«While other members do provide industry related know-how, I do support portfolio companies in their exit strategies.» Alexander Grünwald
«The Investorenkreis is an active matrix of people with industry knowledge and others that are geographically close to a target company. You need both for a successful investment.» Holger Heims
«Ventures contain a high risk – they can become bankrupt, but can also provide very high returns. Both entrepreneurs and investors have to be aware of this.» Daniel Gutenberg
«I am building up a diversified portfolio of growth companies which I do find with b-to-v. Case by case I decide if I invest or not and if yes as active or passive investor.» Peter Schüpbach
«Globalisation is a phenomenon also affecting start-ups. Which means that companies who recently started to operate have to face Asian challenges, b-to-v works across continents and also in Asia.» Max Burger-Calderon
«As a private investor I am looking especially for service companies as lead investor but as well for entrepreneurial diversity from logistics to fish farming as co-investor.» Dieter Dürr
«Together with b-to-v we want to see all deals in German-speaking Europe and invest in the best.» Michael Janssen
«Thanks to b-to-v's administrative support I can entirely focus on entrepreneurial coaching of my portfolio companies.» Roland Metzger
«After the successful development of my own companies as CEO I like to support today selected and dedicated entrepreneurs with know-how, capital and contacts.» Joachim Schoss
«I wear two hats in the Investorenkreis – as a VC and a private investor. The mutual openness and the exchange of both parties is important and is fostered.» Helmut Schön
«Together with friends I invest in start-ups having a strong vision and committed entrepreneurs.» Alain Nicod
«At b-to-v I find co-investors with different levels of experience. Investing together reduces the risk and it is fun to learn from each other.» Michael Steinbeis
«Established companies in which one of our members become active are as well an attractive investment for me as a seed-deal might be.» Dirk Roesing
«I can provide provide access to the international Internet and media industry for portfolio companies and my colleagues of the Investorenkreis.» Konstantin Urban
«I invest in companies in diverse industries and build a well-balanced portfolio of start-up companies and later stage investments. Major and minor shareholdings with active support will be supplemented by passive financial investments.» Dr. Helmut Schmidt
Saturday, May 9th, 2009 - Tel Aviv, Pre-Programme
19:00 - Dinner and chat with Ofer Adler, CEO, IncrediMail
Sunday, 10th May, 2009 - Business and Cultural Highlights of Tel Aviv
10:00 - Kick-off session on "Introduction to Business Culture in Israel" with Rubi Suliman, High-Tech Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers:
- Doing Business in Israel: Culture, Customs and Etiquette
- Entrepreneurship and Deal Activity in Israel,
kindly supported by
14:40 - Learning session on "Tax Benefits for Foreign Investors in Israel" with Tali Yaron-Eldar, Partner, Tadmor&Co.
16:00 - Introduction on "The Hottest Tech-Sectors for VC Investment in Israel" with:
- Mike Elias, Managing General Partner, DFJ Tamir Fishman
- Ari Recht, Managing Director, Tamir Fishman
17:30 - Round table discussion "Best Practices of Fund Strategies and Portfolio Governance" with top-tier Israeli VCs:
- Daniel Cohen, General Partner, Gemini Israel Funds
- Eyal Kishon, Founder and Managing Partner, Genesis Partners
- Rami Kalish, Managing General Partner and Co-Founder, Pitango Venture Capital
- Moty Ben-Arie, Managing Partner, Vertex Venture Capital
19:00 - Deal pitches of four local high-tech companies
Monday, May 11th, 2009 - Discovery of Cultural Heritage and Business of Jerusalem
12:00 - Discussion on "How to Grow from a USD 30 Million Tech Company to a USD 3.5 Billion Market Company" with Abe Peled, Chairman and CEO, NDS Group
13:30 - Visit of the Supreme Court of Israel and discussion on "Israeli Legal Tradition: Jewish and Arab Influences" with Salim Joubran, the first Israeli Arab to be appointed permanently to the Supreme Court of Israel
20:30 - Meeting without ties with Isaac Herzog, Minister of Welfare and Social Services and discussion "How the Country in the Middle of Desert can Flower"
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 - Technology Landscape of Israel
10:15 - Introduction to "Business Incubation and Technology Transfer in Israel" with:
- Moshe Katzenelson, General Manager, Technion Seed technology incubator
- Benjamin Soffer, Head, T3-Technion Technology Transfer
10:50 - Deal Pitch of three Technion-based start-ups
14:30 - Visit of Qualcomm Israel and discussion on "Insights into an Israel-Based R&D-Arm of a Global High-Tech Company" with Ayal Bar-David, General Manager, Qualcomm Israel
16:00 - Welcome note by Moshe Lichtman, Corporate Vice President and Head of Israel R&D, Microsoft
16:30 - Presentation session with one of Israel's early tech entrepreneurs Yossi Vardi and his portfolio companies
20:00 - Discussion with two leading Israeli VCs:
- Jonathan Leitersdorf, Founder, LCapital Partners
- Gabby Perel, Founder and Managing Partner, Odin Investments
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 - Israel as Role Model for Water and Energy Deployment
08:30 - Panel discussion on "Israel as Role Model for Water and Energy Deployment" with:
- Ido Rosolio, CEO, Mekorot Israel National Water Co.
- Booky Oren, President and CEO, Arison Water Initiative
- Prof. Eilon Adar, Director, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research
09:30 - Panel discussion on "Clean Technologies in Israel From the Perspective of VCs" with:
- Astorre Modena, General Partner, Terra Venture Partners
- Hillel Milo, Managing Partner, Aqua Agro Fund
- Assaf Barnea, CEO, Kinrot Incubator
- Glen Schwaber, General Partner, Israel Cleantech Ventures
11:00 - Discussion with Rabbi Israel Meir Lau on "Tolerance Between Religions and Reconciliation in the Middle East Region"
15:00 - Deal pitches session of six local cleantech companies
19:00 - Dinner and chat with Ofer Adler, CEO, IncrediMail
Sunday, 10th May, 2009 - Business and Cultural Highlights of Tel Aviv
10:00 - Kick-off session on "Introduction to Business Culture in Israel" with Rubi Suliman, High-Tech Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers:
- Doing Business in Israel: Culture, Customs and Etiquette
- Entrepreneurship and Deal Activity in Israel,
kindly supported by
14:40 - Learning session on "Tax Benefits for Foreign Investors in Israel" with Tali Yaron-Eldar, Partner, Tadmor&Co.
16:00 - Introduction on "The Hottest Tech-Sectors for VC Investment in Israel" with:
- Mike Elias, Managing General Partner, DFJ Tamir Fishman
- Ari Recht, Managing Director, Tamir Fishman
17:30 - Round table discussion "Best Practices of Fund Strategies and Portfolio Governance" with top-tier Israeli VCs:
- Daniel Cohen, General Partner, Gemini Israel Funds
- Eyal Kishon, Founder and Managing Partner, Genesis Partners
- Rami Kalish, Managing General Partner and Co-Founder, Pitango Venture Capital
- Moty Ben-Arie, Managing Partner, Vertex Venture Capital
19:00 - Deal pitches of four local high-tech companies
Monday, May 11th, 2009 - Discovery of Cultural Heritage and Business of Jerusalem
12:00 - Discussion on "How to Grow from a USD 30 Million Tech Company to a USD 3.5 Billion Market Company" with Abe Peled, Chairman and CEO, NDS Group
13:30 - Visit of the Supreme Court of Israel and discussion on "Israeli Legal Tradition: Jewish and Arab Influences" with Salim Joubran, the first Israeli Arab to be appointed permanently to the Supreme Court of Israel
20:30 - Meeting without ties with Isaac Herzog, Minister of Welfare and Social Services and discussion "How the Country in the Middle of Desert can Flower"
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 - Technology Landscape of Israel
10:15 - Introduction to "Business Incubation and Technology Transfer in Israel" with:
- Moshe Katzenelson, General Manager, Technion Seed technology incubator
- Benjamin Soffer, Head, T3-Technion Technology Transfer
10:50 - Deal Pitch of three Technion-based start-ups
14:30 - Visit of Qualcomm Israel and discussion on "Insights into an Israel-Based R&D-Arm of a Global High-Tech Company" with Ayal Bar-David, General Manager, Qualcomm Israel
16:00 - Welcome note by Moshe Lichtman, Corporate Vice President and Head of Israel R&D, Microsoft
16:30 - Presentation session with one of Israel's early tech entrepreneurs Yossi Vardi and his portfolio companies
20:00 - Discussion with two leading Israeli VCs:
- Jonathan Leitersdorf, Founder, LCapital Partners
- Gabby Perel, Founder and Managing Partner, Odin Investments
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 - Israel as Role Model for Water and Energy Deployment
08:30 - Panel discussion on "Israel as Role Model for Water and Energy Deployment" with:
- Ido Rosolio, CEO, Mekorot Israel National Water Co.
- Booky Oren, President and CEO, Arison Water Initiative
- Prof. Eilon Adar, Director, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research
09:30 - Panel discussion on "Clean Technologies in Israel From the Perspective of VCs" with:
- Astorre Modena, General Partner, Terra Venture Partners
- Hillel Milo, Managing Partner, Aqua Agro Fund
- Assaf Barnea, CEO, Kinrot Incubator
- Glen Schwaber, General Partner, Israel Cleantech Ventures
11:00 - Discussion with Rabbi Israel Meir Lau on "Tolerance Between Religions and Reconciliation in the Middle East Region"
15:00 - Deal pitches session of six local cleantech companies
