Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania is a non-profit organization established in 1982 that promotes the development and adoption of new technologies in the region. Over the past 30 years, it has emerged as a prominent provider of seed stage capital, investing more than $170 million in over 1,750 technology companies, many of which have achieved significant industry success. In addition to financial support, Ben Franklin fosters university and industry collaborations to expedite the commercialization of scientific innovations. The organization is dedicated to enhancing the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, creating jobs, and transforming lives through its initiatives.
Founded in 2009, Founder Collective is a venture capital firm headquartered in New York City, with additional offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and San Francisco, California. The firm specializes in seed-stage and early-stage investments, primarily targeting technology-related companies across various sectors, including e-commerce, healthcare, advertising, mobile, and the Internet of Things. With approximately $50 million under management, Founder Collective focuses on East Coast investments while maintaining a global reach. The firm is built by a network of successful entrepreneurs and is industry agnostic, though it prefers companies with a strong information technology component.
SmartHub is a funding and service platform which connects the best start ups to investors, and supports at every investments. Service solutions for investors – tailor made venture portfolios: focused pipeline, extensive analysis and research of investment options, deal structuring, legal paper work, quarterly reporting, investment rights protection till exit. Service solutions for startups – fast communications and feedback, mutually beneficial deal making, strategic development support, networking and consulting at fundraising stage.
Techstars is a global startup accelerator founded in 2006, headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. It provides a supportive environment for entrepreneurs through various programs, including mentorship-driven accelerators, startup programs, and corporate innovation partnerships. Techstars connects founders with a vast network of mentors, investors, and industry experts to foster company growth. The organization operates multiple accelerator programs worldwide, focusing on diverse sectors such as mobility, retail, and social impact. It also manages a venture capital fund that invests in innovative technology companies at early stages. With over 1,000 companies in its accelerator portfolio, Techstars has developed a reputation for nurturing successful startups across various markets, helping them scale and achieve significant valuations.
Global Founders Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2013 and based in Berlin, Germany, with a focus on empowering entrepreneurs globally. The firm is stage agnostic, investing in companies across various sectors, including internet, software, fintech, e-commerce, and telecommunications. Global Founders Capital typically invests in the equity of young technology companies, with a preference for startups located in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Vietnam, Colombia, Europe, the United States, and China. Investment amounts range from €0.01 million to €10 million, with specific allocations varying by stage: seed investments typically between €0.1 million and €1 million, early-stage investments between €1 million and €3 million, and growth-stage investments between €3 million and €8 million. The firm often seeks to be the lead investor and aims to secure board representation in its portfolio companies.
Sequoia Capital is a prominent venture capital firm founded in 1972 and based in Menlo Park, California. The firm specializes in investing across various sectors, including energy, financial services, healthcare, internet, mobile, and technology. Sequoia targets startups at different stages, from seed to growth, providing investments ranging from $100,000 to $100 million, depending on the company's maturity and market potential. The firm has a global presence, with significant operations in regions such as China, India, and Israel, where it actively partners with innovative founders to support the development of transformative companies. Sequoia Capital is known for its long-term commitment to its portfolio companies, leveraging extensive experience and industry knowledge to guide entrepreneurs from initial concept to public offerings. The firm also emphasizes the importance of social impact, as a significant portion of its profits is directed towards philanthropic causes.
Inventures is a European venture capital fund that builds a better world through a portfolio of investments in sustainable businesses. The firm has two funds: Inventures I & Inventures II. Inventures was created to support early stage smart and innovative European businesses, to support sustainable job growth and empower entrepreneurs. Inventures empowers citizenship co-investments through a crowdfunding platform, MyMicroInvest.
AppWorks, based in Taipei, is the largest startup accelerator in Greater Southeast Asia, having launched its program in 2010. It focuses on supporting Internet startups across the region, particularly those in AI, blockchain, and other emerging sectors. The AppWorks Accelerator invites 30-40 promising startups every six months, fostering a community that has grown to include 395 startups and 1,331 founders in its alumni network. Collectively, these startups generate approximately US$ 8.05 billion in annual revenues, create over 17,000 jobs, and have a combined valuation of around US$ 11.07 billion. In addition to its accelerator program, AppWorks manages US$ 170 million in venture capital funds, investing primarily in seed to Series C companies across various industries, including technology, financial services, and consumer goods.
Rancilio Cube is the family office and impact investing business that leverages mutual trust and always looking to innovate. It believes in the profit of change. By early 2020, a new journey "out of the box” has begun. Rancilio Cube has transferred its venture capital assets, collected over six years of work, and Cube3 was born. The new company is an exclusive investment vehicle for a patient, granular, and international strategy characterized by consolidated synergies and a global network in continuous evolution.