JULY 20 • 2023 | 41
continued on page 42
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