BFTP/NEP is an award-winning, state-funded economic development organization that links early-stage technology firms and established companies with experts, universities, funding, and other resources to help them prosper through innovation.
BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/NEP) approved the investment of $420,000 in regional companies. BFTP/NEP is an award-winning, state-funded economic development organization that links early-stage technology firms and established companies with experts, universities, funding, and other resources to help them prosper through innovation.
Since beginning operation, BFTP/NEP has helped to create 14,301 new jobs and retain 21,236 existing jobs, to start 408 new companies, and to develop 948 new products and processes. Ben Franklin has returned $3.50 to Pennsylvania for every $1.00 invested in the program.
BFTP/NEP announces early-stage company investments:
Blue Spark Interactive, LLC., Kingston - $35,000
Appoint a
business consultant to further develop Blue Spark’s strategic plan for
vertical market penetration and engage an intellectual property firm to
enhance the company’s patent position. Blue Spark has launched a
two-way, real-time communications platform that will change the way
business professionals communicate. The company’s proprietary technology
offers “next-generation” communication to various vertical markets.
Geostellar,
Bethlehem - $150,000
Complete a software platform that computes the
precise renewable resource potential over vast landscapes, providing
location-specific energy intelligence. Geostellar is testing and
commercializing a geomatics processing software platform. This platform
applies mathematical models to data pertaining to the earth’s atmosphere
and surface. The software identifies the best utility-, commercial- and
residential-scale solar power sites for particular configurations based
upon the resources, land use, transmission, and other factors.
Additional software models are under development for natural gas,
kinetic hydro-power, advanced biofuel feedstocks, and wind power
location analysis.
Hydro4GE,
Inc., Scranton - $35,000
Complete product beta testing,
licensing documentation, and branding necessary for full release of
Hydro4GE’s new Online-Development-Environment (ODE) software tool. This
platform allows programmers to generate and support whole database
systems from high-level specifications. Traditional software
construction practices are often repetitive and labor intensive, and
thus prone to error. Hydro4GE’s software delivers substantial programmer
productivity gains, rapid application prototyping, and dramatic ongoing
support efficiencies. This significantly reduces programming time and
increases the accuracy in attaining the desired software program
functionality.
Makefield
Therapeutics, Inc., Bethlehem - $50,000
Continue
pre-clinical testing toward commercializing Makefield’s innovative,
proprietary, nanoparticle-based drug delivery platforms. The company has
begun two development efforts in applications that offer extensive
market opportunities, with the potential to generate a pipeline of
additional medications. The first program is in anti-infectives,
therapeutics in which drug resistance is a critical and growing problem
in both community and hospital settings. Infections caused by
antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be severe, rapidly spreading, and
life-threatening, and currently represent a significant burden to
worldwide healthcare systems.
rVibe,
Bethlehem - $100,000
Continue commercialization of video
conferencing services for sales training and other business instruction.
rVibe’s software platform provides multi-point, high-definition,
live-streaming video conferencing. Through its proprietary, highly
interactive services, client companies significantly reduce training
costs while retaining the effectiveness of communications.
BFTP/NEP announces an established manufacturer company investment.
Kraft
Foods, Inc., Allentown - $50,000
Partner: Lehigh
University’s Enterprise Systems Center
Conduct a baseline
sustainability assessment at Kraft’s Lehigh Valley facility to identify
opportunities for the implementation of alternative energy sources and
greatly improved energy efficiencies for process improvement. Kraft
Lehigh Valley produces snacks, confections, and quick meals. It has a
strong reputation in the Kraft network for innovation as a facility that
develops and implements a pipeline of new approaches.
