Ben News

Coded by Kids is Bringing an Inclusive Lens to the Mentor Connect Founders Program

April 6, 2021

Mentorship is widely noted as one way to boost underrepresented entrepreneurs. So as part of the Department of Commerce’s PHL: Most Diverse Tech Hub initiative, Philly nonprofit Coded by Kids is partnering with two orgs on their longstanding program to get young business talent connected to mentors. Ben Franklin Technology Partners and the Philadelphia Alliance […]

A Veterinarian and a Tech Guru Walk into a (Coffee) Bar…

March 24, 2021

In 2015, an unexpected meeting between two Terps – who graduated 18 years apart – led to the creation of Instinct, a software designed specifically for veterinary hospitals. Here’s how it happened. After graduating from veterinary school in 2008, Dr. Caleb Frankel ’04 hoped to someday open a chain of specialty animal hospitals. But while […]

Philly Life Science Orgs See Leadership Changes, Strong Funding to Kick off 2021

January 5, 2021

Philadelphia’s life sciences sector has already seen a strong start to 2021 with new leadership and fundraising across companies in the region. The sector was already on the rise: Philly recently ranked seventh in the country for top life sciences clusters, based on the region’s relevant job base, the amount of lab space inventory and […]

‘Kid in a Candy Store’: Ben Franklin Technology Partners’ Incoming CEO on His Plans for the Region’s Most Active Seed Fund

January 4, 2021

Scott Nissenbaum is feeling a little giddy. As of Jan. 11, the president and chief operating officer of Ben Franklin Technology Partners in Southeastern Pennsylvania — the most prolific seed fund in the region — will become its next CEO, following in the footsteps of its longtime leader RoseAnn Rosenthal. And he’s excited. “I’m like […]

A Letter of Thanks From RoseAnn B. Rosenthal

December 15, 2020

Dear friends and participants in the Philadelphia region’s innovation community, I have been involved with Ben Franklin in one way or another since the early efforts to create the Ben Franklin partnership in 1982, and directly as President, CEO and Director of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania since 1996. As such, I have […]

RoseAnn Rosenthal “How to Catalyze a Regional Innovation Ecosystem” Webinar

October 30, 2020

RoseAnn Rosenthal, President and CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA, discusses the importance of regional innovation ecosystems and examines how to catalyze a diverse regional economy to transition toward one that embraces tech, entrepreneurship and innovation as its drivers.

Wolf Administration Announces Funding for Tech Investments in Southeastern Pennsylvania

October 27, 2020

Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin and the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority (BFTDA) announced that $1 million has been awarded to the Global Opportunity Philadelphia Fund to invest in early stage technology companies in the Greater Philadelphia region. The Global Opportunity Philadelphia Fund was formed by Ben Franklin Technology Partners […]

Ben Franklin Companies Honored at PACT Enterprise Awards

September 15, 2020

Ben Franklin companies Tridiuum and InstaMed, as well as Ben Franklin board member John Castleman, each took home top honors at this year’s PACT Enterprise Awards, webcasted on September 9. Triduum took home the award for top Healthcare Innovator, while alumni company InstaMed took honors for top Technology Company. Board member John Castleman was recognized […]

Inside Pennsylvania’s Tech Renaissance

August 26, 2020

Pennsylvania played a starring role in the industrial revolution, which explains why so many people still associate the state with its industrial roots. But the entrepreneurial spirit woven into Pennsylvania’s DNA, as well as a strategic decision in the 1980s to substantially invest in tech-based economic development, has given way to a thriving tech scene […]

Pennsylvania Tech Steps Up in COVID-19 Recovery Efforts

July 24, 2020

Earlier this year when the COVID-19 pandemic halted operations of Pennsylvania and the entire world, we found ourselves in the position of balancing public health and safety with economic and community recovery efforts. We know that personal protective equipment, including masks, face shields, and hand sanitizer help us prevent the spread of coronavirus, but until […]