News + Research
Ven Raju Named Innovation Works CEO
October 14, 2022
Ven Raju has been named president and CEO of Innovation Works, a North Shore-based seed stage investor in tech startups, replacing Rich Lunak, who is retiring. Mr. Raju, 43, was chosen from among more than 135 candidates nationwide after a...
App + AMEX = Millions For Good
October 12, 2022
Keith Leaphart’s Philanthropi has partnered with American Express to let 25,000 members round up their purchases to give to charity. Keith Leaphart has a big dream for Philanthropi, the doctor/entrepreneur’s four-year-old company that works to turn everyday people into individual foundations: He...
Now Hiring: Regional Manager, Upper Susquehanna
October 11, 2022
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA has an opening for a Regional Manager, Upper Susquehanna. Overview To lead and direct entrepreneurial and advanced manufacturing activities in the Upper Susquehanna Region of Pennsylvania (Counties of Bradford, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland,...
Ben Franklin’s Agriculture, Food & Beverage BIG IDEA Contest Finale
October 11, 2022
PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE BIG IDEA CONTEST FINAL PITCH COMPETITION! Join us for the virtual final pitch competition for Ben Franklin Technology Partners’ $25,000 Agriculture, Food & Beverage BIG IDEA Contest. On October 20th, selected finalists will pitch their ag,...
A Bold Effort To Cure HIV—Using Crispr
October 11, 2022
An experiment tests whether the gene-editing technology can stop the virus from replicating, which would ultimately wipe out the infection. IN JULY, AN HIV-positive man became the first volunteer in a clinical trial aimed at using Crispr gene editing to snip...
Lehigh Provost Dr. Nathan Urban Appointed to Ben Franklin Board
October 10, 2022
The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has announced the appointment of Nathan Urban, Ph.D., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Lehigh University, to its board of directors. Ben Franklin Northeast has had a decades long and...
Pennsylvania’s Innovation Economy Driving Growth
October 10, 2022
A new national report that ranks states for business performance and competitiveness shows Pennsylvania making significant gains over the last year, with technology and innovation among the driving forces behind the economic resurgence. Pennsylvania jumped six spots from 23 to...
Biomeme To Launch Portable Sample-To-Answer PCR System, Host-Response Testing
October 4, 2022
The pandemic wrought remarkable changes in diagnostics, some of which may improve healthcare for future generations. It also precipitated a dramatic expansion for Philadelphia-based mini PCR instrument and assay developer Biomeme. The company is now using revenues from CAP and...
Expanded OraSure Technologies Facility to Manufacture Millions of COVID-19 Tests
October 4, 2022
Ben Franklin alumnus client OraSure Technologies recently completed an expansion that will allow it to manufacture almost 2 million in-home COVID-19 self-tests per week, while also creating or retaining more than 400 jobs in the Lehigh Valley. OraSure, a home-grown...
Mussel Polymers Developing Treatment for Tooth Sensitivity
October 4, 2022
Ben Franklin client Mussel Polymers, located in Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, has developed a new adhesive that chemically mimics the way mussels adhere to surfaces underwater. The firm announced a breakthrough in the use of its product, to treat sensitive...