STATE COLLEGE, PA – Every year, dozens of PA startups get their start with Ben Franklin Technology Partners. The largest early-stage investor in the region, Ben Franklin provides investment capital and business support services to emerging tech-entrepreneurs and small manufacturers located in central and northern Pennsylvania. www.cnp.benfranklin.org .
At the March 2020 Board of Director’s meeting, six companies were approved to receive an investment:
CPNet, located in Harrisburg, is an industrial IoT and AI company founded to bring Industry 4.0 technology to mid-market producers across several manufacturing verticals. The technology improves the productivity of legacy equipment at a fraction of replacement cost. CPNet provides prescriptive analytics that enhance real-time operational decision making. www.cpnet.io
Located in Mechanicsburg, Eduplanet, is a social learning platform that has transformed education by creating continuity between curriculum design and professional learning to maximize the possibilities for greater teacher and pupil engagement. Using this platform, educators easily learn new concepts that ultimately build on the district’s goals and enable student success. https://www.eduplanet21.com/
Located in Camp Hill, Return Logic has developed an analytics platform that assists ecommerce companies in the management and reduction of costly returns. The proliferation of free shipping and generous return policies has had a negative effect on many companies. Using the company’s technology, retailers can effectively enforce return policies, efficiently manage the return process, and improve the bottom line. www.returnlogic.com
Steller Innovations, located in Tyrone, is a manufacturer of innovative flooring products which have been included in publications such as This Old House. Their patented floor assembly system provides their customers with solid hardwood flooring in a snap-down, floating floor format that is easy to install, repair, and replace. www.stellerinnovations.com
Werkberry, located in Erie, developed an all-in-one, cloud-based recruiting platform that reaches both active and passive candidates. The company’s SaaS based solution allows smaller employers to easily post and manage jobs using data driven predictive algorithms while automatically optimizing the job posting. www.Werkberry.com
Located in State College, Xact Metal, a company that has grown to 15 employees, is commercializing a low-cost laser 3D printer. This innovation supports the next generation of manufacturing solutions powered by 3D printing and targets small-to-mid sized enterprises and university labs that serve a variety of industries. www.xactmetal.com
WE INVEST IN INNOVATION
