The Florida-Israel Business Accelerator receives $1 Million in funding from the state of Florida to help attract and develop Israeli Startups in the Tampa Bay Area

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                               The Florida-Israel Business Accelerator receives $1 Million in funding from the state of Florida to help attract and develop Israeli Startups in the Tampa Bay Area TAMPA, Fla. (August 17th, 2016) – The Florida-Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA) proudly announces that it has received $1 million from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). The funds will support the buildout of FIBA’s state-of-the-art workspace (slated for completion this fall), as well as for operating costs including relocation incentives for startups participating in the accelerator program . FIBA’s receipt of this funding is in keeping with the DEO’s mission to champion the state’s economic development vision by funding a variety of programs and initiatives that generate employment opportunities. “We are pleased and excited that the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has chosen to make such a significant investment in our organization. Our goal is to further develop the Tampa Bay area into one of the nation’s foremost centers for innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Vicki Rabenou, President and CEO of the Florida-Israel Business Accelerator. Established by the Tampa Jewish Community Centers & Federation, FIBA is technology accelerator that focuses on attracting and launching Israel-based startups in the United States. FIBA is the first Accelerator program of its kind ever created by a Jewish Community Center or Jewish Federation in North America and has just been recognized by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) for this innovation. FIBA utilizes a strict vetting process to select 6-10 startup companies per cohort. These companies then participate in a 120-day program held in Tampa, Florida. The program is designed to provide the Israeli startups with the knowledge and resources necessary to build “market-ready” enterprises in the United States. During the program, they will gain critical insights from a variety of business experts and have opportunities to build relationships with local business leaders. Israeli entrepreneurs are forced to seek global markets when starting their companies because of the country’s small population and lack of regional trade partners. FIBA looks to bring these innovators to the Tampa Bay area, accomplishing the two-fold goal of exposing them to a growing market and serving as a catalyst for introducing new technologies and job growth into the United States. About The Florida-Israel Business Accelerator Launched in 2016 by the Tampa Jewish Community Centers & Federation, the Florida Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA) is a Florida-based technology accelerator, designed to establish and grow successful, high-growth Israeli tech ventures in the Tampa Bay area. Our primary goal is to help best in breed Israeli hi-tech start-up companies scale and reach their full growth potential in the USA. The Florida-Israel Business Accelerator is designed to meet the needs of both seed and early stage companies, The Florida-Israel Business Accelerator provides deep industry expertise through structured programming, one-on-one consulting sessions, curated access to an expanded group of industry experts and exposure to a syndicate of potential investors. FIBA is sponsored by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). To learn more, visit our website at www.fiba.io. News contact: Jack Ross jack.ross@jewishtampa.com 813-769-4727

---