Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA

After reviewing over 50 applications from across the region, we’re thrilled to announce the top 6 finalists for the 2025 Big Idea Age Tech Contest Finale, presented by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA! These founders are solving real-world challenges for Pennsylvania’s aging population—with bold ideas that make life easier, safer, more connected, and more meaningful. Meet the Finalists: KinNect – Paul Smith (Northumberland County) Smart Night Light – Kevin Duschl (Lancaster County) OP Clinical Innovations – Sara Peterson (Mercer County) MyCoffin – Max Justice (Franklin County) Dementi Analytics – Kevin Mekulu (Centre County) LION Mobile Clinic – Michael McShane (Centre County) They will pitch their innovations LIVE on May 15 at 2 PM for a shot at $35,000 in funding And YOU get to help decide who takes home an extra $2,500 People’s Choice Award! It’s LIVE, it’s innovative, and you don’t want to miss it! Register now to be part of it all at www.cnp.benfranklin.org or: https://lnkd.in/eg3s3ZfY #BenFranklin #BenFranklinCNP #AgeTech #Innovation #Pennsylvania

What an incredible two days at the Invent Penn State State Conference—a powerful gathering of entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation leaders from across the Commonwealth and beyond. We were proud to sponsor the first-ever live episode of Invent Penn State’s hit podcast, Dare to Disrupt. The energy in the room was electric—proof that bold ideas and shared stories really do spark change. A huge congratulations to our portfolio company, Microversal, led by Dr. Laura S. Weyrich for winning second place in the Tech Competition and taking home $2,500! The fireside chat between President Neeli Bendapudi and Medtronic CEO Geoff Martha was a standout moment—equal parts insightful and inspiring, with takeaways for both life and leadership. And of course, it was a pleasure to connect with so many of you at our exhibitor table. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s event such a success. The future of innovation in Pennsylvania is bright—and we’re just getting started. #inventpennstate #benfranklin #benfranklincnp

Invent Penn State’s Venture & IP Conference kicks off tomorrow, March 10! This flagship event brings together investors, entrepreneurs, researchers, and thought leaders to showcase Pennsylvania’s most promising innovations, groundbreaking startups, and university-born technologies. Whether you're looking to connect with capital, explore commercialization opportunities, or just get inspired by the next big thing—this is the room to be in. March 10–11 Details & agenda: https://lnkd.in/eyVy2cWE Ben Franklin is proud to support innovation at every stage. We’ll see you there! #InventPennState #VentureIP #BenFranklin4PA #InnovationEconomy #BenFranklinCNP #Entrepreneurship #Commercialization #BenBuilds #Innovation #Pennsylvania

CONGRATULATIONS to the finalists for this year’s Big Idea Contest—each one bringing bold ideas and entrepreneurial energy to the table. These finalists will now move forward to the final round, preparing their pitches for the virtual Big Idea Contest event on May 15th. We’re so proud of the hard work they’ve put in and excited to see how they bring their visions to life. Check back here as we spotlight each finalist in the weeks ahead and count down to the big day! #BenFranklin #BenFranklinCNP #BigIdeaContest #BenFranklin4PA #StartupSupport #Innovation #BenBuilds #Pennsylvania

At Ben Franklin, we believe that supporting Pennsylvania’s innovation economy means being present—in the room, in the field, and in the community. That’s why we’re launching #WhereBenGoes— a new way to highlight how our team members across the state are engaging with entrepreneurs, collaborators, and changemakers every day. This week’s spotlight: John Sider, our VP of Statewide Initiatives, joined Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and agricultural leaders at Brookmere Vineyards to hear firsthand about the evolving needs of ag entrepreneurs—from succession planning to regulatory navigation. “It’s not just about showing up—it’s about listening, learning, and finding where we can truly support.” – John Sider Follow along at #WhereBenGoes to see how our team is moving innovation forward, one conversation at a time. #BenFranklin #BenFranklinCNP #Innovation #BenBuilds #Pennsylvania

With “best-in-class research and development assets” at its core, Pennsylvania is strengthening its innovation economy through targeted programs and a continued focus on workforce development and energy. The State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) gives a full rundown of Office of Governor Josh Shapiro budget plans to boost #innovation investments in Pennsylvania, with the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development playing a leading role in the commercialization of life sciences and leveraged support for startups.   The administration wants to inject $113 million into programs that support the commonwealth’s innovation economy. “Sustaining this innovation economy means being aggressive,” #BenFranklin4PA says. “The more we invest in innovation, the better the outcomes.”   Want to know more? Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/e32EhZS7 #BenFranklin #BFTP #Innovation Ben Franklin Technology Partners Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania

Today, we had the pleasure of joining the incredible team at WTAJ-TV to discuss Pennsylvania’s aging population and how Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA is driving innovation in Age Tech. Our Vice President, John Sider, shared insights on the challenges and opportunities in this space—including our $35,000 Age Tech Big Idea Contest, which is fueling groundbreaking solutions for seniors. We were also thrilled to be joined by Eunice Yang, Ph.D., CEO of OK2StandUp, a Ben Franklin portfolio company. Eunice demonstrated her revolutionary wearable device that detects falls before they happen—an innovation that has the potential to change lives. A huge thank you to Morgan Koziar and the fantastic team at WTAJ for welcoming us into the studio. The energy, enthusiasm, and hospitality made for an unforgettable experience—we didn’t want to leave! The $35,000 AgeTech Big Idea Contest is still taking applications through the weekend. Apply here for a chance to win! https://lnkd.in/ew-ta4w5 #Innovation #AgeTech #Entrepreneurship #BenFranklin #BenFranklinCNP #Startups #SeniorCare

Exciting TEAMology Announcement 📣 Taking it back a decade to 2015…I had just pitched in my first ever pitch competition at Ben Franklin Technology Partners. That check gave me the confidence to launch TEAMology Inc the following year just two months before having our second child (no maternity leave for me 😳). The girl in this picture was insanely passionate and excited to jump into this whole new world as a start-up founder and CEO but had no clue how hard it would be to take what has now been over 20 years of work (starting as a graduate student at Penn State) and build a company that could sustainably scale and support the social, emotional and mental health and fitness of our young students. For the last 9 years as CEO, I’ve grown through what I’ve gone through…it’s been incredibly rewarding along with more painful learning than I ever thought possible. But what has kept me going is the belief in the vision I had to create an easier, more simplified way to support ALL students’ social, emotional and mental health. There are so many reasons why TEAMology should have failed. Just name a few: ➡️ 90% of start-ups fail ➡️Less than 3% of female founders receive venture capital ➡️Covid 19/Pandemic (March 13, 2020- when we took a huge risk and went all in with my new product idea now known as TEAMtalk) ➡️ the insane number of unexpected challenges from product dev, legal, accounting, staff, list goes on and on…that come along with growing a start-up I’m so proud of how far TEAMology has come and have so many people who have supported me and this work along the way. Those that know me best understand that my passion for supporting kids’ mental health, creatively thinking about how we can do it better and strategically partnering because we know it takes a TEAM to make an impact is where I thrive. As a company grows, it requires different skill sets in different positions and we’ve made it to a place where I have the ability to put my energy and passion back into why I started all of this in the first place. A CEO with a new perspective along with executive and operational experience will help take TEAMology to the next level and allow me to get back out there and do what I love ❤️ I’m excited to share that Gretchen Thompson has accepted TEAMology’s interim CEO seat and I am transitioning into Founder/Chief Impact Officer as of this week! I can’t wait to put all of my energy, passion and effort into thought leadership in this new role and watch this “baby” continue to grow! Please help me congratulate Gretchen as we head into this new chapter of TEAMology growth 🚀✨🚀✨

One Week Left to Apply! Up to $35K for Your AgeTech Innovation! Pennsylvania’s senior population is growing, and we’re looking for big ideas to improve the way we age. If you’re an entrepreneur, innovator, or creative thinker working on AgeTech solutions, this is your chance to turn your idea into reality! The AgeTech Big Idea Contest offers up to $35,000 in cash prizes, expert mentoring, a guaranteed spot in Ben Franklin’s TechCelerator, and the opportunity to pitch for a $10,000 Seed Grant—but time is running out! Applications close March 27 at 11:59 PM. Is your idea the right fit? We’re looking for scalable business models that use technology to support the aging population, including: ✅ Assistive & Mobility Technologies ✅ Smart Home Solutions ✅ Health Monitoring & Management ✅ Medical & Adaptive Devices ✅ Sustainability Solutions ✅ Food & Beverage Concepts ✅ Financial & Legal Tools Don’t miss out—apply today! 👉 https://lnkd.in/e63UKzZi