- CEO of Blue Mines and Venture Partner at JDP highlights Europe's market potential.
- 750 million consumers across Europe offer unparalleled scale.
- Regulatory frameworks and industrial depth provide strategic advantages over the US.
- Cybersecurity and defense identified as key growth sectors for the coming years.
In a candid discussion at CEX Mind Tech Berlin 2025, Eveline Steinberger, a prominent figure in venture capital and tech entrepreneurship, laid out a compelling argument for Israeli startups to shift their gaze from the traditional US market towards Europe. Steinberger, known for her work with Blue Mines and as a venture partner at JDP, emphasized Europe's vast consumer base and robust industrial infrastructure as critical factors for scaling innovative technologies.
Steinberger, whose career spans the intersection of energy transformation, technology, and public policy, leads an investment boutique in Vienna focused on early-stage climate tech. Her portfolio includes diverse areas like storage batteries for e-vehicles and solutions for plastic waste. As a venture partner for JDP, she focuses on the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), scouting for promising startups in cyber security, climate tech, insurtech, fintech, and enterprise software, particularly those leveraging artificial intelligence for growth investments.
Her main argument for Israeli startups considering international expansion is the sheer size of the European market. "It's a huge market," Steinberger stated, pointing to 500 million end consumers in the European Union countries alone, and an additional 250 million across the rest of Europe. Beyond the consumer numbers, she highlighted Europe's unique strengths: a mature regulatory framework, significant industrial and manufacturing depth, and a strong emphasis on scientific research. These factors, she argues, make Europe an ideal environment for scaling Israeli deep tech innovations.
Looking ahead to 2026, Steinberger expressed optimism about creating robust ecosystems around various vertical issues. JDP, with its 30-year history of building tech hubs like the food tech hub in Galilee and the cybersecurity hub in Beersheba, exemplifies this strategy. They connect universities, municipalities, and local industries to foster collaboration and scale deep tech. This approach, combined with governmental support, is crucial for nurturing a thriving tech landscape.
When asked about hot sectors, Steinberger underscored deep tech as the foundational layer intersecting with various verticals. She specifically predicted a significant surge in cybersecurity and defense investments across Europe. "Because of these turbulences all around geopolitically, it's not so easy at the moment, so these areas become more and more important and essential for us here in Europe," she explained, signaling a strategic focus on resilience and security in the continent's technological future.
“"My main argument for Israeli startups to come to uh Europe is it's a huge market. 500 million end consumers alone in the European Union countries and another 250 million end consumers in whole Europe."”
- Eveline Steinberger, CEO of The Blue Minds Company and Venture Partner at JVP
