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.
Insight Partners is a global private equity and venture capital firm established in 1995, specializing in growth-stage investments in software, internet, and data services companies. With over $20 billion in assets under management, the firm has invested in more than 300 companies worldwide. Insight Partners emphasizes a hands-on approach to collaboration, leveraging the expertise of its team to foster significant growth and success for its portfolio companies. The firm promotes a culture that views growth as a pathway to opportunity, positioning itself as a trusted partner in the software industry.
Accel is an American venture capital firm founded in 1983 by Arthur Patterson and Jim Swartz, with a focus on seed, early, and growth-stage investments in technology-driven companies. With offices in Palo Alto, San Francisco, London, India, and China, Accel invests globally in sectors such as big data, software, digital media, cloud technologies, mobile technology, and consumer services. The firm has over three decades of experience in supporting entrepreneurs and has backed numerous successful companies, including Atlassian, Dropbox, Facebook, and Spotify. Accel's investment strategies are tailored to local markets, and it aims to empower entrepreneurs to create category-defining businesses that contribute to the growth of next-generation industries.
Serra Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Illinois, established in 1998. The firm specializes in investing in technology companies located in emerging technology centers in the Midwest and select areas on the West Coast. Serra Ventures focuses on various sectors, including information technology, devices and instrumentation, and agricultural technologies. By targeting these specific industries, the firm aims to support innovative startups that have the potential for significant growth and impact.
Blossom Capital is a prominent European early-stage venture capital firm based in London, founded in 2018 by Ophelia Brown and Imran Ghory, both former members of Index Ventures. The firm specializes in Series A investments, focusing on product-led technology startups that aim to become global leaders in their respective categories. With a small team of operators and investors, Blossom Capital emphasizes quick decision-making to effectively support its portfolio companies. The firm typically invests between $5 million and $10 million and has backed notable companies such as Duffel, Checkout, and Frontify.
Shelter Capital Partners is a private investment fund based in Southern California that focuses on technology and technology-enabled companies across various stages of development. Their primary areas of investment include the media, wireless communication, enterprise software, and semiconductor industries. Additionally, they seek opportunities in sectors where market or technological shifts may lead to the emergence of new industry leaders. Given their significant presence in Southern California, Shelter Capital Partners is a prominent source of financing in the region and acts as a strategic investment partner for organizations outside of the area that aim to access local industries.
Bayern Kapital, established in 1995, is a wholly owned subsidiary of LfA Foerderbank Bayern, the development bank for Bavaria. The firm specializes in providing venture capital to support research, development, and the market introduction of new products, as well as enhancements and expansions of existing offerings for small and medium-sized enterprises located in Bavaria. Bayern Kapital invests across various sectors, including information technology, life sciences, new materials, micro-systems, and environmental technologies. With a focus on high-tech companies, it typically invests between €0.25 million and €9 million in businesses with annual sales up to €50 million or total assets not exceeding €43 million. To date, Bayern Kapital has invested in over 250 companies and currently manages funds totaling €340 million, through five distinct investment vehicles designed to foster innovation and growth in the region.
Capital Midwest Fund is a Wisconsin-based venture capital firm that specializes in early-stage investments in life sciences, information technology, advanced manufacturing, B2B, healthcare, consumer goods, business services, and technology companies across the Central United States. With a focus on the Midwest and Wisconsin regions, the firm aims to support innovative startups and help them grow and succeed. Located in Mequon, Wisconsin, Capital Midwest Fund plays a crucial role in fostering entrepreneurship and driving economic development in the region.
BOOST&Co provides debt solutions to innovative SMEs in Europe. They understand innovation and entrepreneurship and they create financing solutions to help SMEs develop. At BOOST&Co they don’t have a fixed lending model. Every one of their loans is individually designed to fit each SME’s needs. Precision Lending doesn’t require you to give up control or autonomy – they don’t want to run your company. If they didn’t like the way you do things, they wouldn’t be lending to you. BOOST&Co is independent and thinks independently. This means they only lend where they think the situation is right. They manage their own capital and make their own decisions.
Refactor Capital is a California-based seed-stage venture capital firm established in 2016. The firm focuses on investing in early-stage companies that address fundamental human problems, particularly in the bio and health sectors. Founded by Zal Bilimoria and David Lee, Refactor Capital aims to support innovative founders who are developing solutions to pressing challenges in various areas of human well-being.