Berlin/Tel Aviv – Start-up exchange between the start-up metropolises

The start-up exchange program between Berlin and Tel Aviv is off the ground: In March, five Israeli entrepreneurs will swap their home desks for a coworking space in Berlin. Berlin Partner for Business and Technology launched the program last year together with Tel Aviv Global. The program allows local entrepreneurs to benefit from collaboration with high-tech companies from Tel Aviv and access to the local investor landscape. It also makes it easier for start-ups from Tel Aviv to enter the European market. Berlin's mayor, Michael Müller, was present when the cooperation agreement was concluded and is a patron of the exchange program.

"Berlin and Tel Aviv have a lot in common: Both cities stand for creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. They attract young talent and offer the best environment for that talent to make their ideas a reality. I am pleased to welcome the first Israeli entrepreneurs to Berlin and I hope they have fruitful discussions and an exciting time in Berlin. The exchange program is a very good way to strengthen and expand the relationship between Berlin and Tel Aviv," said Michael Müller, Berlin's mayor.

The first to take advantage of the program include: Pzartech, a provider of 3D printing services for companies, which won the first free 10-day stay in Berlin at a pitch in Tel Aviv last October. The other four start-ups that stood out during the regular application process were Join VR Technologies LTD 4.0, a streaming service for virtual reality videos on smartphones; Myndlift, a developer of wearables that measure brainwaves and train the ability to concentrate; Quiccargo, an online marketplace for free logistics capacities; and Shopeat, a recipe portal with integrated ingredient ordering via the Internet.

"Once they arrive in Berlin, the entrepreneurs will receive a coworking space and intensive consultations about the local start-up ecosystem. We will also network them with established companies and scientific institutions to find partners for collaboration. Such an exchange of creative people is a real driver for innovation," said Dr. Stefan Franzke, Management Spokesperson of Berlin Partner for Business and Technology. Depending on their needs, the entrepreneurs will also receive further soft landing support and be coached on how they can obtain a work permit in Berlin, for instance.

The exchange program between Berlin and Tel Aviv includes the free use of coworking spaces for two to four weeks. In Berlin, T-Labs, Rainmaking Loft, Betahouse, GTEC, Ahoy, the CleanTech Innovation Center, TU Berlin and HWR are participating in the program. In Tel Aviv, The Library will be available as a coworking space for the entrepreneurs from Berlin.