“Our mission is to help Israeli companies to grow here in Florida and do that in a way that makes an economic impact and solves critical business problems with innovative Israeli technology,” said Pam Miniati, Co-Executive Director of the Florida-Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA).
Launched in 2017 as a division of the Tampa Jewish Community Centers and Federation, FIBA was created with the goals of bringing Israeli start-up companies to Florida and connecting them with U.S. companies who can be served by their innovative solutions and cutting-edge technology. FIBA also works to shift the dialogue about Israel away from the geopolitical realm into the technological innovation realm.
Known as the “Start-Up Nation,” in Israel, innovation, especially in the technology field, is a deeply ingrained way of life.
“The Israeli mindset is a drive to solve problems in creative ways, using available resources,” Miniati said. “This culture to innovate, culture to survive, to use technology is really ingrained in what they do.”
Recognizing the potential for Israeli technology, FIBA works to discover problems faced by the local business community and match U.S. based companies to Israeli startups who have new technology that can provide solutions to their most pressing problems.
FIBA’s list of successes includes StemRad, which participated in FIBA’s very first cohort in 2017. StemRad specializes in creating protective shielding against harmful radiation like Gamma rays. Seeking to expand into the Florida market, CEO Oren Milstein “came to our program and he spent 3 months with us,” Minati said. “He talked to businesses, and he got such an amazing welcome from the investor and local community that he said ‘This is going to be my new home,’ and he picked up his family and they moved here.”
Connecting with Tampa Bay Lighting owner and investor Jeff Vinik, StemRad opened an office in Tampa, hired a local team, and has since secured a contract with the U.S. National Guard and is piloting its technology with NASA.
Currently, FIBA is focusing its efforts on the areas of hospitality and cyber security. The hospitality industry experienced large-scale disruption in its workforce during the Covid-19 Pandemic, illustrating the potential benefits of using technology to enhance service offerings.
“Hotel and restaurant operators look at technology as enhancing the guest experience,” Miniati said. “People can focus on the high-touch, important, customer facing activities, and they can use technology to do the things that need to happen behind the scenes and make the experience even better.”
In the area of cyber security, FIBA launched their Cyber Program in February, with organized events in both Tallahassee and Tampa to showcase innovative Israeli tech solutions to the state government and local business community. FIBA plans to continue to host more of these events across the state to showcase Israeli technology and expand their network of business partners.
“We are always looking for businesses who are interested in solving problems with technology,” Miniati said. “Also, we are always looking for potential investors as well as people who may want to be advisors or subject matter experts to work with some of our companies. We really rely on a network of people to help these Israeli companies to be successful here.”
FIBA is a division of the Tampa Jewish Community Centers and Federation, which has been a member of the Tampa Bay Chamber since 2007.
“I’ve been impressed by all of the initiatives that the Chamber undertakes to better Tampa, to grow Tampa, and to attract more companies to Tampa,” Miniati said. “Our missions align perfectly and knowing that we have support from the Chamber, if we need it, has been great.”
