Konnect
Konnect is the Volkswagen Group's Israel-based innovation hub, founded in 2018 in Tel Aviv. It scouts, validates, and integrates Israeli deep-tech startups across sustainability, mobility, and AI verticals into VW Group brands using its Konnect InnoCar test platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersTel Aviv-yafo, Israel
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Konnect does
Konnect is the Innovation Hub of the Volkswagen Group in Israel, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Tel Aviv. The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, functioning as the dedicated gateway for sourcing, validating, and integrating Israeli deep-tech innovations into VW Group vehicles, factories, and services. Konnect's activities span three focus areas: Sustainability (electrification, sustainable materials, circular economy), Mobility (autonomous driving, MaaS/TaaS, safety, robotics), and AI/Digitalization (driving experience, in-cabin sensors, digital user interface). Its customer base is entirely internal to Volkswagen Group, serving brands including Audi, Bentley, Porsche, Skoda, Seat, Cupra, Lamborghini, Ducati, CARIAD, Scania, MOIA, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, and Traton.
Konnect's core product is the Konnect InnoCar, a fully electric Audi Q4 configured as a modular test vehicle platform. The InnoCar enables rapid proof-of-concept development and validation of external Israeli technologies through proprietary testing protocols covering LiDAR performance, driver biometrics sensing, and DUI detection. The business model is professional services delivered as an internal cost center: Konnect scouts startups, conducts local testing and evaluation, and facilitates commercial agreements between startups and VW Group brands. Major validated outcomes include the €33 million Apollo Power solar film agreement with VW Commercial Vehicles, the €17 million EU CIRCLE polylactic acid project, the serial production agreement for Innoviz LiDAR via CARIAD, Addionics' $39 million Series B with Scania as investor, SaiFlow cybersecurity for Audi EV Charging Hubs, Bentley/Inspekto AI visual inspection integration, and the Mobileye/MOIA ID. Buzz Robotaxi program.
Revenue flows internally through VW Group's corporate structure rather than through external customer billing. With approximately 10 core team members, Konnect operates a lean organization combining deep automotive, semiconductor, defense, and corporate innovation expertise, including personnel with prior VW Group and Porsche Digital Israel experience. The company holds no patents or trademarks and has not raised external funding, operating entirely under VW Group ownership.
Konnect firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Konnect
- Legal name
- Konnect with the Volkswagen Group Ltd.
- Website
- https://konnect-vwgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Konnect is the Volkswagen Group's Israel-based innovation hub, founded in 2018 in Tel Aviv. It scouts, validates, and integrates Israeli deep-tech startups across sustainability, mobility, and AI verticals into VW Group brands using its Konnect InnoCar test platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Konnect industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corporate Innovation Services
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Defense Software, Mission Applications & Open Architecture (MOSA) Systems (IMABAOAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- ESG, Sustainability Reporting & Compliance (BPAEAPAM)
Keywords
Where Konnect is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tel Aviv-yafo
- HQ country
- Israel
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices1 record
Markets served
Konnect business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Internal VW Group Innovation Services: As a fully-owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, Konnect operates as an internal innovation hub providing technology scouting, evaluation, and integration services to VW Group brands. Revenue flows internally through the VW Group corporate structure as part of the group's innovation investment strategy.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Konnect product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Konnect is the Innovation Hub of the Volkswagen Group in Israel, focused on the discovery, evaluation, and integration of Israeli pioneering technologies into Volkswagen Group vehicles and factories. The company scouts deep-tech startups, runs proof-of-concept development and validation through its Konnect InnoCar modular test vehicle platform, and facilitates integration pathways across 17+ VW Group brands spanning sustainability, mobility, and AI/digitalization focus areas.
Product overview
Konnect is the Innovation Hub of the Volkswagen Group in Israel, functioning as a technology scouting and evaluation platform rather than a traditional software product company. The company's primary offering is the Konnect InnoCar - a fully electric Audi Q4 test vehicle that serves as a modular innovation platform. This platform enables rapid validation, proof of concept development, and seamless integration of external Israeli technologies into Volkswagen Group vehicles. Konnect's activities focus on three main areas: Sustainability (electrification, sustainable materials, circular economy), Mobility (autonomous driving, MaaS/TaaS, safety, robotics), and AI/Digitalization (driving experience, in-cabin sensors, digital user interface). The company facilitates technology discovery, evaluation, and integration partnerships between Israeli startups and Volkswagen Group brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Konnect InnoCar
Quantifiable outcome
- €33 million agreement for Apollo Power solar films with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Konnect
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Konnect technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability8 records
Feature3 records
Konnect partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- LidwavecoreTested novel LiDAR sensor for autonomous driving applications. Test executed on closed test track and public roads, evaluating performance with noise, blooming, long-range separation, detection of small objects, and detection of obstructed pedestrians.
- CorractionscoreValidated life-saving technology for detecting drivers under influence of alcohol via sophisticated analysis of subject micro-muscle movements. Test subjects drove at different DUI levels while data was collected from existing vehicle sensors.
- Apollo PowerflagshipSuccessfully integrated flexible solar films into fiber-reinforced plastic components for Audi rooftops and hoods. €33 million agreement signed with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for tens of thousands of solar sheets for VW California.
- Inspekto (now Siemens)coreAI-Based Visual Inspection system integrated by Bentley Motors on its Crewe assembly line to ensure sealant path quality in panoramic roof cell production.
- TripleWcorePartner in €17 million EU CIRCLE project to convert food waste into bio-based chemicals (polylactic acid) for automotive interior applications.
- Auto3PcoreAutomated solution for real-time, AI-driven damage reporting deployed by Volkswagen Group China, streamlining insurance claims and repair workflows.
- SaiFlowcorePartnering with Audi AG to enhance cybersecurity and resilience of premium EV Charging Hubs with full asset visibility, continuous threat monitoring, real-time risk scoring, and NIS2 compliance support.
- InnovizflagshipCARIAD selected Innoviz as Direct LiDAR supplier for autonomous vehicles within Volkswagen Group Brands. Serial production agreement for advanced LiDAR sensor integration.
- MappocoreAI-powered infotainment app integrated by CARIAD into Audi's Car OS, enriching navigation with cultural content and media tied to users' locations.
- ElectreoncoreSelected as lead supplier for wireless road charging technology in government-backed project with Volkswagen Group and consortium partners for VW eCrafter.
- MobileyeflagshipPrimary liaison between Volkswagen's MOIA team and Mobileye, leading collaboration for ID. Buzz Robotaxi project with testing and validation activities in Israel.
- MOIA (Volkswagen Group)flagshipVolkswagen's mobility service company. Konnect COO serves as MOIA Resident in Israel, facilitating collaboration with Mobileye on ID. Buzz Robotaxi project.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Konnect competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Porsche Digital: Porsche Digital operates a Tel Aviv office as a sister VW Group entity focused on startup scouting, venture client activities, and digital innovation for Porsche AG. It runs a near-identical model to Konnect within the same parent, making it the most directly comparable peer in both scope and customer base.
- Startup Autobahn: Startup Autobahn is a Stuttgart-based corporate-startup matching platform originally launched by Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Bosch. It uses a venture client model very similar to Konnect's, scaling Israeli and European startups into enterprise pilots, making it a structural peer in innovation methodology.
- Toyota AI Ventures: Toyota's venture arm invests in early-stage AI, mobility, autonomy, and robotics startups with a similar mandate to Konnect's scouting function. Although VC-funded rather than a corporate scouting hub, it pursues comparable Israeli and global startup partnerships for a major OEM.
- BMW Group Innovation: BMW maintains Israeli tech scouting and broader open innovation programs targeting autonomous driving, sustainability, and digital services. It competes directly with Konnect for top Israeli startups and talent within the same automotive OEM customer archetype.
- Mercedes-Benz Group Innovation: Mercedes-Benz operates Israeli R&D and corporate innovation activities focused on autonomous driving, sensors, and software. It is a direct competitor of Konnect for the same Israeli deep-tech startups in the same automotive vertical.
- Ford Innovation: Ford maintains Israeli tech scouting and R&D activity through its Smart Vehicle Innovation Hub and other programs. It competes with Konnect for Israeli deep-tech startups in mobility, electrification, and autonomy.
- Honda Innovations: Honda's global innovation program engages with startups across mobility, energy, and AI. It operates a comparable corporate-startup engagement model targeting similar technology domains (autonomous driving, sensors, electrification) as Konnect.
Emerging players
- SOSA: SOSA is an Israeli corporate innovation and venture client platform connecting corporates (including OEMs) with Israeli startups. It operates a similar venture client model to Konnect but serves multiple enterprise clients rather than a single anchor OEM.
Broad incumbents
- Plug and Play Tech Center: Plug and Play is a large global innovation platform with a dedicated mobility vertical that connects startups to enterprise partners including multiple OEMs. It overlaps with Konnect's startup-enterprise matchmaking role but at a much broader multi-industry scale.
Others
- Israel Innovation Authority: The Israel Innovation Authority is the government agency supporting Israel's deep-tech ecosystem through funding programs, R&D incentives, and international collaboration. It is an adjacent ecosystem participant that influences Konnect's startup pipeline through grant co-funding.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Konnect social profiles
Digital presenceKonnect financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Konnect leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Konnect funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Konnect M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Konnect
What does Konnect do?
Konnect is the Innovation Hub of the Volkswagen Group in Israel, focused on the discovery, evaluation, and integration of Israeli pioneering technologies into Volkswagen Group vehicles and factories. The company scouts deep-tech startups, runs proof-of-concept development and validation through its Konnect InnoCar modular test vehicle platform, and facilitates integration pathways across 17+ VW Group brands spanning sustainability, mobility, and AI/digitalization focus areas.
Is Konnect a public or private company?
Konnect is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Konnect founded?
Konnect was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Konnect based?
Konnect is headquartered in Tel Aviv-yafo, Israel, in the Middle East region.
How does Konnect make money?
One revenue line is on record: internal VW Group Innovation Services.
Who are Konnect's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Porsche Digital, Startup Autobahn, Toyota AI Ventures, BMW Group Innovation, Mercedes-Benz Group Innovation, Ford Innovation and Honda Innovations. SOSA is listed as an emerging player. Plug and Play Tech Center is listed as a broad incumbent. Israel Innovation Authority is listed as an others.
Does Konnect have an API?
No public API is recorded for Konnect.
What industry is Konnect in?
Konnect's product category is Corporate Innovation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAOAM, Defense Software, Mission Applications & Open Architecture (MOSA) Systems, with a secondary code of BPAEAPAM, ESG, Sustainability Reporting & Compliance. Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 8734.