Helping businesses achieve and sustain commercial success and competitive advantage.
Ben Franklin delivers hands-on support, guidance, and investment funds at companies’ most vulnerable times. For more than 33 years, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has helped hundreds of the region’s technology companies prosper by providing access to capital, business expertise, university resources, and more.
Capital Investment
Capital — Ben Franklin investments in early-stage firms typically range from $30,000 to $150,000 for each tranche, for a total not to exceed $450,000 per client. We take calculated risks investing in young, unproven companies. We assist early-stage firms as they prepare to raise additional capital and provide them with an important and well-respected initial endorsement.
We also support established manufacturers by providing investments in enterprise-wide innovation of up to $25,000 for each project for a total not to exceed $150,000 per client. The work is usually technology development or application-driven and is accomplished with a college or university partner.
Business Expertise
Each company in the Ben Franklin portfolio benefits from the collective experience of seasoned professionals who focus on turning high-potential ideas into high-growth businesses. In-house expertise is complemented by Ben Franklin’s extensive Solutions Network of advisers, service providers, and investors, creating a powerful and comprehensive support program for clients.
University Resources
Ben Franklin provides a crucial link between the Commonwealth’s companies and the wealth of knowledge, facilities, and human resources in the state’s higher education institutions. We tap into the research strength of Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities, whose faculty and students work directly with clients.
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania is headquartered on the campus of Lehigh University with regional offices in Lewisburg, Reading, and Scranton. BFTP/NEP also owns, manages, and operates Ben Franklin TechVentures, a technology incubator/post-incubator facility on the campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, and the Bloomsburg Regional Technology Center in downtown Bloomsburg.
Infrastructure
Business infrastructure is the underlying framework that supports companies in an area. Elements of this infrastructure include the availability of investment funds, physical buildings, and access to expertise, research, and laboratory facilities. Ben Franklin initiates and supports targeted activities that build the regional technology infrastructure including:
Ben Franklin Business Incubator Network is one of the largest such networks in the U.S., consisting of 13 individual business incubators throughout our 21-county region.
Ben Franklin TechVentures®, located on Lehigh University’s Mountaintop Campus, earned the prestigious International Business Innovation Association Incubator of the Year Award in 2001 and again in 2012. Our staff applies this incubation expertise in leading the Ben Franklin Business Incubator Network.
Centers of Excellence. Ben Franklin provides financial support to colleges and universities in establishing Centers of Excellence throughout our region. An example of this is the Plastics Innovation and Resource Center at the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
