Ben Franklin News

Ben Franklin Northeast to Invest $1.1 million in the Regional Economy

Ben Franklin to Invest $1.1 million in the Regional Economy

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s (Ben Franklin Northeast) Board of Directors has approved the investment of $1.1 million in support of regional economic development. 11 companies, including six technology startups and five established manufacturers, from Ben Franklin Northeast’s service area received funding.

Ben Franklin Northeast announces the following early-stage company investments.

 

Showcase Ventures, Inc Lackawanna County

Ben Franklin Northeast Investment: $90,000

Showcase is a revolutionary music discovery and streaming platform designed to improve the way consumers find new music and artists. The human-curated application puts emerging artists front and center, offering a simple and easy-to-navigate experience that captures the emotion of live music and the nostalgia of old-school radio. With one new artist and song featured every day, users can discover new talent, listen to their music, read their bios, and connect with them on social media or streaming platforms all in one seamless experience. The Showcase team consists of music enthusiasts, tech wizards, and connection makers who are committed to opening doors for emerging talent. The investment supports the product rollout of this new digital music discovery platform for consumers.

Slick Leagues, Inc Lackawanna County

Ben Franklin Northeast Investment: $100,000

Slick Leagues provides a software solution that automates administrative tasks, simplifies business operations, and presents analytical insights, enabling multi-purpose sports facilities, club teams, and leagues to grow their businesses, increase revenues, and simplify operations. The investment supports marketing and sales efforts to fully commercialize their application.

Venseca, Inc. Lehigh County

Ben Franklin Northeast Investment: $100,000

Venseca is a cybersecurity platform that creates a comprehensive network of trust between service providers and the organizations that use them by creating standardized, independent cybersecurity risk assessments and evaluations of suppliers’ cybersecurity risk postures. The investment supports product development and go-to market execution.

Ayana Active, LLC Montour County

Ben Franklin Northeast Investment: $50,000

Ayana Active is a sustainable sportswear clothing line made for women seeking more modest, less revealing activewear. Ayana Ife, founder of Ayana Active, was a runner up on Project Runway and has been featured in Marie Claire, The New York Post, and Harper Bazaar Arabia. The investment supports inventory, machinery, and the implementation of a 3D design software that will allow for clothing manufacturing.

Ben Franklin Northeast announces the following investments in established manufacturers, which is provided in 1:1 matching funding for work with a college or university partner.

EAM-Mosca Corporation Luzerne County

Ben Franklin Northeast Investment: $25,000

EAM Mosca Corporation manufactures and distributes automatic strapping systems and customized, high-performance end-of-line packaging solutions to customers and industries throughout the Americas. The investment supports the development of a process that ensures customer demand is captured in an accurate and timely manner within their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. EAM Mosca Corporation will partner with Lehigh University’s Enterprise Systems Center on this project.

BRD Noise and Vibration Control, Inc. Northampton County

Ben Franklin Northeast Investment: $10,000

BRD Noise and Vibration Control designs and manufactures materials for noise and vibration control for large commercial HVAC systems and industrial equipment. This investment supports the implementation of parametric drawings which will enable the company to improve the productivity of engineering resources, on-time delivery and resource utilization, customer service, quality of product, and support top-line growth plans. BRD Noise and Vibration Control will partner with Lehigh University’s Center for Supply Chain Management on this project.

Campania International Montgomery County

Ben Franklin Northeast Investment: $11,250

Campania International is a premier designer, manufacturer, and distributor of fine garden accents to independent garden centers throughout the United States and Canada. The investment supports transferring their painting operations from a third-party vendor in Vietnam to Campania team members in Pennsylvania while maintaining quality of the product and reduce lead times and inventory. Campania International will partner with Lehigh University’s Enterprise Systems Center on this project.

Straight Arrow Products Northampton County

Ben Franklin Northeast Investment: $20,000

Straight Arrow Products produces hair and skin care products for the equestrian and human markets. The investment supports the implementation of new modules to their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to enhance forecasting and reporting. Straight Arrow Products will partner with Lehigh University’s Center for Supply Chain Management on this project.

US Specialty Formulations, LLC Lehigh County

Ben Franklin Northeast Investment: $25,000

US Specialty Formulations, LLC (USSF) is a biotech firm, commercializing an oral-mucosal vaccine – QYNDR – recently successfully completed its Phase I clinicals. This oral vaccine targets multiple COVID-19 variants and may be adapted to other viruses such as flu, Group A Strep and RSV. USSF also produces sterile injectable pharmaceuticals for hospitals, physicians, and is a key supplier in the perfusion market. The investment supports implementing an electronic quality control system to improve its operational workflow and tie into its anticipated new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. USSF will partner with Lehigh University’s Enterprise Systems Center on this project.

Ben Franklin Northeast announces the following early-stage company investments as part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). These projects were financed [in part] from Pennsylvania Small Business Credit Initiative funds from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development.

LifeAire Systems Lehigh County

Ben Franklin Northeast Investment: $340,000

LifeAire Systems manufactures air purification equipment for the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), hospital, long term care, and life science markets. LifeAire Systems patented multi-stage air purification technology eliminates 99.99% of all known airborne contaminants that compromise the success of the in vitro culture of living cells, development and production of biological and pharmaceutical products, and contribute to illness and infections in healthcare acute care spaces and senior living residential spaces. The investment supports continued new product and technology development, increased inventory, and improvements to their supply chain.

Spoke Sciences, Inc. Northampton County

Ben Franklin Northeast Investment: $400,000

Spoke Sciences develops technologies to deliver insoluble lipidic ingredients in water-based formulations. This investment supports scale up of research, development, and commercialization efforts.