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situation leading to e-Car development.
”
David Riemenschneider, a private equity 
automotive technology consultant from 
Europe, visited the Michigan 
booth hoping to help the 
effort. “
Among my jobs, I 
encourage overseas compa-
nies to locate in Michigan 
by consulting on mergers 
and acquisitions, funding 
strategies and organization-
al structure,
” he said. He worked at Ford 
Motor Company for 16 years, including 10 
in Dearborn, and the rest in charge of Ford 
of Europe in Germany.
Craig McGuire, managing director of the 
MCity internship program, an interdisci-
plinary public-private partner-
ship at University of Michigan, 
was also at Ecomotion. MCity 
provides “mini-internships” 
by pairing startups with four 
to six Michigan undergrads 
who form teams. The teams 
have access to U-M resources, 
facilities and data sets; all things mobili-
ty-focused.
“Two Israeli companies are already 
involved with the MCity internship pro-
gram: Innaviz Technologies and Foresight,
” 
he said. “We’re expanding the program by 
adding six new startups in the EV space. 
We came to meet startups looking to 
expand in the U.S. We want Michigan to be 
that site.
”

CONNECTING MICHIGAN 
AND ISRAEL
MIBA is not the first local organization 
connecting state commerce with Israel. The 
Michigan-Israel Chamber of Commerce 
performed a broader level of connecting 
Michigan and Israeli business in the 1980s 
and 1990s. MIBA resurrected the effort in 
2018. 
In addition to this trip’s focus on mobil-
ity and sustainability technology, MIBA
’s 
program areas also include health technol-
ogy, defense, advanced manufacturing, the 
industry 4.0 accelerator program, food and 
agriculture.
“Michigan is the global capital of 
mobility and the preeminent place for 
automakers and auto suppliers, along with 
entrepreneurs and innovators leading the 
way in the mobility and electrification rev-

olution,
” MDOT’s Brunner said. “Michigan 
is defining the future of transportation, and 
our innovation along with the state’s mod-
ern infrastructure, talent pool and testing 
capabilities allow Michigan to continue its 
position as a high-tech, global mobility and 
electrification hub with abundant resources 
for startups and mobility businesses.
“The Michigan delegation is interested 
in interacting with Israeli companies to 
explore available new mobility technology 
with the possibility to pilot or implement 
some of these innovations in Michigan,
” 
Brunner added. 
Roshni Shokar of Michigan Central in 
Detroit’s Corktown neighbor-
hood participated in the eco-
nomic mission to Ecomotion 
in Israel “to meet with startups 
to encourage their moving to 
Detroit, to locate at Michigan 
Central, which was designed 
to provide a space as they look 
to expand their presence in the United 
States,
” she said. “We’re hoping to find new 
technologies to bring to Michigan, not to 
Silicon Valley.
” 
Anchored by a “first-of-its-kind” mobil-
ity testing platform, Michigan Central was 
created in the former abandoned Detroit 
train station revitalized by Ford with out-
door plazas, open spaces and 1.2 million 
square feet of commercial public space, 
said Shokar, associate of platform experi-
ence and startup and entrepreneur engage-
ment for the Ford Motor Company subsid-
iary. “We are offering connected mobility 
so Israeli and other startups can provide 
real-life demonstrations of technology and 
products.
”

NETWORKING SUCCESS
According to MEDC’s Ward, the delegation 
came to Ecomotion to learn about Israeli 
innovation and both the history and cul-
ture that has created a remarkable ecosys-
tem of technological advancements. 
“Israel has fostered an environment of 
creativity, resilience and resourcefulness 
that has propelled it to the forefront of 
technological breakthroughs in various 
fields. The unique blend of diverse influ-
ences, entrepreneurial spirit and a strong 
emphasis on education has played a pivotal 
role in shaping Israel into the ‘Start-Up 
Nation,
’” Ward added.

Begun 11 years ago with a modest one-
day event, “Ecomotion Week” has become 
one of the world’s premier Smart (think AI, 
smartphones, etc.) mobility events globally. 
The Michigan-based participants, along 
with Michigan international companies 
already in Israel, such as General Motors 
and Ford Motor Company, as well as 
Israeli companies with a presence in Israel, 
attended with the goal of connecting, col-
laborating and creating synergies. 
They looked to open these doors with 
startups and other companies, researchers, 
government agencies, academic institutions 
and investors in the field of smart mobility. 
Ecomotion encourages innovation 
through a variety of events such as 
Meetups, Challenges, Bootcamps, the 
annual Main Event and more.
Michigan networking’s success is not 
new. “We’ve had some great interest from 
several companies, already,
” Ward said. 
“When you look at previous delegations, 
one Israeli company the state of Michigan 
is already working with is Electreon —
they’re building a first-in-the-U.S. wireless 
charging roadway in downtown Detroit.
”
Bopp was more specific about his 
achievements. “
Along with attending 
Ecomotion, our delegation met a number 
of startups during sessions with Mobilion, 
Mobilitech Capital and Drive TLV
,
” he said.
Brunner, likewise, left Israel with an 
enhanced list for following up from his 
Lansing office. “I have made dozens of 
contacts with Israeli companies and am 
in the process of [coordinating] meetings; 
I already have multiple virtual follow-up 
meetings scheduled with these companies, 
along with some of the resource experts in 
our department to discuss potential oppor-
tunities,
” he said.
Katie Marx is a native Detroiter who 
works a hybrid position as managing 
director of Lambert’s 
public relations, investor 
relations and integrated 
marketing team, specializing 
in automotive, autotech, 
mobility,and aviation, 
aerospace and defense. “I 
was thrilled to connect with 
the great delegation traveling with the 
Michigan Israel Business Accelerator and 
was tickled to see such a strong and vibrant 
presence from my home state of Michigan 

David 
Riemenschneider

Craig 
McGuire

Roshni 
Shokar

Katie Marx

