The Penn State Behrend Center for Family Business recently showcased four Ben Franklin portfolio companies to 25 senior family business leaders at the “Driving Growth Through Innovation” Conference, organized by Jacob Jones. During a panel discussion, Aaron Lewis, founder of Sphere Brakes Defense; Erin Kerner, founder of Eventio.ai; Tom Laird, founder of OttoQA; and Rebecca Styn, founder of Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails, shared their insights on how innovation has fueled their growth. Each highlighted how developing innovative products, refining sales and marketing strategies, and cultivating a company culture centered on innovation have been critical to their success.
In his keynote, Ben Franklin Director and Portfolio Manager Brian Slawin emphasized the power of storytelling to drive innovation and align stakeholder motivations. A key takeaway from the event was the importance of understanding customer desires and timing when fostering an innovative culture. To learn more about how innovation can fuel growth, connect directly with Brian Slawin here.
