StartUp Lehigh Valley, a pitch competition for entrepreneurs developed and hosted by Factory LLC, is back for a fourth year. 

A challenge grant of $16.4 million has been announced by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, the first increase in funding for the BFTDA in 13 years. 

Ben Franklin Technology Partners, which has an office in Bethlehem, has promoted John Sider to the newly created position of vice-president of business development.  

Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2022-23 draft budget proposes at least $22 million for Ben Franklin Technology Partners. 

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has announced the seven businesses that will participate in its Venture Idol competition in November.  

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority announced that $14 million in state funding has been approved for the Ben Franklin Technology Partners.

A number of Greater Lehigh Valley businesses were among those sharing a part of $485,000 in investments from the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

LifeAire Systems of Bethlehem was originally formed more than 10 years ago to create an air purification system for in vitro fertilization. Now its air purification systems are being used by hospitals and health care systems and is being transformed into a tool against COVID-19.

An Allentown pharmaceutical manufacturing company, U.S. Specialty Formulations, is expanding again to continue its work developing a COVID-19 vaccine in partnership with VaxForm of Bethlehem.

Two Lehigh Valley companies that have partnered to develop and manufacture a pair of COVID-19 vaccines said they may have a vaccine to market by spring of next year.