Showcasing Israel’s Broad Technological Ecosystem

CSI Business is an initiative to deepen economic cooperation and expose German business leaders to Israel’s innovation landscape

Most Christian business leaders in Germany are not familiar with Israel as the “Startup Nation” and are often unaware of the depth and diversity of its technological and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their connection to Israel is primarily faith-based, while public media coverage, unfortunately, tends to focus mainly on conflicts.

To address this gap, Christians for Israel in Germany (CSI) recently established CSI Business, an initiative designed to strengthen business awareness and engagement through Startup Nation seminars, conferences, online sessions with speakers from the Israeli ecosystem, and additional activities aimed at connecting business communities in Germany and Israel.

The initiative was founded by Dr. Ansgar Niehoff, who has been active within CSI for more than 13 years. Over the years, he has organized numerous trips to Israel for young German Christians, with the goal of introducing them to the country and strengthening the bonds of friendship between Israel and Germany, and between Jews and Christians. About ten years ago, Dr. Niehoff began exploring the Israeli ecosystem firsthand as part of his role within a multinational German corporation. His first encounter with the Startup Nation quickly developed into a genuine passion for connecting German business leaders with Israeli entrepreneurs and startups.

CSI and CSI Business – Background and Vision

CSI is a non-profit organization that supports Israel in various ways, including humanitarian projects, assistance to Holocaust survivors, support for Jewish immigration from Ukraine, and more. Since 2024, the organization has also been operating a dedicated unit, CSI Business, focused on connecting German business leaders with Israel’s unique startup ecosystem.

Dr. Niehoff’s extensive network and close working relationships with senior figures across the Israeli ecosystem, including academia, research institutes, multinational corporations, incubators and accelerators, venture capital funds, and startups – enable CSI Business to make these connections accessible to additional German business leaders, particularly within the Christian community, where a strong and longstanding bond with Israel and the Jewish people already exists.

Recently, a delegation of German business leaders affiliated with the organization participated in an introductory innovation trip to Israel, which proved highly successful. The visit included approximately 30 meetings with inspiring Israeli figures from across the ecosystem, as well as visits to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and southern Israel. In the south, participants experienced firsthand Israel’s exceptional resilience in the aftermath of the deva

stating events of October 7.

“Israel is one of the most resilient nations in the world”, says Dr. Niehoff. “Even after the greatest tragedy in the country’s history on October 7, we were able to see signs of hope and light in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, which was severely affected. We had the privilege of hearing stories

of survival and taking part in a workshop in Kfar Aza, where natural fibers are being used to create sustainable and pleasant insulation materials, reimagining the construction industry”.

For more information about CSI Business