Overseas firm working with area accelerator nets $1 million investment

TAMPA — Israeli medical device company UC-Care, part of the Tampa-based Florida-Israel Business Accelerator’s 2018 cohort, has landed a $1 million investment from Florida Funders, a group that backs early-stage tech companies in Florida.

According to a press release, Tampa-based real estate developer and FIBA board member David Scher led the funding effort.

“I’m always interested in innovative technologies from Israel,” Scher states in the release. “The UC-Care technology for better diagnosis of prostate cancer was interesting to me personally and as an investment vehicle. Thanks to the Florida Funders platform, I was able to bring together a group of investors who don't usually invest in technology. Together, we raised capital for UC-Care to help the company grow its market share in the U.S. and beyond.”

With help from FIBA, the response to UC-Care’s FDA-approved medical devices has been strong, the release states. The company has built an office and storage facility in Oldsmar and is in hiring mode as it seeks to grow market share in Florida and the United States.

“FIBA’s program and dedicated team are playing an important role in UC-Care’s effort to grow its business in the USA,” states Tomer Schatzberger, UC-Care’s vice president of marketing and business development, in the release. “FIBA has opened doors for UC-Care with potential customers from academic centers, hospitals and private practices, and helped us complete our first sales in Florida.”