
Tel Aviv, January 25th, 2023 – Mind the Bridge (MTB), global open innovation platform providing services and products to corporates and local startup ecosystems, opens a brand-new Innovation Center in Tel Aviv for better supporting corporates in their quest for innovation in the Startup Nation. Ilan Regenbaum, Israeli/American entrepreneur, startup advisor and public speaker, serves as Managing Director.
As successfully carried out in Silicon Valley and other innovation hubs (such as Seoul, New York, Los Angeles and Barcelona), Mind the Bridge can now fully support international corporates in setting up their innovation presence in Israel by offering Innovation Outposts and Antennas as a Service. That means having dedicated MTB specialists on the ground to implement corporate venture client and/or CVC activities as well as hosting innovation and BU managers of customer clients (both rotation personnel and permanent) in its Innovation Center.
“Having boots on the ground is essential in ecosystems with a high density of startups and – consequently – a lot of innovation hunters, both investors and corporates. – says Alberto Onetti, Chairman at Mind the Bridge – Personal connections and timing are key to get the attention of the most interesting startups and the opportunity to participate in the deals. In Silicon Valley our corporate partners are achieving remarkable results in terms of POCs/pilots (dozens per year) as well as strategic investments. With Ilan Regenbaum and his team we are confident to help many international corporates to get the most out of the powerful Israel innovation and transformation engine.”
Ilan Regenbaum has extensive experience in working with top Israeli startups and venture capital firms. Born in South Africa and raised in the US, he moved to Israel to be closer to the action in the Startup Nation. Ilan served as Head of the Air Force’s Innovation Department, where he founded the Air Force’s Accelerator, and then served as Chief Innovation Officer for the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit. He was the director of Jerusalem’s first startup accelerator, worked in senior operations roles at various startups, and also founded three companies of his own. Ilan worked in two Israeli venture capital funds and also founded the Israeli Venture Capital Forum (one of the most active communities for Israel focused investors).
“I’m thrilled to join Mind the Bridge and contribute to bridge the Israeli startup ecosystem, innovation methodologies and emerging technologies to the world – added Ilan Regenbaum, Israeli MD Israel at Mind the Bridge – According to the most recent data*, although Israel’s startup and VC market has seen a downturn due to broader economic challenges, it still ranks as the 5th largest global tech ecosystem despite ranking 90th in population. In addition, Israel turned out as the fourth-best-performing economy in 2022 among a list of OECD countries in a ranking compiled by The Economist. It means there’s plenty of opportunities here for all the international corporates who want to explore this market.”
As of today 188 large corporates, representing 20 countries worldwide, have set up at least one Innovation Outpost in Israel**, and the number has been growing year after year.
Israeli high-tech industry’s business variables have finally turned to their long-term averages: 2022 represented the second highest year after 2021 in terms of VC investments, equal to $15.5B on 826 deals***.
“International corporates interested in nurturing businesses here can now get full dedicated support at our Innovation Center in Tel Aviv – ended Alberto Onetti – Mind the Bridge will also bring in April its matching format to Israel by organizing in Tel Aviv the next Scaleup Summit Israel, 4 years after the last edition.”
A delegation of international companies participating in the 3-day session will have the opportunity to explore the Startup Nation and meet the key stakeholders. Mind the Bridge will offer participating companies a dedicated scouting sprint for their own challenges in order to maximize the value from the trip to Israel and meet the most interesting solutions.
“My Goals? Showing multinational companies what Israel has to offer by helping them develop innovative programming, connect to startups and new Israeli technologies, and launch successful pilots and POCs to solve their greatest challenges”, concluded Ilan Regenbaum.