Current News
For Immediate Release

Philadelphia, PA - November 13, 2003 - Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP) will roll out its new investment structures at its three winter 2003 investment capital briefings.

In response to the needs of the marketplace, the new investment vehicles reflect a more customized, vertical-specific structure for the Information Technology, Life Sciences and Advanced Manufacturing industries:

• Early stage and emerging growth technology companies located in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties are eligible for funding amounts ranging from $75,000 to $500,000 for product development and improvement.
  
  
• Interest rates on investments have been lowered from 12.5% to 8%.
  
  
• A convertible debt instrument is available for all bio/life sciences and information technology companies, as well as for advanced manufacturing companies with less than $1M in sales.
  
  
• A subordinated debt with a success fee instrument is available for companies in the advanced manufacturing industry with sales of more than $1M.

More details are available on our Capital Page.

The upcoming investment capital briefings will cover investment ranges, qualifications, proposal preparation, project match requirements, budget considerations, evaluation processes, and repayment schedules. They are as follows:

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP) is dedicated to growing the region through science, technology and entrepreneurship. Now commemorating 20 years of innovation excellence, Ben Franklin provides entrepreneurs and established businesses the capital, talent, and expertise they need to compete. Like its namesake, Ben Franklin invests in, builds upon and delivers solutions that grow communities and create new wealth by supporting today's technological ideas and tomorrow's scientific discovery.