Business Support
At Ben Franklin Northeast, we believe in nurturing your business beyond providing investment capital. Our approach combines essential funding with a tailored mix of mentoring, partnership opportunities, and business and technological development support, all designed to fit your unique business needs and goals.
We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of the business world, ensuring your entrepreneurial journey leads to lasting success.
Solutions Network
The Solutions Network functions as a curated team of advisors featuring business consultants, technical experts, and other professionals, all carefully vetted and selected by our staff to ensure you receive the best-of-the-best support and assistance.
The Solutions Network focuses on a wide array of services, including:
- Market research and analysis
- Product development and improvement
- Business plan development
- Intellectual Property protection
We’re more than just a funding source at Ben Franklin Northeast – we’re your steadfast ally, committed to supporting you through every stage of business growth.
Spark Mentorship
Launched in February of 2023, SPARK is a mentorship initiative created to provide extra guidance to startups in the Ben Franklin Northeast portfolio. The six-month program connects founders with experienced business professionals to focus on strategy and business concept, management, operations, sales and marketing, innovation and product development, and funding and investor relations.
SPARK is facilitated by We Love Mentors, an organization dedicated to improving the impact of entrepreneurship by elevating the professional networks in ecosystems, showcasing that the right mentor is a game-changer for startups.
“The sessions we had were packed with incredible amounts of insights, guidance, and practical knowledge. Our mentor took time to understand our business idea, model, our strengths and weaknesses, and with his guidance helped us look at things critically and explore different solutions we haven’t thought about before.”
SPARK Graduates
TechCelerator @ Lackawanna County
Ready to turn your tech idea into a thriving startup? TechCelerator @ Lackawanna County is here to help! Since Spring 2023, this program has united top resources from Lackawanna County, the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce’s IGNITE Program, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of NEPA, and tecBRIDGE to help aspiring entrepreneurs transform their tech ideas into successful startups.
Participants who successfully meet the program completion requirements will be eligible to receive a $10,000 grant to jump-start their venture. Eligibility is limited to residents of Lackawanna County.
For more information, contact Ken Okrepkie at
570.709.4040 or kokrepkie@nep.benfranklin.org.
