Rakefet Bachur-Phillips was born and raised outside Tel Aviv and served in the Israel Defense Force before earning a communications degree from The College of Management in Tel Aviv. She built early international experience with design firms and startups, including the team that created the USB drive, before entering the medical technology field with Talia Technology. Like many of the companies now supported by the Florida Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA), she relocated to Tampa to help Talia establish a U.S. subsidiary before its successful exit. She later earned a master’s degree in marketing from the University of Tampa and advanced to Marketing Manager at BayCare Health System, the largest healthcare provider in Florida, where she led high-profile campaigns and supported the opening of new facilities.

In 2016, Phillips joined the founding team of FIBA, where she drove marketing, communications, and the recruitment of Israeli startups expanding into the U.S. market. She was promoted to Co-Executive Director in 2020 alongside Pamela Miniati, and together they have guided accelerator programs that have supported dozens of international companies across technology, healthcare, and cybersecurity. Her leadership has helped position Tampa Bay as a growing hub for global innovation and foreign investment, connecting international startups with the resources and partnerships needed to thrive in the United States.