Why Israeli Startups Are Missing Out on Europe's Hidden Goldmine!

Hi, I'm Amy Shapiro. We're here today at Hi, I'm Amy Shapiro. We're here today at Calculus and CEX Mind Techch Berlin Calculus and CEX Mind Techch Berlin Calculus and CEX Mind Techch Berlin 2025. We're joined today by Evelyn 2025. We're joined today by Evelyn 2025. We're joined today by Evelyn Steinberger. She is the CEO of the Blue Steinberger. She is the CEO of the Blue Steinberger. She is the CEO of the Blue Mines company and venture partner at Mines company and venture partner at Mines company and venture partner at JDP. You might also recognize her from JDP. You might also recognize her from JDP. You might also recognize her from Austria's Shark Tank. Evelyn, thank you Austria's Shark Tank. Evelyn, thank you Austria's Shark Tank. Evelyn, thank you so much for joining us today. so much for joining us today. so much for joining us today. >> Thank you for having me. It's a >> Thank you for having me. It's a >> Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure. Um, Evelyn, you you have quite pleasure. Um, Evelyn, you you have quite pleasure. Um, Evelyn, you you have quite an illustrious background. uh can you an illustrious background. uh can you an illustrious background. uh can you talk both on the tech entrepreneur side talk both on the tech entrepreneur side talk both on the tech entrepreneur side and uh as a venture capitalist can you and uh as a venture capitalist can you and uh as a venture capitalist can you talk us through in your own words uh talk us through in your own words uh talk us through in your own words uh your various business ventures and what your various business ventures and what your various business ventures and what it is you're working on yes of course um it is you're working on yes of course um

it is you're working on yes of course um I've spent my career in the intersection I've spent my career in the intersection I've spent my career in the intersection at energy transformation technology and at energy transformation technology and at energy transformation technology and public policies so this is a bit uh how public policies so this is a bit uh how public policies so this is a bit uh how I would frame it um with my uh I would frame it um with my uh I would frame it um with my uh investment boutique located in Vienna investment boutique located in Vienna investment boutique located in Vienna ner with offices in Munich and Delaw. We ner with offices in Munich and Delaw. We ner with offices in Munich and Delaw. We invest in early stage startups in the invest in early stage startups in the invest in early stage startups in the area of energy transition. What does area of energy transition. What does area of energy transition. What does that mean? It's climate deck uh storage that mean? It's climate deck uh storage that mean? It's climate deck uh storage batteries for e vehicles uh avoid batteries for e vehicles uh avoid batteries for e vehicles uh avoid plastic waste etc etc. So it's a very plastic waste etc etc. So it's a very plastic waste etc etc. So it's a very broad uh topic and um recently I joined

broad uh topic and um recently I joined broad uh topic and um recently I joined JVB as a venture partner for the JVB as a venture partner for the JVB as a venture partner for the European uh markets especially for the European uh markets especially for the European uh markets especially for the Dhak region. we say dak for Austria, uh Dhak region. we say dak for Austria, uh Dhak region. we say dak for Austria, uh Germany and Switzerland. Um and my role Germany and Switzerland. Um and my role Germany and Switzerland. Um and my role there is uh uh to fill the pipeline with there is uh uh to fill the pipeline with there is uh uh to fill the pipeline with uh interesting uh startups and deems. Um uh interesting uh startups and deems. Um uh interesting uh startups and deems. Um we mainly focus at JBB um on um we mainly focus at JBB um on um we mainly focus at JBB um on um companies uh active in cyber security, companies uh active in cyber security, companies uh active in cyber security, climate spec, inshore and fintech but climate spec, inshore and fintech but climate spec, inshore and fintech but also enterprise uh software and we link also enterprise uh software and we link also enterprise uh software and we link that with artificial intelligence. So that with artificial intelligence. So that with artificial intelligence. So growth investments later series B series growth investments later series B series growth investments later series B series C. So very exciting everything uh init C. So very exciting everything uh init C. So very exciting everything uh init world world world >> I think. So, so from your your kind of >> I think. So, so from your your kind of >> I think. So, so from your your kind of unique vantage point, what do you have unique vantage point, what do you have unique vantage point, what do you have to say about Israeli startup to say about Israeli startup to say about Israeli startup entrepreneurs who might be looking to entrepreneurs who might be looking to entrepreneurs who might be looking to venture overseas? Obviously, the venture overseas? Obviously, the venture overseas? Obviously, the American uh market is an obvious American uh market is an obvious American uh market is an obvious protocol, but what about the DH region?

protocol, but what about the DH region? protocol, but what about the DH region? Uh what are your thoughts on that? Yeah, Uh what are your thoughts on that? Yeah, Uh what are your thoughts on that? Yeah, I I know that um uh the first idea for I I know that um uh the first idea for I I know that um uh the first idea for an Israeli startup. I founded by the way an Israeli startup. I founded by the way an Israeli startup. I founded by the way my first startup also in Tel Aviv really my first startup also in Tel Aviv really my first startup also in Tel Aviv really >> um started it as a company builder and >> um started it as a company builder and >> um started it as a company builder and hired a CEO and a CEO and the first idea hired a CEO and a CEO and the first idea hired a CEO and a CEO and the first idea of them when uh uh mature technology was of them when uh uh mature technology was of them when uh uh mature technology was given let's go to the United States and given let's go to the United States and given let's go to the United States and conquer this market. conquer this market. conquer this market. My main argument for Israeli startups to

My main argument for Israeli startups to My main argument for Israeli startups to come to uh Europe is it's a huge market. come to uh Europe is it's a huge market. come to uh Europe is it's a huge market. 500 million end consumers alone in the 500 million end consumers alone in the 500 million end consumers alone in the European Union countries and another 250 European Union countries and another 250 European Union countries and another 250 million end consumers in whole Europe. million end consumers in whole Europe. million end consumers in whole Europe. >> But I would say this is it not uh >> But I would say this is it not uh >> But I would say this is it not uh specifically there is a lot more. So uh

specifically there is a lot more. So uh specifically there is a lot more. So uh all the business models who are all the business models who are all the business models who are interested um in areas where regulatory interested um in areas where regulatory interested um in areas where regulatory framework matters where industrial and framework matters where industrial and framework matters where industrial and manufacturing depth matters or also manufacturing depth matters or also manufacturing depth matters or also scientific research is very important scientific research is very important scientific research is very important come to Europe because we are good at it come to Europe because we are good at it come to Europe because we are good at it and we have this industrial backbound and we have this industrial backbound and we have this industrial backbound and are able to scale Israeli tech. and are able to scale Israeli tech. and are able to scale Israeli tech. >> Absolutely. Well, definitely something >> Absolutely. Well, definitely something >> Absolutely. Well, definitely something for the the startups in those sectors to for the the startups in those sectors to for the the startups in those sectors to take note of. Um, Evelyn, with 2026 take note of. Um, Evelyn, with 2026 take note of. Um, Evelyn, with 2026 around the corner, what is your 2025 in around the corner, what is your 2025 in around the corner, what is your 2025 in review as an investor? I mean, uh, first

review as an investor? I mean, uh, first review as an investor? I mean, uh, first of all, it's very exciting and, uh, of all, it's very exciting and, uh, of all, it's very exciting and, uh, promising to think into 2026. promising to think into 2026. promising to think into 2026. Um we create uh ecosystems around Um we create uh ecosystems around Um we create uh ecosystems around different uh vertical issues and we hope different uh vertical issues and we hope different uh vertical issues and we hope uh we will be done in 2026 and um it is uh we will be done in 2026 and um it is uh we will be done in 2026 and um it is the right momentum for us to start the right momentum for us to start the right momentum for us to start working with the right uh startups in working with the right uh startups in working with the right uh startups in Europe. Uh also uh having connected with Europe. Uh also uh having connected with Europe. Uh also uh having connected with the governmental the governmental the governmental uh representatives in Europe. This is so uh representatives in Europe. This is so uh representatives in Europe. This is so important to create this ecosystem. We

important to create this ecosystem. We important to create this ecosystem. We are at JBB ecosystem architectures are at JBB ecosystem architectures are at JBB ecosystem architectures um and started very early with this um and started very early with this um and started very early with this principle uh more or less 30 years ago. principle uh more or less 30 years ago. principle uh more or less 30 years ago. Um if you maybe uh may know uh the food Um if you maybe uh may know uh the food Um if you maybe uh may know uh the food uh tech hub in Galilee in northern uh uh tech hub in Galilee in northern uh uh tech hub in Galilee in northern uh Israel or in Basha the cyber security Israel or in Basha the cyber security Israel or in Basha the cyber security hub. This was all created by JBB and hub. This was all created by JBB and hub. This was all created by JBB and this is how we work. We try to connect this is how we work. We try to connect this is how we work. We try to connect with universities, with their um postto with universities, with their um postto with universities, with their um postto students, uh with the municipalities, students, uh with the municipalities, students, uh with the municipalities, with their interests in the region and with their interests in the region and with their interests in the region and with the industry around there locally with the industry around there locally with the industry around there locally and try to collaborate with them and uh and try to collaborate with them and uh and try to collaborate with them and uh make deep tech uh great and and uh uh make deep tech uh great and and uh uh make deep tech uh great and and uh uh scale. Fantastic. And and uh finally on scale. Fantastic. And and uh finally on scale. Fantastic. And and uh finally on that kind of forwardlooking note uh what

that kind of forwardlooking note uh what that kind of forwardlooking note uh what sectors do you think what trends do you sectors do you think what trends do you sectors do you think what trends do you think we can look forward to? Are there think we can look forward to? Are there think we can look forward to? Are there any hot sectors that we should be any hot sectors that we should be any hot sectors that we should be looking out for such as those in deep looking out for such as those in deep looking out for such as those in deep tech or or others? I mean deep tech is tech or or others? I mean deep tech is tech or or others? I mean deep tech is for me the layer the foundation for me the layer the foundation for me the layer the foundation um in intersection with other verticals um in intersection with other verticals um in intersection with other verticals and we will probably see more of cyber and we will probably see more of cyber and we will probably see more of cyber security and defense in Europe because security and defense in Europe because security and defense in Europe because of these turbulences uh all around uh of these turbulences uh all around uh of these turbulences uh all around uh geopolit geopolit geopolit politically it's not so easy at the politically it's not so easy at the politically it's not so easy at the moment so this um uh areas become more moment so this um uh areas become more moment so this um uh areas become more and more important and essential for us and more important and essential for us and more important and essential for us here in Europe. Well, Eve, it's been

here in Europe. Well, Eve, it's been here in Europe. Well, Eve, it's been such a pleasure talking to you. Thank such a pleasure talking to you. Thank such a pleasure talking to you. Thank you so much again for your time and I you so much again for your time and I you so much again for your time and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day here hope you enjoy the rest of your day here hope you enjoy the rest of your day here at Mind the Tech Berlin. Thank you so at Mind the Tech Berlin. Thank you so at Mind the Tech Berlin. Thank you so much. Thank you.