GINSUM Ambassadors

Head of corporate development at EDEKA Nord

Mirco Lange

Mirco Lange has been working for EDEKA Nord since 2016 as Head of corporate development. In this internal management consultancy, he is looking for new solutions that will advance EDEKA Nord and network companies. Startups play a leading role in this.

Previously, he worked for the EDEKA headquarters for 4.5 years and was responsible for building social media channels and digital communications.

Prior to that, he spent 12 years advising leading automobile manufacturers in matters of digital brand communication.

In addition to his profession, Mirco attaches great importance to family, good food (of course), lifelong learning and cultural exchange. He loves to network and is always interested in good ideas.

Managing Partner at TAU Ventures

Nimrod Cohen

Vice President at hy

Dr. Danny Krautz

As Vice President at hy, Dr. Danny Krautz is responsible for developing innovation concepts, technology and business strategies to accelerate new business opportunities. Previously, he was Chief of Staff and Interims General Manager to MuLight Technology GmbH in Berlin and Shanghai. Danny gained additional experience as Senior Venture Manager at CARL ZEISS, at Berlin Partner for Business and Technology GmbH, at Fraunhofer, and at Merck Chemicals in the UK. He studied Electrical Engineering in Stuttgart, Information Technologies in Barcelona and holds a Doctorate in Electronic Engineering from the University in Wuppertal. Recently, he finished an executive course in Finance at the London School of Economics in London, UK.  He is initiator and former board member of the Innovation Network for Advanced Materials (INAM) in Berlin.

Consultant at McKinsey & Co.

Ron Alpar

Ron has many years of experience in building, scaling and consulting high-growth technology businesses around the world.
 
After finishing business school, he started his career in several business development roles at fast-growth Berlin based startups (e.g. foodora, Zalando) where he learned how to build and scale new ventures.
 
Thereafter, he consulted several early-stage startups both directly and as part of large accelerator programs (e.g. Techstars Israel).
 
Since 2018, he works for McKinsey & Co. where he is advising the world’s leading Telecom, Media & Technology companies and Private Equity Funds on strategy and growth-related topics.
 
Ron speaks four languages and lives between the United States, Germany and Israel and is a passionate advocate for German-Israeli relations. 

Head of Jerusalem office of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom

Julius von Freytag-Loringhoven

Julius von Freytag-Loringhoven, Head of Jerusalem office of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom since 2020. From 2012 to 2020 he ran the Moscow office of his foundation, launching programmes from Young Leaders Exchange to Rule of Law. He brought “Fuck Up Nights” to Russia and is deputy chairman of Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom. From 2006 to 2012 he worked as a political consultant in the surroundings of the EU institutions. He is an officer of the reserve of German tank reconnaissance and studied – in Brussels, Munich and Saint Petersburg – Politics, Philosophy and Economics with an MA in Political Strategy and Communications from the University of Kent.

Founding & Managing Partner of torq.partners

Robert Hinsch

Robert Hinsch is Founding & Managing Partner of torq.partners, a finance and process consulting firm, which helps start-ups to optimize and scale their organization. torq.partners supports start-ups and scale-ups with a team of over 25 people at 3 offices (Berlin, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam). Prior, he has worked in venture capital in Germany and California (mainly in mobile, media, SaaS and EduTech) and advised corporates with their venture investments. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business and Economics.

Chairman at NRWalley

Torsten Jensen

Torsten Jensen is an expert in Entrepreneurship & Innovation. He is a founding member and chairman of the NRW Startup Verband NRWalley e.V. Jensen is also Senior Manager Digital Innovation at Ernst & Young and NRW Hub Leader of EY Startup. Before that he was Co-founder and managing director of Asandoo GmbH, a full-service agency in the field of IoT. As a lecturer at universities, he shares his practical knowledge, especially in the areas of digital business models, social media and online trends. Jensen is a member of the Digital Advisory Board of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

In 2007, Jensen discovered his interest in the Israeli start-up ecosystem and connects German SME with Israeli startups to build a German-Israeli innovation ecosystem.

Managing Director of T2med

Peter von der Burchard

Peter von der Burchard is the Managing Director of T2med. Based in Kiel, the company is developing and distributing software solutions for registered physicians in Germany. Von der Burchard and T2med are focusing on innovative and digital solutions to rethink and reshape Germany’s healthcare, always aiming to improve quality of care.

CEO of Tutech Innovation GmbH

Martin Mahn

Martin Mahn is CEO of Tutech Innovation GmbH and of Hamburg Innovation GmbH, two knowledge and technology transfer companies owned by and serving the majority of Hamburg’s institutions of higher education and research. He is an Executive Board member of the Business Angels Network Elbeweser – fostering private investment into local startups, Der Wirtschaftsverein – a platform for businesses in Hamburg’s southern metropolitan region and Channel Hamburg – a regional development organization promoting the transformation of the Harburg inland port into an innovation hub.

Martin Mahn was CEO of Humboldt-Innovation GmbH, the knowledge and technology transfer arm of Humboldt-Universität, Berlin and lectured in Innovation Management at the Berlin School of Economics and Law. He held a number of senior management roles in the Display Optic Lighting Division of OSRAM AG, served as an environmental consultant for SMEs and was a founding member of the Managing Board at the Institute for Resource Conservation, Innovation and Sustainability.

Martin Mahn has a degree in biology from Freie Universität Berlin. He has studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and holds a postgraduate qualification in Environmental Economy and Environmental Management from the Berlin School of Economics and Law.

Managing Director at Cogitars GmbH

Michael Kruse

Michael Kruse is Managing Director of Cogitars GmbH a company that provides statistical support for innovative development of drugs, medical devices and diagnostics. Michael is specialised in building up professional business structures. Before this Michael worked in Berlin as a consultant for companies in the health sector, he has a deep understanding of both pharmaceutical as well as medtec companies and their business models. He holds a degree as economist (Diplom Volkswirt) and studied in Hamburg and Liverpool.

Consultant

Itamar Gross

For 4 years, Itamar Gross has been focusing on the German-speaking market in sales and business development roles. His current job is to negotiate contracts with D-A-CH companies for an Israeli high-tech organization in Tel Aviv. Originally from Vienna, he started his career in the Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN. After moving to Berlin, he gained experience in start-ups, and established himself in the network “Jewish Start-up Berlin”. Since being a student, Itamar has been actively involved with expanding the relationship between Israel and D-A-CH in the fields of politics, economics, and philosophy.

Corporate Strategy & Innovation at Ströer

Christian von den Brincken

Christian von den Brincken studied applied geography at the University Trier (Dipl. Geogr.) and had Managing Positions at Initiative Media and MediaCom, since 2011 he is Managing Director at Ströer, responsible for Strategy & Innovation.

TEAM LEAD INNOVATION MANAGEMENT & STRATEGY at Lufthansa

Anja Rother

Innovation Partnerships and Scouting @ NEW AG

Christoph Sommer

Christoph is responsible for innovation management at NEW AG, a supra-regional energy supplier and mobility service provider in the Lower Rhine region (NRW). In addition to the company’s own incubator/accelerator, he is responsible for everything related to innovation partnerships, especially with a thematic focus on (renewable) energy, mobility or sustainability. Previously, he managed the startup activities for NRWs state owned economic development agency in Israel connecting for example Israeli startups with German SMEs and corporates. In addition to his commitment to German Israeli relations on many levels, he is always happy to open his network and knowledge on various topics with anyone interested.

Associate at StageOne Ventures

Nofar Schnider

Nofar is an Associate at StageOne Ventures. Prior to StageOne, Nofar was the CTO and Technology Analyst at Nielsen Innovate, an Engineering Manager and Software Engineer at XM Cyber, Here Technologies, and Nokia.

She is an 8200 alumna and holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the IDC and a M.Sc. in Management from Tel-Aviv University. She is experienced in assisting start-ups as well as mentoring and escorting teams to build sustainable world-class tech products.

Speaker & CEO

Noam Band

Mr Band, former the Chairman and CEO of Algomizer, (traded on the Tel-Aviv stock exchange). Served as a chairman of Viewbix (OTCMKTS: VBIX). Previously served as CEO of Timest, Mobillion, and Dotomi (acquired by ValueClick for $295 million). Investor at NanoDimension, FantasyNetwork, 7Digital, and more.

Holds a master’s degree (MBA), and a BA in Economics. Vicechair for the non-profit Global Entrepreneurship Network (Israeli chapter). A judge in start-up competitions (Mass-Challenge, Get in The Ring, Start-up Open, Entrepreneur Of The Year, Creative Business cup). Represents Israel in international conferences as a valuated member of the Start-up Nation.

Managing Director of Innovation Without Borders

Benny Shlick

Benny is a people and business connector, an Israeli innovation ecosystem leader, keynote speaker, deeply engaged in the start-ups, investment, and tech ecosystem, with a multidisciplinary experience and background in key positions among others in the private and public sectors. Benny is the founder and Managing Director of Innovation Without Borders (IWB) – working with governments, corporations, and industries around the world to co-design and execute new innovative approaches and solutions. Leading and managing their strategic collaborations, investments, open innovation and the penetrating to the vibrant Israeli innovation ecosystem.

Managing Director at Finsbury Glover Hering

Dr. Philipp Raidt

Philipp Raidt is Managing Director at Finsbury Glover Hering. He brings more than a decade of experience in the tech, media and mobility sector to his clients. He helps companies and investors unlock value, manage risk and navigate regulation when they venture beyond established markets and industries.

Prior to joining Finsbury Glover Hering, Philipp was Chief Operating Officer at Axel Springer Digital Ventures. Previously, he was Managing Director at Axel Springer International and Head of Portfolio at Axel Springer Digital Classifieds. Earlier in his career, he was a lawyer at Hogan Lovells International LLP.

Managing Director at MSL Germany

Christoph Moosbauer

Born in 1969, Christoph studied Political Sciences after an apprenticeship as bookseller in Munich. Elected in the German Parliament 1998, he served in the Foreign Affairs Committee as the SPD’s spokesperson for Middle East Politics and chaired the UN-Committee. After leaving Parliament, Christoph was co-founder of Concilius. Since 2015 he is Managing Director at  MSL Germany, one of Germany’s top PR and Public Affairs agencies. Christoph lives in Berlin and Munich, has a family with four boys, likes soccer, skiing and reading. He is an active reservist in the rank of a Navy Commander (OF-4).

Technology Portfolio & Demand Manager at Porsche

Cihan Sügür

Cihan Sügür is an expert for digitalization und new work. He was born in Dortmund and studied business informatics in Stuttgart, Santa Barbara (USA) and Istanbul (Turkey) on a scholarship of IBM Germany. Later, he joined Deutsche Bahn and Olympus in leading tech-roles. 2015, he was invited by the Israeli ambassador to join the delegation to celebrate 50 years of German-Israeli relationships, ever since he’s active in this context. Since 2018, Cihan is working for Porsche as a Technology Portfolio & Demand Manager and as the winner of the CIO Young Talent Award of the CIO foundation, he’s a MBA scholar at the WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management.

Founder & Managing Director at COVENDIT

Georg Wässa

Georg Wässa has more than ten years of experience in the areas of M&A, banking and real estate management. In addition to various activities at fund companies and banks, he worked for the Swiss market leader for company sales in medium-sized companies in Zurich and Frankfurt. In 2016 he founded the M&A consulting company COVENDIT, based in Frankfurt and Berlin.

Senior Vice President Information Technology at Zeaborn Ship Management

Christian Rother

Christian is an information technology professional in the maritime industry in Hamburg. During former positions he gained experience in automotive and logistics at Volkswagen and telecommunications at two consulting companies. Christian is skilled in IT strategy & consulting, communications, worked in Corporations & “Mittelstand” and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Stays in India & Argentina, working in international industries and a strong travelling affinity constantly increased his intercultural experience.

He holds a diploma in business informatics, acts as a real estate investor and currently participates in an executive education course “Investment strategies” at Columbia University.

ISV Partner Development Manager at Amazon Web Services

Yael Kahn

Business development expert focused on the European markets, Experience in the DACH and Israeli market. A facilitator, strategist, and relationship builder, excellent at taking projects from scratch and making them happen. Sales Enablement (in all its strength) provides all the best practices, knowledge, tools, and resources required to be successful. Specialized in penetrating new markets with a strong passion for Innovation and Startup ecosystems. Fluent in German and English and Hebrew.

Associate at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek

Shimon Merkel

Shimon Merkel is an Associate in the Corporate/M&A and Private Equity/Venture Capital practice groups at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, one of Germany’s largest and independent law firms. He has experience in advising clients in cross border M&A deals with a focus on real estate investments and financing. In addition, he advises on all aspects of venture capital investments.

Before working for Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek he graduated from the Humboldt University in Berlin and the University of Tel Aviv and worked for international law firms in Berlin and New York.

Investment Manager at Beyond Capital Partners

Nico Strott

Nico Strott is an Investment Manager in the Private Equity industry at Beyond Capital Partners in Frankfurt am Main. He supports Mittelstands companies in succession planning solutions, transformation processes and successful growth strategies.

Nico started his career at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt am Main, where he initially worked in the Group Strategy (Abteilung für Konzernentwicklung) department on various international projects in the areas of strategy, M&A and transformation and later focused on Corporate M&A.

He holds a B.Sc. degree in Business Administration from Mannheim University and was also able to study at Lancaster University (UK) with a focus on corporate finance, controlling and ethics.

In his spare time, Nico is committed to liberalism in Germany and is a passionate hunter.

Director of Business Development - Vayyar Home

Rotem Geslevich

Rotem is an experienced business professional with a proven record in international sales, business development, operations, and marketing. She has a good understanding of different cultures, as well as hands-on deal closing background in the Hi-Tech market, from planning to negotiation and contract signing.

Rotem leads Vayyar HOME business unit in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) at Vayyar Imaging.

Prior to joining Vayyar ,she was the Regional Director at OrCam Technologies, where she led the activities in the Nordics countries, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Before that, she managed the Hi-Tech Business Development department at PwC Israel, worked at a consulting company for startups in New York, and spent a few years at Fischer Behar Chen in Israel as a corporate lawyer.

She served on a Board of Directors at IAC (Israeli American Council) in New York and in United Nations Association in San Francisco. Today, she acts as an External Director at the Economic Company of the Student Union at the IDC Herzliya.

She holds an LL.M in Technology Law from UC Berkeley, as well as a BA in Business Management and an LL.B in Law from the IDC Herzliya.

Deputy Head of Investor Services at Invest in Bavaria

Mirjam Eisele

Mirjam Eisele is the deputy head of Investor Services at Invest in Bavaria, the business promotion agency of the State of Bavaria. She is particularly responsible for the area of smart mobility. As a powerful networker on an economic, political and social level, she works to strengthen Bavarian-Israeli economic relations. Mirjam holds an M.A. in philosophy, politics and economics from the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich.

Investor

Daniel Fouzailov

As an investor and business and investors connector, Daniel has been highly engaged in the startup industry in Israel for several years .

He leads a private “family office” that makes investments in several industries like Food Tech, Digital Healthcare, Cyber and more by finding amazing Israeli technologies in early stages and taking them forward.

He also helps Israeli companies that have special technology and scalable business by leading their investment rounds and connecting great technologies with strategic investors, funds and companies that can help these Israeli startups scale up and go global.

Daniel believes that investing and connecting companies that can contribute to progress will make our world a better, smarter and healthier place.

Growth Manager at APX

Mor Eini

Senior Partner at Roland Berger

Dr. Wolfgang Bernhart

Dr. Wolfgang Bernhart has been working for the automotive industry for over 25 years. After earning his engineering Ph.D. he started his career in consulting 1993, joining Roland Berger as a Senior Partner in 2007.There he is globally responsible for Roland Berger’s  “Advanced Technology Center” (ATC), that monitors technologies in energy storage (Lithium Ion batteries, fuel cells), electronics/silicon as well as software/AI. He consults Automotive, Industrial and Private Equity clients on these topics and its implications on the business.

In addition, he is an Advisor to “Assembly Ventures”, a mobility-focused American-European Venture Capital fund.

Founder & Managing Partner at Remagine Ventures

Kevin Baxpehler

Kevin is the Founder & Managing Partner of Remagine Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund in Israel focused on interactive entertainment & digital commerce. Previously he led ProSiebenSat.1 Media’s investment office in Israel. Before that Kevin was an occasional angel investor and a founding member & operator of several startups. Over a decade ago Kevin started his career on Wall Street working for Gerson Lehrman Group and Credit Suisse. He received his MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and his BA in IT Management from the IDC Herzliya. Kevin was born and raised in Germany, but spent most of his adult life in the US and Israel, where he lives today with his wife and 4 kids.

Senior Executive at AHK Israel

Charme Rykower

Charme Rykower was born in Munich where she studied Political Science M.A. After moving to Israel she worked for a High Tech company and since 2008 she is Senior Executive at AHK Israel, the Israeli German Chamber of Commerce. She is scouting for Israeli technologies on behalf of large and medium sized German companies, organizes technology related events and introduces Israeli High Tech companies to German corporates, investors and governmental institutions. Charme is also seeking cooperation opportunities on behalf of the German State of Baden-Württemberg.

Senior Associate at Greenfield Partners

Daniel Milstein

Daniel is Senior Associate at Greenfield Partners, where his responsibilities include sourcing, underwriting, and executing investments in early growth-stage Israeli technology companies. Previously, Daniel worked in the Global Investment Banking division of RBC Capital Markets in New York. In this capacity, Daniel served on the Healthcare Coverage and Mergers & Acquisitions teams, where he helped execute a variety of M&A advisory and capital markets transactions. Daniel graduated from the University of Florida with a Master’s in Finance, which he completed concurrently with his Bachelor’s in Economics & Political Science. Daniel is based in Tel Aviv, Israel.

CEO & Founder at WLOUNGE

Mali Baum

CEO & Founder at WLOUNGE one of the biggest and most influential tech networks in Germany, and founder of MAGDA GROUP upcoming European fund of funds with focus on European technology and diverse team.

‘“Mali is one of the People Shaping Female Founders Future and opportunities at the startups Ecosystem” Recently announced raising a new fund of funds, Magda Group FoF with focusing on EU technology and diverse team, for building more success stories and uplifting the tech ecosystem in Europe and beyond”

Mali has 20 years of experience in founding companies, serial entrepreneur started her own first business in 2007 and followed this up with a global educational toys industry, R&D in Tel Aviv and manufacturing in China, which sold products in USA, Asia, Australia and across Europe. The products won numerous awards for innovation and design.

Since 2020 she is an advisor and member of the investment committee of the EU Innovation Council, EIC. Mali was selected for the ‘Digital Female Leader Award’ for 2019 and won the Global Hero for #DFLA20.

Ambassador for StartUp AsiaBerlin (SUAB) and Asia-Pacific Week Berlin (APW) The Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises. She is a regular speaker at the industry conferences, a mentor and jury member of startup’s competitions. Mentor at accelerators like Techstars , Berlin Partner Start-Alliance (Berlin Senate),Founder Institute, Startupbootcamp, and others, actively involved in governmental activities, Corporate’s M&A and VCs .Jury member at the Berlin’s Mayor competition FARBENBEKENNEN AWARD 2019, Initiator by the State of Berlin for refugees who have built their companies locally. Partner at F-Lane, the Vodafone Impact accelerator 2020.

Promote the local tech ecosystem globally and locally and push for more women in influential positions and open doors for female investors/ founders. Lecturer at several universities on entrepreneurship, diversity and international business. Business angel, investment experience as a business angel and growth in startups. Raised the Berlin Tech Awards Gala with Corporations. Startups and government collaboration.

She is part of Findervest App, a platform where startups meet investors that aim to bring the important value of having a fully dedicated layer that focuses on female investors/female founders for fundraising, for mentorship and connections for female investors/female founders to connect on a global level.
Mali is an instrumental in creating the Tech ecosystem in Berlin, Bridging her global massive network of startups, VCs, foundations, Family-offices, governmental activities, corporations from EU markets, Tel Aviv, New York, Silicon Valley, Africa and China, Bridging opportunities for the local startups and corporations.

Professor for International Management / Owner at The Flying Professor & Co.

Prof. Dr. Guy Katz

The German would say he is Israeli, Israelis would say he is German; Guy is a little bit of both, while also blended with a dash of Arab and a pint of American. First serving in the IDF as an officer, he’s worked for governments, startups, non-profits, consulting, and giant companies. Always on the lookout for the right bit of science mixed with practical tips, he spends his days optimizing the magical recipe for being a father of two amazing boys, a Professor for International Management, the owner of a business training company operating worldwide and teaching people how to fly airplanes

Lawyer

Alon Saposhnik

Alon Saposhnik, is an Israeli business lawyer specializing in corporate transactions and regulatory law that governs the use of personal data, as well as local obligations that applies to online marketing, advertising, and selling of goods and services.

Alon holds a master’s degree in Law and Business (MLB) – from Bucerius Law School and WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management (Hamburg & Vallendar) and LL.B. degree from a leading Israeli private law school.

Alon Is a member of the Israeli Bar Association.

Alon speaks Hebrew, English and German and gained vast experience in representing German and Israeli clients.

Founder and CEO of Innovate Israel

Itai Green

Itai Green is the founder and CEO of Innovate Israel. He is one of the dominant leaders of Israel’s corporate open innovation. Itai is recognised as a leading player in Israel’s startup ecosystem and is at the forefront of launching its growth at a rapid pace. Itai leads innovation processes by connecting global corporations with the Israeli startup community to create advanced technological solutions; focusing on insurance, finance, banking, IT, consumer products, pharma, travel, e-commerce, retail, energy, constructiontech and IoT.

Partner at Epstein Rosenblum Maoz

Ron Abelski

Ron is a partner at Epstein Rosenblum Maoz (ERM), one of Israel’s most prestigious law firms focusing on cross-border transactions. His practice encompasses all aspects of corporate law with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity transactions and he has extensive experience in advising his clients on takeover strategies and in managing complex cross-border transactions.

Ron regularly advises prominent companies, investment funds, corporate ventures, and family offices and he is also heading the firm’s German desk representing numerous leading companies from the DACH region on their various transactions in Israel.

General Partner at Grove Ventures

Omri Green

Omri has a diverse background in investments, entrepreneurship, management, engineering and sales. He joined the Grove Ventures partnership after serving as a Principal at the fund, co-founding ICS2, managing engineering projects at BrightSource Energy and Broadcom, and leading sales at Claroty. He works closely with startup founders and sits on the boards of Neuroblade, env0, Deepchecks, CommonGround and Unifabrix.

Independent Consultant and Business Angel

Petra Euler

Petra Euler is a highly qualified Top Manager with strong business acumen paired with deep knowledge on organizational development, experienced to lead in multicultural environment. Exceptional leadership abilities proven in different contexts, but outstanding when it deals with successfully integrating newly acquired companies and leading major changes. She is an independent consultant and business angel. She is investing in Startup companies in Berlin and Israel

Since 2017 she is giving back her diverse professional knowledge to young people to support them in growing themselves, their business and supporting them in putting their ideas into reality.

Consulting, coaching and mentoring start ups to manage strategy and growth as well as acting as Advisory Board member has become the major pillar in her role as consultant.

Strategic Consultant

Christine Handke

Christine Handke has been working as a consultant for a public relations agency for the past 3 years. She is skilled in strategic consulting, positioning, and operational support of int. clients in the field of health communication. From July 2021 on, she will be working for a management consultancy focusing on digital transformation within the public sector in Germany.

Christine holds an M.A. in Political Science and Political Communications from the Tel Aviv University. She is passionate about traveling, photography and international relations and has been living and working in Buenos Aires, Taipei and Tel Aviv.

Trendologist @TectonicShift

Hila Harary

Hila is a trendologist (future trends forecaster) @ Tectonic Shift, helping companies, governments, and organizations strategically plan their future products, services, organizational culture and policies according to the changes in Zeitgeist, by building biz dev & creative marketing strategies, using trends and creative content.

Technology Manager at REHAU Group

Dr. Ansgar Niehoff

Dr. Ansgar Niehoff is Technology Manager within the family-owned REHAU Group, one of the world’s largest polymer manufacturer with more than 20,000 employees and annual sales of approximately 3.5 billion euros. His team is involved in the smartification of premium products in the Automotive, Building solutions and Industrial solutions sectors – specifically, the pre-development and series development of innovative products in future areas such as smart & autonomous mobility and smart home. Strategic cooperation with startups from the DACH region as well as with Israeli startups has played a major role in this for over six years.
Ansgar Niehoff holds a doctorate in chemistry and is an expert in Business Model Innovation (BMI Lab St. Gallen). On a voluntary basis, he is involved in strengthening German-Israeli relations by organizing trips to Israel for young Germans. He is also a pro bono mentor at two renowned US startup programs (Plug&Play Tech Center from Silicon Valley and MIT Solve from Boston) and a pro bono partner of a young Israeli venture capital fund and company builder called AnD Ventures.

Director Media Sales at Video Intelligence

David McTaminey

Partner at FPS

Dr. Nina Jarass Cohen

Dr. Nina Jarass Cohen is a Partner at FPS in Frankfurt. She has over 10 years of experience advising clients on high value real estate, zoning and environmental law issues. She heads FPS’ Israel desk and regularly advises Israeli investors and startups looking to develop or expand their presence in Europe. She is fluent in English and German and conversational in Hebrew

Head of Healthcare Innovation for HealthIL

Yoav Fisher

Yoav is Head of Healthcare Innovation for HealthIL – the leading government-sponsored healthcare innovation ecosystem in Israel. Yoav works with the HealthIL team on a formal, challenge-based and holistic approach to encourage innovation in the field of health, bringing a unique background from the world of start-ups, venture and business strategy. Prior to HealthIL, Yoav worked for one of the leading health-focused venture capital firms in Israel.

Founder & Managing Director at Workist

Tim Wegner

Tim is an entrepreneur and angel investor from Berlin. Since 2019, he has been active in the field of process automation with the AI startup Workist and previously founded the Big Data company Minodes, which was acquired by telecommunications group Telefónica in 2017 with 50 employees. Prior to entrepreneurship, Tim was a management consultant at McKinsey in Germany and Silicon Valley. He invests in early-stage tech startups in the B2B space. His background is in physics and he is a passionate skier, sailor and globetrotter.

Co-Founder and Managing Director NRWalley e.V.

Dr. Markus Gick

Markus is passionate about innovation and German Israeli relations. As managing director of NRWalley, the North Rhine Westphalian (NRW) Startup Association, he offers landing opportunities for Israeli startup  in NRW. In line of his work and based on his passion for both Germany and Israel, Markus connects specifically the Israeli Start-up Ecosystem with the German Mittelstand (SMEs).

As a senior project manager at the Bertelsmann Stiftung Markus lead several projects to foster German Israeli relations. Previously, Markus worked for several years as a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). He holds a PhD in law and teaches Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Cologne. Markus worked for serval years in Israel, among others with Holocaust survivors at Amcha, the national Israeli Centre for psychological treatment of Holocaust survivors, and with Jewish and Arab children at the Leo Baeck Centre, Haifa.

Startup Unit of KölnBusiness

Gil Baxpehler

Gil currently works for the Startup Unit of KölnBusiness, the economic development company of the City of Cologne.

Prior to KölnBusiness, Gil served as the Head of International for the Innovation Network Cologne, an association connecting Cologne´s established companies with global innovation and startups.

He has held various management positions with more than 10 years of international experience giving him deep insights in multi-cultural organizations, startups and VC’s.

Gil holds a BA in Aviation Management from the IUBH, Bad Honnef and an MBA in Strategic Management from IDC Herzliya, Israel.

General Manager Germany - Elevation

Karin Shalev Shogol

Karin Shalev Shogol is General Manager Germany of ElevationKarin Shalev Shogol, a company specialized in corporate training focusing on “skills of the future”, data capabilities and building academies for organisations. Before joining Elevation, Karin was Director of Community at WeWork during the company’s hyper growth phase. Before joining the tech ecosystem, Karin was active in the Real-Estate industry where she was COO and Country Manager of AFI Europe in Germany – an Israeli/European real-estate developer and investor, managing the real estate activities, asset management and transactions of the company in Germany. During her time as Business Management student at the TU Berlin, Karin served as the assistant to an Attache at the Israeli Embassy in Berlin.

Karin’s passion and expertise lies in German-Israeli business relations, knowing both sides and networks very well.

Karin graduated from the TU Berlin with Business Management studies and is fluent in German, English, Hebrew and Romanian.

Mr. Mobile and Mentor

Mark Wächter

Mark Wächter is mobile aficionado from the very first start. As marketer in the areas of Consumer Goods (Unilever), Internet (UUNET, WorldCom) and Mobile Communications (T-Mobile), he founded a worldwide active Mobile Strategy consultancy in May 2005. In the past years he served clients in over 30 countries on all continents. As a globally well-respected Mobile Media Evangelist and Strategist aka Mr. Mobile, Mark is acting as advisor on many Mobile Initiatives as well as mentoring start-ups in different accelerators in China, India, Israel and Southeast Asia. Mark is author (Springer: Mobile Strategy, Red Tsunami) and a keynote speaker (The Futures Agency, BVDW Expert Group Mobile, Mobile Marketing Association, MobileMonday).

Senior Manager Digital Economy

Oliver Wilken

I have spent the last nine years working in and with startups. In my current position at Germany Trade & Invest, I help international digital companies set up an office in Germany. Due to my insights and connections as a former co-founder of a startup, I have a special angle on how to best support tech companies to reach their goals in Germany. My focus lies on #AdTech, #Gaming and #AppEconomy Companies that want to expand to Germany.

Investor at Panthera

Dr. Shoshana Feingold-Studnik

Financial Expert with a Ph.D. ( Free University, Berlin, Germany with summa cum laude)  in economics, a serial entrepreneur and investor with a background in Venture Capital,Real Estate and Private Equity. Having lived and worked in the US, Germany and Israel Shoshi currently serves as an Advisory Board and Investor at Panthera, a venture woman co- working space and accelerator in Tel Aviv Israel.

Represented the Joint Venture between Volkswagen Group and DSW ($600 M) in Israel, fundraised and increased sales of hundred of Millions Dollars in different position at Volkswagen Group, ECI Telecom, Yozma VC, SHR Technologies, Family Office and Real Estate Funds. Introduced, negotiated and advised deals between Israeli VC’s  to top tier German and US VC’s  and created partnerships, business development and enabled exits  for portfolio companies and dozens of Israeli start ups.

Shoshana serves currently on the executive Board of WIZO (Womens International Zionist Organization) in Germany as the Vice President.

Professor at IDC, Herzliya

Dafna Kariv

Founder of Angular Ventures

Gil Dibner

Gil Dibner is the founder of Angular Ventures, an early-stage venture fund based in London and Tel Aviv, founded in 2018. Angular Ventures backs enterprise-oriented startups building global category leaders.

Prior to founding Angular Ventures, Gil established and led the largest AngelList syndicate outside the US that is exclusively focused on European and Israeli enterprise technology. He is an active early-stage investor in  European and Israeli technology companies including Aquant, Chorus, Crux, Firebolt, Front, Resin, Moltin, Snyk, Valohai, and many others.

Gil was previously a partner at DFJ Esprit in London. Prior to DFJ Esprit, Gil helped lead Index Venture’s seed investment activity in their London office, working with companies across Europe, the US, and Israel.

Before joining Index, Gil was a principal with Gemini Israel Ventures, a $200M venture capital fund based in Tel Aviv. There, he led investments in The Gifts Project (acquired by Ebay), JFrog, and Flok (acquired by Wix). Prior to that, as a principal at Genesis Partners, a $100M venture fund also based in Tel Aviv, Gil was very actively involved in a number of investments including Yedda (acquired by AOL), Innovid, SiSense, and Profitect.

Gil holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an AB in Economics from Harvard University. He is also a Kauffman Fellow.

Head of Business Development at CQ Global

Yotam Tzuker

Yotam Tzuker is the Head of Business Development at CQ Global A leading global search firm located in Israel, helping Israeli-based companies expand globally.

Prior to this role, Yotam has founded Tech7, an NGO that promotes the tech & entrepreneurship ecosystem in Beersheva and the south region of Israel. We have managed to build the largest startup community in Israel with over 15,000 members, and hundreds of activities in our track record. Today Yotam is an active chairman of the board.

BIPA, the Bavaria Israel Partnership Accelerator, is one of the premier programs of Tech7. Its aim is to build a bridge between Israeli and German tech ecosystems.

Yotam holds a Bsc in Industrial Engineering from Ben Gurion University and a GMBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from the IDC.