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Ben Franklin Spring TechCelerator Finalists Chosen!

Out of 25 applicants, eight finalists were selected to participate in Ben Franklin Technology Partner’s Spring TechCelerator Business Bootcamp! These eight finalists are all developing new products, processes, and solutions that are highly innovative and scalable.

The TechCelerator program is a 10-week virtual business “boot camp” designed to assist inventors and very early-stage entrepreneurs in converting their business ideas into operating ventures. The program helps entrepreneurs explore the likelihood of success, discuss business models and financials with experts, expand their network, engage with other entrepreneurs, and develop a pitch deck for funding opportunities. Over the past ten years, the program has helped create dozens of new tech startups.

The eight entrepreneurial teams chosen for the 2023 spring program represent an exciting mix of products:

Electromembrane (Arash Emdadi, Centre County): The company is proposing an electro-membrane technology to recover and recapture the ammonia in wastewater streams. Ammonia will be used to produce fertilizer, the main resource for plant growth. The proposed system will separate ammonium ions from the waste stream by applying membranes and selective separation methods. The system will separate ammonia from other wastewater components using a multistep separation process.

OK2StandUP (Eunice Yang, Bedford County): Our patent-pending technology is a solution to the complex issue of senior falls, without the need for cameras or costly hardware installations. Our solution consists of a wearable monitor and app, working in three easy steps.

Advance Tooling (Jason White and Larry Zinn, Cumberland County): To build a universal die platform with two modules that have the ability to run a variety of different gauge and width materials. It can also run different complexities of parts. The customer would only have to purchase internal tooling that is distinct to their part.

Nuclear Applications (Eric Schwarz, Lancaster County): Construct and operate a new Flow Loop at Penn State’s reactor. NuclearATC would contract RSEC to operate the reactor to irradiate the samples; NuclearATC would operate the Flow Loop and handle all other operations and maintenance of the Loop.

Fresh Start Wellness (Karen Johnson, Clinton County): I invented a portable lightweight leg press machine that weighs 14.9 lbs. It can be used sitting in a chair or lying in bed. It is not proof of concept, it is proof of design. It can press in increments of 20 lbs to 100 lbs. We know that studies over the past 50 years have documented the benefits of strength training. It builds muscle mass, improves bone density, improves balance, and increases circulation, and flexibility.

Noerr Trucking (Scott Noerr): MVP that will create a prefetch database of (eventually) more than 500,000 sources using a customized algorithm to search, schedule, bid, book, and plan routes for trucking companies. In addition – the full product should also include additional industry solutions such as fuel cards, factoring, tracking, compliance, insurance, lending, leasing … the list goes on.

Caregiver’s Artbox (Julie Mader, McKean County): Delivering art-joy to the door. Sold as a subscription service to support individuals working in a homecare setting as well as care communities; the CAREGIVER’S ARTBOX will deliver engaging art lessons, quality supplies and clearly written support materials to engage lifelong-learners so they may experience the joy of making art.

Del Sol Designs (Tammy del Sol, Dauphin County): Utilizing an instrument that eliminates the culprit, in this case the pinch grip, is the only sure way to slow down and possibly eliminate the Musculoskeletal Disorders issues that millions of practitioners around the world suffer from on a daily basis.