai Biran, Consul for Political & Commercial Affairs at the Israel Consulate General to the Midwest, was there for The Elevator’s launch. “This space will undoubt- edly serve as a catalyst for Israeli companies, enabling them to rapidly accelerate their growth models in in the United States, ” he said. “The opening of this space represents a milestone in our efforts to strengthen ties between Israel and Michigan. ” According to Biran, both regions share a common focus on various sectors, includ- ing smart mobility, advanced manufactur- ing, health tech, sustainability tech, food and air tech. “These areas of expertise provide a strong foundation for collaboration between Israel and Michigan companies, ” he said. “The partnership between Israel and Michigan is built on a mutual commitment to techno- logical advancement and economic growth. Israel’s reputation as the Startup Nation and Michigan’s thriving innovation ecosystem create the perfect environment for fostering collaboration and driving progress. ” Three visionary Israeli companies have made their mark as charter members of The Elevator, showcasing their commitment to innovation and growth: GuardKnox, FullPath and SkillReal. GuardKnox is a premier automotive and defense technology and engineering com- pany. It has grown from its first two busi- ness development resources to a fully sep- arate U.S. company, adding a small team of engineers to service its domestic business. “MIBA is a great resource for Israeli com- panies in Michigan, and The Elevator will help advance their mission of connecting companies like GuardKnox to important resources and networks. ” said Joe Romero, managing director U.S. of GuardKnox. “We anticipate using The Elevator space to further facilitate meetings and discussions with other companies as we find a common neutral ground upon which to trade ideas and collaborate on projects. ” FullPath (formerly AutoLeadStar) is an automotive industry-leading customer data and experience platform. FullPath enables dealerships to cultivate enduring custom- er relationships by seamlessly integrating disparate data sources and harnessing the potential of this data to curate unparalleled, hyper-personalized experiences for each individual customer. Centrepolis Accelerator has selected SkillReal’s cutting-edge digital twin align- ment technology, which offers augmented reality measurement capabilities on-screen, for their growth program. Bourgeois shared that early in June, eight more Israeli companies spent a few days visiting The Elevator. “To see them in this space — using it, connecting with Michigan companies — it was just really rewarding, ” he said, adding he expects other Israeli companies to be signing on to The Elevator very soon. According to Davidoff, “There is no cost for membership/occupancy to Israeli com- panies as we want to facilitate landing with as few barriers as possible. The cost of The Elevator is part of the annual board- approved operating budget. ” Originally named the Michigan Israel Innovation Center, “it didn’t exactly roll off the tongue, ” Davidoff said. “We were trying to think of a name that would mean as much to an Israelis as it would to us here in Michigan. “What could symbolize what we’re trying to do here, which is to lift up Israeli startups so they can reach their highest level? We decided on The Elevator, and MIBA is your elevator operator. ” OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER Mark Davidoff, original board chair for MIBA The view from inside The Elevator continued from page 13 THANK YOU TO OUR 2022-2023 SPONSORS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2023-2024, CONTACT AMY SCHLUSSEL: ASCHLUSSEL@HILLELDAY.ORG OR 248-539-1484