Leveraging Israeli DefenseTech to Elevate Michigan’s Global Defense Leadership
With defense contributing over $30B annually to Michigan’s economy, I was honored to participate in two pivotal defense tech innovation events in Israel. In addition to gaining valuable insights into the technologies transforming global warfare, these events provided me the opportunity to raise awareness among key opinion leaders in the military, industry, venture capital, consulting firms, and startups about why Michigan is a prime destination for defense innovation.
Israeli AgTech Delegation Lands in Grand Rapids
This December, the AgTech spotlight shone brightly on Grand Rapids as the Great Lakes Expo welcomed five groundbreaking Israeli startups, showcasing the innovation powerhouse that is Startup Nation. For three days, the Expo became a hub of transformative ideas, where AgTech leaders from Michigan and beyond engaged with cutting-edge solutions addressing agriculture’s most pressing challenges.
Spotlight on Innovation: AgTech Sector Heats up Grand Rapids in December
This month’s Spotlight on Innovation highlights the AgTech sector heating up Grand Rapids this December. Five Israeli startups showcased groundbreaking technologies at the Great Lakes Expo 2024, redefining agriculture with innovative solutions. Click here to explore how these companies are transforming greenhouses, soil management, nutrient delivery, satellite analytics, and robotics to drive sustainable farming.
Israeli agricultural companies present tech at Michigan farm expo
The Michigan Israel Business Accelerator recently hosted five Israeli agriculture technology companies at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo, held in Grand Rapids, Mich., from Dec. 10-12.
The expo—one of the largest annual gatherings of fruit and vegetable growers and farm marketers in North America—had more than 5,000 attendees, 60% of whom work as fruit and vegetable farmers.
The Israeli companies Agam Greenhouse Energy Systems, CropX, NESS Fertigation, Robotic Perception and TierraSpec were invited to present their products and developments at the expo’s “Innovation Row,” per a release from the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest.
MIBA Welcomes New Business Development Manager
This November 2024, Casey Iaccino joined the MIBA team in Michigan as the new Business Development Manager! He brings an impressive background in strategic planning and revenue growth, with a proven track record across diverse markets. Casey’s previous experience includes running a consultancy geared towards startups and he led business development for E&J Gallo in the Midwest. His expertise in product innovation and relationship management positions him as a fantastic addition to drive MIBA’s mission forward in connecting Michigan and Israeli businesses.
Capturing Innovation: Ashkelon’s MTech and Beersheba’s Tech7
The MIBA Israel team continued on its quest to uncover promising startups whose innovations are impacting the world. This month, we visited a ‘street’ innovation center. MTech opened its doors just a month before October 7th. In a most impressive way, the innovation center itself moved at entrepreneurial speed to establish a modern and welcoming base for entrepreneurs living in Ashkelon