Location, Location, Innovation: How an Argentine Oleh is Transforming Renewable Energy Development

Meet Matias Sigal, an Argentine entrepreneur whose two-month visit to Israel evolved into REplace, a platform revolutionizing how companies find locations for renewable energy projects.

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Who are you and what's your business?

I'm Matias Sigal. I made Aliyah from Buenos Aires, Argentina six years ago. I'm 27 years old and the co-founder and CEO of REplace. REplace is a platform dedicated to the development of renewable energy projects. We help solar and other renewable energy developers in identifying the best locations for solar farms with just a few clicks and support the development process. The technology is operating in four countries, with customers including two of the five biggest renewable energy companies in the world.

What inspired you to make Aliyah, and did you always know you wanted to start a business in Israel?

Making Aliyah was a smooth transition for me. I had visited Israel about five times before for various reasons, but I never imagined myself living here. However, six years ago, as an entrepreneur in Argentina, I decided to move to Israel to learn more about startups and renewable energy.

I wanted to build something impactful, and I believed the startup nation was the best place to learn how. What was meant to be a two-month stay turned into six years. My transition was made easier when the company where I was interning not only offered me a job but also entrusted me with expanding their Israeli operations globally. I was responsible for launching their presence in the Netherlands, Australia, and four other countries, spending anywhere from a few weeks to a few months in each. This opportunity was too good to pass up. After successfully establishing these operations, they invited me to Tel Aviv. When I arrived, I realized that this was, without a doubt, the best city for me to live in the world. More than that, Israel was the perfect place to take my startup from an idea to a reality.

There are several reasons why Israel is an ideal place to start a company—many of which are covered in the book Startup Nation. But beyond that, the people here are incredibly supportive. I have multiple stories where founders of billion-dollar companies agreed to have one-on-one coffee meetings with me after chance encounters on the street.

Additionally, there is a strong entrepreneurial mindset. When I began working on my startup and sought pilot projects with large energy companies, I noticed a stark contrast in responses from different regions. In Europe, the U.S., and Argentina, companies would tell me, "Amazing, your product sounds great—call me when it's ready." In Israel, the response was, "Amazing, let's sign a deal. Call me when it's ready so I can start using it." This made all the difference. With those agreements in hand, I was able to raise more funding, build the product, and then return to European customers to secure their commitments as well. This environment is what makes Israel an unparalleled place to launch a startup.

What was the lightbulb moment or experience that led to the idea for your business?

I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur. In fact, I once thought I would never work for anyone else—I have been running my own ventures since I was 13. However, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work for two different companies, and in hindsight, I believe this was the best decision. It allowed me to learn, make fewer mistakes when launching my own company, and build a strong network. Still, during my first three to four years in Israel, even while working for another company, I was actively searching for my own startup idea. I wanted to create something that had a significant impact on the environment. I believe climate change is the biggest challenge of our era, one that technology can help solve.

To stay disciplined in my search, I created what I called "Startup Mondays." Life in Tel Aviv is fast-paced, with plenty of social activities, so I set aside Monday evenings exclusively for brainstorming technologies, ideas, solutions, and problems related to climate change. I did this for two years, compiling a list of 52 ideas in an Excel sheet. I scored each based on impact, competition, my own fit for the startup, monetization potential, and more. However, none of them felt right—each had a fundamental flaw that prevented me from fully committing.

Then, while working on renewable energy projects in my job, I noticed a recurring issue: many of the projects I was involved in failed due to poor site selection. For example, one project had to be abandoned because it was planned on historical land where the government couldn’t grant a permit. I started interviewing solar developers worldwide, and after just ten interviews, I found a common theme—80% of projects failed due to location-related issues. That was my lightbulb moment. I initially started working on my idea part-time while keeping my job. Then, I transitioned full-time into the startup, raised my first angel investment, brought on my co-founder, and kept pushing forward. In total, we interviewed 300 potential customers, and 100% of them confirmed the same issue—80% of projects fail due to location.

What were the biggest cultural or logistical challenges you faced as an Oleh/Olah starting a business in Israel?

As an Oleh in Israel, I have only experienced advantages. I’ve found that people are even more willing to help. I previously mentioned my encounters with billion-dollar startup founders who mentored me, but I have two specific examples where being an Oleh played a key role.

At one event, the speaker was the founder of one of Israel’s first unicorns. After his talk, I approached him—even though I didn’t yet have my startup, just an idea and one other potential concept. I told him I was an Oleh and wanted to build a startup in Israel but needed guidance on which idea to pursue. He set up a one-hour meeting the very next day, and after that conversation, I chose my direction.

A week later, I randomly rented out my parking spot on Facebook. The person who took it happened to be the founder of what was then a $7 billion company. Once again, I mentioned that I was an Oleh looking to start a company in Israel, and he immediately offered to meet for coffee for an hour. I was just a random person to him, yet he still made time for me. I truly believe this kind of generosity only happens in Israel.

The only downside I encountered as an Oleh was the language barrier. Many accelerator programs and events are conducted in Hebrew, which can be a challenge if you’re not fluent. Another potential downside is the lack of an established local network, but this can be mitigated by partnering with Israelis or bringing on Israeli investors.

Did your background or previous experience help you, or did you have to reinvent yourself in a new industry?

My background helped in some ways—having experience starting a completely different, much smaller, non-tech company and from my previous jobs. However, I learned a lot of what’s needed to start a company while working in Israel for the startup I was with for a few years, as well as abroad through accelerator programs I attended on their behalf. Those experiences taught me a great deal about how to build a company, but a significant part of the learning happens in real-time as challenges arise. The key is having good mentors. That’s another advantage of being in Israel—I had the opportunity to connect with great mentors who had already been through the journey. I believe it’s important to have several mentors because you can’t rely on just one person all the time. Having multiple mentors gives you options when you need guidance throughout the week.

How did you get your first customers or clients? Was there a moment when you realized, ‘This is really working’?

Getting early customers is crucial for building a strong product. We started by securing non-binding letters of intent from three Spanish companies—two small ones and one mid-sized company. At this stage, we had nothing but an idea. Their feedback helped us develop our first MVP. Then, we pitched to an Israeli company, expecting to secure another LOI. Instead, I decided to test pricing and quoted them a subscription fee. They immediately said yes. That was our turning point. We realized we didn’t need to do more free pilots—we could charge from day one. Shortly after, we returned to another Israeli company that had previously agreed to an LOI, but now, with a working product, we closed an actual deal. These early wins helped us attract major players. Using our Israeli customers as references, we secured EDF (one of the largest energy companies in France) and Iberdrola (a $90 billion renewable energy giant). Having these industry leaders validate our solution made all the difference.

How did Israel’s unique business environment—its startup culture, bureaucracy, or community—impact your journey?

For me, Israel is undoubtedly the best country in the world to start a startup. The combination of an innovative ecosystem, corporate willingness to commit early, access to capital, and a deeply ingrained entrepreneurial mindset creates the perfect environment. Additionally, there are programs connecting startups to American, European, and Asian markets, along with numerous networking events and a strong venture capital presence. Going from zero to one—and even beyond—is truly special here.

What role has the Olim community or Israeli networking culture played in your success?

The Olim community has also played a vital role in my startup journey. In fact, my co-founder is another Oleh from Argentina whom I met in Israel. I'm also part of the Nevo Network, which has been an invaluable resource for guidance, connections, and support.

What’s next for your business, and what’s your long-term vision for its growth?

We are in a pivotal year for REplace as we expand into the U.S. market and integrate additional technologies like energy storage into our platform. This aligns with our long-term vision of becoming the go-to platform for renewable energy project developers looking to develop and optimize their assets. In essence, we are building the ultimate platform for renewable energy project development.

What advice would you give an Oleh/Olah thinking about starting a business here?

My advice to any Oleh considering starting a business in Israel: go for it. As we've discussed, Israel has an incredibly supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. People genuinely want to help both entrepreneurs and Olim, giving you unparalleled access to the best minds in the country. If you're an Oleh entrepreneur, you'll find that everyone is eager to introduce you to valuable connections and provide guidance to help your startup succeed. I've personally had chance encounters with billion-dollar founders who generously shared their time and insights. I’ve also had exceptional mentors who offered invaluable advice, connections, and ideas.

Additionally, corporations here are open to collaboration because many of the people working in them have entrepreneurial experience themselves, which isn't always the case abroad. This dynamic makes it easier to conduct pilot projects, understand real-world needs, and build solutions that customers love. On top of that, Israel offers a wealth of programs, accelerators, and access to capital, making it one of the best places in the world to launch a startup.

To learn more about REplace, please visit https://www.renewableenergy.place/

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