Ben News

Q&A: Ben Franklin Tech Partners Is Doubling Down on Philly Life Sciences

July 11, 2019

Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP) is a force for investment in the region’s early-stage tech companies. The organization has invested in 4,500 Pennsylvania-based tech companies since its inception and has a portfolio that boasts $354 million in funding raised in 2018 alone. But BFTP’s chief executive officer RoseAnn B. Rosenthal believes in doing more than […]

Ben Franklin Technology Partners join $100M 3.0 University Place project

June 25, 2019

Ben Franklin Technology Partners is joining in the ambitious, $100 million 3.0 University Place development in University City. Ben Franklin’s southeastern Pennsylvania organization, a prolific seed and economic development nonprofit in the region, said Tuesday it is joining in University Place Associates’ newest project by means of a 28,500 square-foot “Innovation Floor” that will be […]

Four Reasons Why: Pennsylvania Should Invest in Tech Innovation

May 13, 2019

For more than 35 years, Ben Franklin Technology Partners has served as the gold standard of tech-based economic development. However, despite our success, state funding for Ben Franklin has dropped more than 50 percent since 2007-08, from roughly $28 million per year to $14 million per year. The impact of that reduction will be felt […]

April 12, 2019

April 12, 2019 RoseAnn B. Rosenthal, President and CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, was honored today by the Pennsylvania Society, receiving its coveted “Distinguished Citizen of the Commonwealth” award. The award was presented at the organization’s 121st Annual Meeting and Luncheon, held this year at Union League of Philadelphia, and recognized […]

Ben Franklin Technology Partners Debuts Blockchain-Enabled Onboarding and Tokenization Platform for Global Opportunity Philadelphia Fund

April 11, 2019

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (Ben Franklin), a leading seed stage capital provider, announced the availability of its blockchain-enabled onboarding and tokenization platform that streamlines and manages investor interests in the Global Opportunity Philadelphia Fund (GO Philly Fund). Ben Franklin is leveraging Securitize as the fund’s compliance platform for issuing and managing digital securities on the Ethereum blockchain. The […]

Ben Franklin Tech Partners’ Portfolio Companies Raised $345M in 2018

March 28, 2019

After ramping up investments in recent years, prolific seed fund and economic development nonprofit Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania’s is seeing the results. A new Performance Profile report released this week shows that its portfolio companies raised $354 million in funding in association with BFTP’s investments in 2018, a spike from $152 million […]

Ben Franklin Goes to Harrisburg: Prolific Seed Fund Fighting for ‘Critical’ Funding

March 20, 2019

As a diplomat during the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Franklin spent two years in France trying to convince the French government to fund the American cause. Now an organization that bears his name — and penchant for entrepreneurship — is firing up its own persistent fight for funding. This time, in Harrisburg. Leaders from each of […]

Economic Impact of Ben Franklin Technology Partners Report

January 11, 2019

Early last week, Ben Franklin Technology Partners released its statewide five-year Economic Impact report, based on its activity in Pennsylvania from 2012 through 2016. Compiled by Pennsylvania Economy League and KLIOS Consulting, some of its significant findings were highlighted by local media. Coverage from Michelle Caffrey of the Philadelphia Business Journal highlighted that “Funding from […]

With Honor for Terry Hicks (1952-2018)

October 25, 2018

Terry Hicks joined Ben Franklin in 1993 as the Director of Technology and Manufacturing Programs, and in 1998 became our Vice President of the Investment Group, serving in this role until his retirement in 2015. In his 22 years at Ben Franklin, Terry guided the growth of more than 400 companies in Greater Philadelphia […]

Program Targets One Missing Link For Founders From Diverse Backgrounds: Friends And Family Money

October 22, 2018

Many startups fund their earliest days with money from friends and family, as well as angels. But what if your friends and family are not wealthy—and, in fact, are more on the struggling side of the equation? This, in fact, is one critically important missing link in access to capital faced by many founders from […]