News + Research
Finalists in Ben Franklin’s Agriculture, Food & Beverage BIG IDEA Contest Announced!
September 6, 2022
Ben Franklin Technology Partner’s BIG IDEA Contest recently offered agriculture and food/beverage entrepreneurs, innovators, and companies in Ben Franklin’s 32-county footprint the chance to pitch to win up to $25,000 in seed funding. This cash prize is designed to support...
Gig and Take Raises $1.5 Million Pre-Seed Round!
September 6, 2022
MECHANICSBURG, PA – Gig and Take has closed a pre-seed round totaling $1.5 million led by Schematic Ventures with participation by Motivate Ventures and SHRM Labs (the venture capital arm of the Society of Human Resource Management). This capital will...
New Ben Franklin Award at FACTORY’s StartUp Lehigh Valley
September 1, 2022
More than $30,000 in prize money up for grabs in 4th annual StartUp Lehigh Valley pitch competition for entrepreneurs StartUp Lehigh Valley, a pitch competition for entrepreneurs developed and hosted by Factory LLC, is back for a fourth year! This year’s competition...
The 4th Annual PHL Innovation Picnic Was A Big Success
September 1, 2022
Thank you for making the picnic so special. The PHL Innovation Picnic is a staple in our innovation ecosystem, and you made it possible. We brought together more than 400 entrepreneurs, investors, and community builders for Philadelphia’s largest outdoor networking...
$1M Bright Bradford Fund Created to Fuel Local Community
August 31, 2022
The Bradford Area Alliance announced Thursday the creation of a new $1,000,000 Bright Bradford Fund aimed at helping new startups and existing businesses grow in the area. To serve the growth of different industry sectors in the Bradford community, the...
Social Impact Has Value. Are You Capturing It?
August 26, 2022
The first step for your business is “to understand what impact you are having and be able to articulate it.” Start with ImpactPHL’s new Investable Impact Toolkit. What is the purpose of business? Many will suggest that the purpose is...
Gov. Wolf Announces New Tech Jobs with Expansion of iDEAL Semiconductor
August 26, 2022
Governor Tom Wolf announced that Ben Franklin client, iDEAL Semiconductor Devices, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company, plans to expand its technology research and development and create at least 63 new, high-paying jobs in the Lehigh Valley. “This is exactly the...
Generation Change Philly: The Impact Investor Evangelist
August 25, 2022
Engineer-turned-angel investor John Moore helped launch ImpactPHL with the goal of making Philly the social impact investment capital of the country. Five years later, he may be succeeding. Agame of darts brought angel investor John Moore to Philadelphia in 2003....
Ben Franklin to Invest $134,750 in the Regional Economy
August 18, 2022
The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s (BFTP_NEPA) Board of Directors has approved the investment of $134,750 in support of regional economic development. Three companies from BFTP_NEPA’s 21-county service area received funding. The investment identified as a continuation project...
These 12 Startups Made It Into LIFT Labs’ 2022 Cohort, Including Philly-Area LLUNA
August 17, 2022
This year’s accelerator is focused on connected living, inclusive experiences and smart enterprises, and will operate on a hybrid model from the Comcast Technology Center. A cohort of 12 companies — one of which is based in Greater Philadelphia —...