Ben News

ImpactPHL is a Year Old. Here’s What it’s Achieved — and What it’s Still Working On

August 28, 2017

A lot has changed in the past year. For the sake of saving ourselves a political headache, we’ll stick with a few items of local social enterprise news: The Knight Cities Challenge-winning Institute for Hip Hop Entrepreneurship graduated its inaugural class of music entrepreneurs. Borderwise came into the public spotlight for its work in simplifying the immigration process. NeedsList has earned accolades before it’s even officially […]

ImpactPHL Ventures to Invest $15 Million in Local Startups

August 14, 2017

Building on the launch last year of ImpactPHL,Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP-SEPA) and its partners have announced a $15 million funding initiative to further support regional tech startups working to solve social, environmental and health problems. “Ben Franklin has been an impact investor for more than two decades, investing in companies both for their financial […]

I Love My Job: Ben Franklin Tech Partners CEO RoseAnn B. Rosenthal

July 21, 2017

RoseAnn B. Rosenthal has been at the helm of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania — one of country’s leading tech-focused economic development institutions — since 1996. That’s an impressive stint, and the leader’s got tons to show for it. Under Rosenthal’s guidance, the organization’s profile as a catalyst for local tech development has […]

Can Good Karma Equal Good Business?

July 21, 2017

In January of this year ImpactPHL launched Best for PHL. Using B lab’s tools for quantifying business impact, Best for PHL helps companies extend their positive influence, provides tools and workshops, and connects impact-focused business leaders in the region. This can look like working with local manufacturers, employee wellness programs, or switching to a Styrofoam-free […]

Picnic with a Purpose

July 10, 2017

The PHL Innovation Picnic has commenced and we are—to say the least—very pleased. In addition to the picnic being a great time, the event did some good. Here’s a snapshot of its success: Over $10,000 was raised through ticket sales for the following non-profits: iPraxis: iPraxis works to inspire middle school aged students in under-served Philadelphia […]

Scenes From the Inaugural PHL Innovation Picnic

July 10, 2017

Thursday evening could not have been a more perfect time for Philadelphia’s innovation crowd to descend upon the Navy Yard to bask in the sun and in the glory of how much the community has grown. Posted up at a picnic table all night was Cloudamize CEO Bob Moul, who managed to get nearly everyone to buy the tech community’s hottest, […]

Five Reasons to Attend the PHL Innovation Picnic

June 19, 2017

By now you have probably heard about the PHL Innovation Picnic, and for good reason (see below), but you might not have purchased your tickets yet. No worries, we are here to give you five more reasons to click accept on our ticketleap page. Don’t get us wrong, there are many more than five reasons […]

There’s a ‘PHL Innovation Picnic’ happening at The Navy Yard this summer

June 1, 2017

It’s almost summertime, so you know what that means: time to check out what outdoors-y tech events are on the calendar. First up, the PHL Innovation Picnic is aiming to take over the gigantic lawn at The Navy Yard with food, music, drinks and games. (The Navy Yard, you say? Yes, the Navy Yard. We hear venture firm Ben […]

The Ben Franklin Q&A with Village Capital’s Jared Marquette

May 25, 2017

Next week Ben Franklin will kick off Workshop #2 of the Ben Franklin Fintech Accelerator, using Village Capital’s peer selection-focused curriculum. As we get ready, we were able to have a Q&A session with Village Capital’s Jared Marquette to discuss what’s different about the VilCap model, why it makes sense for investors and founders, and […]

Ben Franklin’s Fintech Accelerator is First of its Kind in the Region. These 8 Startups Made the Cut

April 19, 2017

The Ben Franklin Fin Tech Accelerator announced Wednesday the eight startups that will make up its first cohort, the first in the region to participate in the unconventional peer-based investment model it’s putting in place. The accelerator is a partnership between Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania and Village Capital, a Washington D.C.-based venture […]