Konnect is the Innovation Hub of the Volkswagen Group in Israel, founded in 2018 and based in Tel Aviv – the heart of the Startup Nation.
Konnect’s mission is to spearhead the discovery, evaluation, and integration of Israeli pioneering technologies in the Volkswagen Group vehicles and factories.
Konnect activities support the Volkswagen Groups mission: “Shaping Mobility for Generations to come.”
OUR FOCUS TOPICS
Sustainability
Electrification, Sustainable Materials, Circular Economy, Carbon Economy
Mobility
Autonomous Driving, Mobility Services (MaaS/TaaS), Safety, Robotics
AI/Digitalization
Driving Experience, In-cabin Sensors, Digital User Interface
Our Test Days
Advanced LiDAR technology
Our team tested a novel LiDAR sensor for autonomous driving applications, developed by the startup Lidwave. The test was executed on a closed test track and public roads. The sensor was put through several testing scenarios, according to the VW Group protocols, to evaluate its performance with noise, blooming, long-range separation, detection of small objects on the road, detection of obstructed pedestrians, and more.
Driver’s vital signs monitoring
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve the driving experience in our vehicles, our team tested an innovative touchless driver’s biometrics sensing suite, based on a camera & laser sensor and a complimentary AI engine. The test focused on the driver’s heart rate (HR) monitoring, comparing the touchless sensor’s HR measurements to a polar belt’s HR measurements, while driving in changing road environments with various driver profiles.
Detection of DUI
During an extraordinary test day in a closed track in Israel, our team validated the life-saving technology of the startup Corractions, which aims to detect drivers under the influence of alcohol via sophisticated analysis of the subject micro-muscle movements. The test subjects were driving at different DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol) levels while collecting their micro-movement data from existing sensors installed in the vehicle. The data was then analyzed by Corractions to define if a driver is over a certain blood-alcohol level.
Our Success Stories
Our Team
MEET OUR TEAM
Hemdat has been the Managing Director of Konnect since 2023, and one of its founders, establishing the company in Israel in 2018.
She has over 12 years of experience in senior managerial, strategic, and business development roles in the private and government sectors.
In her previous roles, Hemdat headed the Israeli branch of HY- the Axel Springer ecosystem firm, consulting German companies on digitalization and transformation projects and later on worked as an advisor to Volkswagen Group and Audi AG in Israel.
Between 2012 and 2016, Hemdat served as a Commercial Attaché and Head of the Economic Department in the Israeli Embassy in Berlin, promoting German-Israeli economic, business, and innovation ties.
Hemdat is a lawyer by training and has a postgraduate diploma in Advanced Management from ESMT Business School in Berlin.
Maayan is the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director at Konnect.
Supporting the Managing Director in the company’s operational and strategic activities, and responsible for the overall planning, monitoring, and execution of the technical projects, PoCs, and the Konnect test-vehicle lab.
Prior to joining Konnect, Maayan served as an officer in an elite unit at the Israeli Air-force for 12 years, leading complex operations, technical projects, aerial planning, and management in various units.
Maayan holds an MBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from the Reichman University.
Benny is the Head of Sensors and AI technologies at Konnect where he covers a wide range of areas such as Autonomous driving and Health & Wellbeing.
Benny brings over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, covering the automotive, semiconductor, and defense sectors. In his previous role, Benny was a product manager at Innoviz, a direct LiDAR supplier of our Groups' software brand, Cariad.
Benny holds an M.E. in Systems Engineering from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Tel Aviv University.
Benny brings over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, covering the automotive, semiconductor, and defense sectors. In his previous role, Benny was a product manager at Innoviz, a direct LiDAR supplier of our Groups' software brand, Cariad.
Benny holds an M.E. in Systems Engineering from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Tel Aviv University.
David is Konnect's Tech and Business Development Analyst; his main responsibilities are scouting and evaluating new technologies, managing projects, and assisting with business development activities.
Born and raised in Germany, David moved to Israel after his degree in International Business and gained professional experience in e-commerce and automotive Startups. David is especially passionate about connecting German corporates to the thriving Israeli startup ecosystem.
David holds a B.Sc. in International Business from Maastricht University.
Noa is the Decarbonization & Electrification Innovation Manager at Konnect, identifying and validating technologies that drive progress towards a more sustainable future of mobility.
Leveraging her experience as a Senior Innovation and Tech Strategy Manager at OPPO, Noa brings her knowledge of Open Innovation and passion for consumer technology to her current role at Konnect. In addition, her diverse experience across corporations, startups, investors, and government agencies has equipped her with a strong foundation in the fast-paced tech landscape to drive impactful Climate Tech projects with startups.
Noa holds an MBA from Tel Aviv University, Israel, and a B.A. from Peking University, China. As a Native Chinese, she is fluent in Mandarin, English, and Hebrew.
Daria is in charge of administration at Konnect and plays a pivotal role in supporting the organization's bookkeeping efforts.
With 15 years of administrative experience in both large corporations and small Fintech companies, she has vast expertise in administration, employee welfare, talent acquisition, event planning, marketing & financial operations.
Additionally, Daria adeptly manages relationships with suppliers and clients, ensuring a smooth financial operation.
Her main role is to make things happen and provide 360-degree support to all team members of Konnect.
Daria holds a BA in Political Science and Government from The Academic College of Tel-Aviv, Yaffo, Israel.
Angelika Handelsmann is the Head of Procurement at Konnect, connecting suppliers and startups to procurement departments and tenders in the Volkswagen Group and brands. Angie provides regular guidance and support to startups onboarding to the VW Group B2B platform.
Angie moved to Israel from Germany 35 years ago and became a “Kibutznik” for 12 years.
With more than 15 years of experience working as the Israeli representative for the Regional Sourcing Office of the Volkswagen Group, Angie holds extensive knowledge of the Israeli OEM supplier market.
Angie moved to Israel from Germany 35 years ago and became a “Kibutznik” for 12 years.
With more than 15 years of experience working as the Israeli representative for the Regional Sourcing Office of the Volkswagen Group, Angie holds extensive knowledge of the Israeli OEM supplier market.
Angelika holds a Business Administration and Management degree from the IHK Business School in Munich.
Our Global Innovation Network
Tel Aviv KONNECT INNOVATION HUB
Wolfsburg INNOVATION CENTER EUROPE
Beijing | Shanghai INNOVATION CENTER ASIA
Tokyo INNOVATION HUB
Singapore INNOVATION HUB
Knoxville INNOVATION HUB
Belmont INNOVATION CENTER CALIFORNIA
Tel Aviv KONNECT INNOVATION HUB
Wolfsberg | Potsdam INNOVATION CENTER EUROPE
Beijing INNOVATION CENTER ASIA
Tokyo INNOVATION HUB
Singapore INNOVATION HUB
Knoxville INNOVATION HUB
Belmont INNOVATION CENTER CALIFORNIA
For more information visit the Volkswagen Group website here
Konnect BLOG
September 2024: ELNET Delegation Visit
In September at our office in Tel Aviv, Hemdat welcomed 8 German Bundestag members, led by the Chair of the Committee on Economic Affairs, Michael Grosse-Brömer.
We had the pleasure to share the story of Konnect and exchange on the German-Israeli economic and innovation affairs.
The delegation was organized by the European Leadership Network (ELNET), headed by Carsten Ovens
We appreciate the support and welcome visits to our Hub.
June 2024: Dr. Nikolai Ardey at Konnect
Konnect hosted Dr. Nikolai Ardey, Head of Volkswagen Group Innovation, in his visit to Israel at the beginning of June. The visit included participation in the EcoMotion Main Assembly, held on June 4th, where Nikolai joined top industry leaders to discuss advancements and future trends in mobility and AI. Following Ecomotion, the topic of innovation in sustainability was an important aspect of the visit, where we met with local entrepreneurs and investors in the field of sustainability, shared about the Group's Regenerate+ sustainability strategy, and the importance of the startup ecosystem in fostering innovation into our Group products and processes. This strategic visit was a great opportunity for the Konnect team to showcase ongoing innovation projects and activities, while marking the interest and commitment of the HQ to the local innovation ecosystem.
August 2024: Future Mobility Days 2024
FMD 2024 - A Week of Innovation and Collaboration!
Our team had an inspiring and successful week at the Future Mobility Days 2024 in Wolfsburg where we presented our Innovation Projects to colleagues from the Volkswagen Group. During the event, we showcased 11 cutting-edge projects and collaborations with Israeli startups to over 2,000 visitors from across the Volkswagen Group. The projects focused on key areas such as sustainability and circular economy, autonomous driving, mobility, accessibility, and AI.
Here’s a glimpse of what we presented:
Innovative materials and recycling processes: Strengthening the Group's commitment to a circular economy.
Autonomous driving capabilities: Demonstrating the future of self-driving technology.
Accessibility solutions: Pioneering inclusive mobility solutions for all.
AI-powered user experiences: Enhancing the journey for our passengers.
These projects are not just concepts; they are pivotal to the future of mobility and the next generation of Volkswagen Group vehicles.
Also, our sustainability innovation manager, Noa held a presentation titled: “Your next car could be grown: Volkswagen meets bioengineering.”, where she shared about technologies and applications of bioengineering for the automotive industry.
Beyond the presentations, the event was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, engage in meaningful discussions on innovation, and gain valuable insights into the evolving needs of our brands.
We’re excited to scale these projects across more Volkswagen Group brands and explore new opportunities with our partners.
April 2024: Startup Masterclass
In April, together with the EcoMotion Community, we held our first seminar for startups on best practices for successful collaboration with an automotive OEM.
In a room full of Israeli entrepreneurs, our colleagues from Volkswagen Group of America Innovation and Engineering Center California (IECC), Bentley Motors and the Konnect team shared insights about internal processes, best practices, and important tips to get from one stage to another in the challenging development process. From initial contact with Volkswagen Group Innovation, through identifying the right stakeholders in the brand, to the intricacies of being nominated for an RFQ – we explored critical steps and processes necessary for effective collaboration with the Volkswagen Group.
