Partner News

The Union League’s Angel Fund Pumped $1 Million into 5 Startups

January 25, 2018

Angel investing group Broad Street Angels, based out of the tony Union League of Philadelphia, came out of stealth mode right around this time last year and set out to find early stage startups to back. A year later, after reviewing around 125 online pitches, the company has deployed $1 million in capital to five […]

Mayor Kenney on Philly’s Amazon HQ2 bid: We’re going to win this

October 20, 2017

Before a jam-packed auditorium at the Barnes Foundation, Mayor Jim Kenney — after a 42-day sprint to put together a comprehensive proposal to send Amazon in its search for an HQ2 site — said nine words that lit up the place: “I just want to say, we’re going to win.” It was the hurrah moment […]

It’s Happening: Benjamin’s Desk Merges With 1776

October 16, 2017

Philly-founded co-working network Benjamin’s Desk has announced that it will merge with Washington, D.C.-based public benefit corporation 1776. Both organizations say the merger will help them better meet their top goal: funneling more support and resources to entrepreneurs across the Northeast corridor. Benjamin’s Desk cofounders Anthony Maher and Jennifer Maher will lead the organization’s daily […]

Wistar Helps Community College Grads get Hard-core Science Jobs

June 5, 2017

Amanda Moran, 26, spends her days in love with cells, research and science and in love with wearing a white coat and fighting cancer — not with fists up, but with her head bent down over a microscope. “My mom died of breast cancer when I was 14,” Moran said, taking a break at Wistar […]

Osage Ventures Just Closed its Fourth Fund at $90 million

May 24, 2017

Bala Cynwyd-based venture firm Osage Ventures announced Tuesday it had closed the lid on its OVP IV fund (aka fund four) at $90 million. The venture firm — which began raising capital for the fund in late 2015 — has already made five deals from the instrument, including two deals in Philly soon to be […]

Here’s Who Took Home Enterprise Awards

May 23, 2017

What if everyone took the time to share one Philly success story? During the Enterprise Awards, that was the main prompt from Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies (PACT) CEO Dean Miller, who emceed the 24th edition of the ceremony last night at the Pennsylvania Convention Center before a crowd of 900. Miller listed, in his […]

Legacy of Pioneering Venture Capitalist Lives

March 19, 2017

One year ago this month, the sudden passing of Brenda Gavin — a pioneer in the venture capital industry — stunned the region’s life sciences industry. But her legacy has lived on thanks in part to an investment fund geared to women-led companies that was launched nearly two years ago by Ben Franklin Technology Partners […]

Upcoming Event: Chime in on the Future of Health IT Growth in Philly

January 12, 2017

Last December, Philly’s potential for health IT growth got a boost. Alongside Safeguard Scientifics and Independence Blue Cross, we announced a $6 million fund for early-stage health IT companies in the Greater Philadelphia region. And now, we’re hosting a chat on what that growth should look like. On Jan. 31, execs from each of the partnering organizations will take your […]

A Partnership Ripe for the Region

December 9, 2016

At Philly Startup Leaders’ Founder Factory event yesterday, the $6M Ben Franklin/Independence Health Group/Safeguard digital health funding initiative was announced. Safeguard’s David Luk shared the organization’s perspective on why the time is right for the partnership. By now, most people are aware of Safeguard’s rich history of fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs along their path to disruption. Our […]

See Which Companies Made the Final Cut to Pitch Investors at IMPACT 2016

November 17, 2016

The major mid-atlantic capital investment conference IMPACT will kick off in just four weeks in Philadelphia, bringing together more than a thousand players from the venture capital, private equity and entrepreneurship communities for the day-and-a-half conference. IMPACT, run by Philadelphia Alliance for Capital Technologies, or PACT, gives up and coming companies the chance to present […]