Ben Franklin announces $1.1M in local investments

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Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania announced recently that it approved $1.1 million in investments between October and December of fiscal year 2024–2025.  

A total of 12 companies, spanning startups and established manufacturers, received funding to support innovative product development, workforce expansion, and operational growth. 

$1,06 million in investments will be made to the following early-stage companies: 

Cemboo LLC of Berks County, which is a B2B SaaS platform helping publishers monetize and distribute digital content effectively. 

Game Face Products Inc. of Monroe County, which delivers athlete-focused grooming solutions, including deodorizing wipes. 

ImmuNovX Biotech of Northampton County, which is pioneering LR3N-CS, a platform for rapid, large-scale treatment of DNA pathogens, creating a new class of live-attenuated, replication-defective DNA vaccines. 

Ilico Genetics of Northampton County, which is developing a groundbreaking early screening test for stomach cancer using blood samples. 

This Project was financed in part from Pennsylvania Small Business Credit Initiative funds from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development. 

 iRen-Medical Inc. of Northampton County, which is revolutionizing home peritoneal dialysis with a platform that enhances patient outcomes through technology-driven safety and collaboration. 

Learnics LLC of Northampton County, which provides digital research tools for education, supporting classroom learning and data-driven insights. 

Huntley & Company of Northampton County, which is a media and technology firm redefining the automotive industry, S. Huntley uses innovation to grow automotive businesses. 

Meanwhile, Ben Franklin said $51,800 will be invested in the following manufacturers and will incorporate student enrichment work with a college or university partner to enhance real-world learning opportunities: 

Bond Metal Surplus Inc. of Bucks County, which specializes in buying and selling surplus raw materials, scrap metals, and end-of-life equipment. They will partner with Lehigh University on this project to allow the company to finalize a customer maintenance program that will be used to scale and grow their geographic expansion. 

 C. F. Martin & Company Inc. of Northampton County, which is a world-renowned manufacturer of fretted instruments and strings. They will partner with Lehigh University on this project to implement new best-practice processes and project leadership methods.

M. Brown’s Sons Inc. Of Berks County, which is a sixth-generation family-owned company producing flour, animal feed, and companion pet products. They will partner with Alvernia University on this project that will help to increase productivity and scale operations to meet increasing demand.