Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania is a technology-focused capital provider based in Philadelphia, founded in 1982 to advance the region's technology community. The organization funds and supports technology companies across Pennsylvania, especially in information technology, health, and physical sciences, investing substantial capital in early-stage and established ventures. It has invested over 170 million dollars in more than 1,750 regional technology companies and has launched university-industry partnerships to translate scientific discoveries into commercial products, while seeding regional initiatives that strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and create jobs.

Established in 1999, Innovation Works is a prominent investor in Southwestern Pennsylvania's technology sector. It provides capital and resources to early-stage companies with high growth potential and significant regional impact, particularly focusing on robotics, AI, medical devices, retail technologies, and enterprise software.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency established in 1950 and based in Alexandria, Virginia. It is dedicated to supporting research and education in science and engineering across a wide range of disciplines. The NSF provides significant non-dilutive funding, up to $1.5 million, to startups and small businesses through its America's Seed Fund initiative, which is part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program mandated by Congress. With an operating budget of approximately $7.8 billion, the NSF is committed to advancing fundamental research and education, thus fostering innovation and technological development in the United States.

Robin Hood Ventures is an angel investor group based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, established in 1999. The organization focuses on early-stage, high-growth companies primarily in the Greater Philadelphia region. It provides capital, mentoring, and valuable connections to assist entrepreneurs in building successful businesses. Typically, Robin Hood Ventures invests between $250,000 and $500,000, often collaborating with other angel investors, institutions, and venture capitalists within its network. The firm has a diverse investment portfolio, spanning various sectors, including information technology services, software, life sciences, hard technology, consumer products, and financial technology. Since its inception, Robin Hood Ventures has invested in over 45 companies, emphasizing a hands-on approach to helping businesses achieve their potential.

BioAdvance is a venture capital investment firm based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, that specializes in funding early-stage life sciences companies in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Established in 2002 with $33 million from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's tobacco settlement funds, BioAdvance manages the Greenhouse Fund, which has a total of $50 million available for investment. The firm focuses on therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, and platform technologies aimed at improving human health. Since its inception, BioAdvance has committed over $40 million to more than 50 seed-stage companies and 17 pre-seed companies, supporting the development of products to address various health issues, including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, obesity, and respiratory illnesses. By fostering innovation in the healthcare sector, BioAdvance has positioned itself as a leading investor in the region.

Aspire Ventures is a venture capital investment firm established in 2014 and headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The firm specializes in transforming healthcare through innovative technologies, focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence, information technology, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Aspire Ventures aims to address significant challenges in the healthcare sector by leveraging its capital, intellectual property, and domain expertise to support and develop emerging companies in these fields.

The U.S. Department of Energy is a government agency established in 1977, located in Washington, D.C. Its primary mission is to ensure the security and prosperity of the nation by tackling energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges. The Department focuses on promoting transformative scientific and technological solutions to address these issues, thereby supporting the country's energy needs and environmental sustainability.

Founded in 2008, Dreamit Ventures is a Philadelphia-based venture capital firm focusing on early-stage investments in technology and healthcare sectors across the United States. The firm provides seed funding, mentorship, office space, and access to potential investors/partners through its intense 3-6 month program for entrepreneurs developing innovative products.

The Richard King Mellon Foundation is an independent non-profit private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, established in 1947. The foundation focuses on providing grants that support various initiatives, including conservation, education, families and youth, regional economic development, and system reform. It is particularly dedicated to the conservation of natural areas and wildlife preservation across the United States. Governed by a board of trustees, the foundation aims to address significant societal challenges through its funding efforts, which reflect its commitment to enhancing community well-being and fostering sustainable development.

Founded in 1886, American Water provides essential water and wastewater services to approximately 3.4 million active customers across 16 states in the United States. It serves residential, commercial, industrial, and public authority customers, offering a range of services including water treatment, wastewater management, and related infrastructure maintenance.

Mountain State Capital, established in 2018, is a venture capital firm headquartered in Morgantown, West Virginia, with an additional office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company specializes in seed and early-stage investments, focusing on technology companies based in the Greater Appalachia region of the United States. It typically invests between $250,000 and $500,000 in companies, targeting information technology and healthcare sectors. Mountain State Capital operates as a Small Business Investment Company, providing early-stage risk capital to high-growth companies in the region.

Alumni Ventures Group is a venture capital firm based in Manchester, New Hampshire, with offices across North America. It provides access to venture investing for individual accredited investors, particularly alumni networks, by offering diversified portfolios of venture opportunities and allowing members to invest alongside fellow alumni in ventures led by peers. The firm backs early-stage and later-stage opportunities across technology, consumer, healthcare, financial services, and other sectors, with a sector- and geography-agnostic approach. It typically invests between $10,000 and $3 million per deal and emphasizes the involvement of alumni connections and an institutional lead investor in opportunities. Alumni Ventures also offers focused funds to broaden participation, enabling accredited investors to access venture portfolios diversified by type, sector, stage, and geography. The model aims to democratize access to venture capital while maintaining rigorous selection standards through alumni networks.

Founded in 2005, Y Combinator is a California-based startup accelerator and early-stage venture capital firm. It provides funding, mentorship, and resources to early-stage companies across various industries, with a focus on technology, healthcare, and finance. The organization helps founders refine their business models and products through an intensive three-month program in Silicon Valley, culminating in Demo Day presentations to investors.

Bain Capital, established in 1984, is a global multi-asset alternative investment firm with over $100 billion in assets under management. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the firm operates through several business units: Private Equity, Public Equity, Credit, and Venture Capital. Bain Capital Private Equity invests in various sectors, including consumer, healthcare, industrials, and technology, across North America, Europe, and Asia. Bain Capital Ventures, the venture capital arm, focuses on seed to growth-stage investments in enterprise software, infrastructure software, and industries being transformed by data. Bain Capital Life Sciences, a dedicated life sciences investment platform, invests in biopharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics, and enabling life science technology companies globally. Bain Capital Double Impact, the firm's impact investing arm, builds great companies that deliver both competitive financial returns and meaningful, measurable social and environmental good.

LLR Partners, established in 1999 and headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, is a private equity firm focusing on the lower middle market. It invests in growth capital and buyouts of technology and healthcare businesses, with a particular emphasis on business services, software, and healthcare services. The firm targets companies with revenues between $10 million and $250 million, seeking to drive annual revenue and earnings growth in excess of 10% and gross margins over 40%. LLR Partners typically invests between $25 million and $200 million, often taking a board seat and aiming for a three to seven-year exit through strategic sale, IPO, or recapitalization. It operates across the United States, with a focus on the Mid-Atlantic, Denver, and Colorado regions.

Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, established in 2002, is a Pittsburgh-based economic development agency dedicated to fostering the life sciences industry in western Pennsylvania. It invests in early-stage life sciences and biosciences companies, focusing on biotechnology tools, diagnostics, healthcare IT, medical devices, and therapeutics. The firm provides not only capital, ranging from $0.1 million to $10 million, but also customized business growth services and support for company formation. Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse seeks to invest in companies planning to relocate to Pennsylvania, with a preference for the Pittsburgh area.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a leading biomedical research facility in the United States, operating under the Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1887 and based in Bethesda, Maryland, NIH is the primary agency responsible for biomedical and health-related research in the country. It comprises 27 separate institutes and centers, each focusing on different disciplines within biomedical science. NIH conducts its own scientific research through the Intramural Research Program and provides significant funding for research at external institutions via the Extramural Research Program. With a workforce that includes 1,200 principal investigators and over 4,000 postdoctoral fellows, NIH has been instrumental in major medical breakthroughs, such as the development of vaccines for hepatitis and human papillomavirus, as well as the discovery of treatments for various health conditions. As the world's largest source of medical research funding, NIH continues to advance scientific knowledge and contribute to public health improvements.

Comcast Corporation, headquartered in Philadelphia, is a global media and technology company with two main divisions: Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable provides video, high-speed internet, phone, wireless security, and automation services to residential and business customers under the XFINITY brand. NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment, and sports cable networks, broadcast networks NBC and Telemundo, television production operations, station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Resorts. Comcast Ventures, established in 1999, is the venture capital affiliate of Comcast Corporation, investing in transformative consumer and enterprise companies across various sectors, typically from seed to late-stage growth, with initial investments ranging from $2 million to $25 million.

Tecum Capital is a private equity firm based in Wexford/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 2006. It specializes in the lower middle market, providing equity and subordinated debt (mezzanine) to U.S. companies, with options for majority or minority positions and for acquisition financing, recapitalizations, and growth capital. The firm targets sectors including business services, capital equipment, consumer-oriented products, food and beverage, healthcare services, industrial and precision manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and value-added distribution. Typical investments range from 3 to 20 million in equity or mezzanine per deal, in companies with enterprise value of about 10 to 50 million, revenue 8 to 100 million, and EBITDA 2 to 15 million (EBITDA margins over 10%). It pursues strategic add-ons, management buyouts, and leveraged buyouts, with investment horizons of up to seven years. Geographically, it focuses on the United States, notably the Midwest and Pennsylvania, including Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, and Mississippi.

Adams Capital Management, established in 1994, is a Pennsylvania-based venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments in applied technology and networking infrastructure companies across the United States. With a current asset under management of $810 million, the firm is a lead Series A investor, focusing on identifying and backing emerging growth companies with strong value propositions and market potential. Adams Capital Management's strategy is driven by market discontinuities, aiming to exploit these opportunities to help entrepreneurs develop their visions into market-leading companies.

Lovell Minnick Partners is a private equity firm founded in 1999 and based in Philadelphia, with offices in Los Angeles and New York. The firm focuses on investments in the global financial services sector and related technology and business services. It targets growth-oriented companies in North America and Europe, including asset management, financial planning, financial product distribution, specialized finance, securities brokerage, investment banking, commercial banking, and trust services, as well as fintech, insurtech, and related administration and business services.

MentorTech Ventures is a Philadelphia-based venture capital firm founded in 2005 that makes seed- and early-stage investments in technology-driven companies across the United States. The firm targets information technology, marketing technology, software, physical sciences, and healthcare devices, and often backs ventures connected to the University of Pennsylvania ecosystem, including companies led by Penn students, faculty, or alumni or anchored to Penn-originated intellectual property. Historically, MentorTech emphasizes early-stage rounds and has focused on opportunities in Philadelphia and New York City, seeking ventures where technical innovation meets practical applications.

Gabriel Investments is a venture capital firm founded in 2010 and based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It focuses on early-stage investment opportunities, primarily targeting companies in the pre-revenue and proof of concept phases with significant growth potential. The firm emphasizes support for businesses in various sectors, including direct marketing, software, distribution, communications, and technology. Gabriel Investments distinguishes itself by prioritizing investments in both people and innovative ideas, aiming for long-term ownership rather than quick returns. In addition to providing capital, the firm leverages the personal experiences and expertise of its members to assist entrepreneurs in refining their business plans, building management teams, developing go-to-market strategies, and forging strategic partnerships.

Pittsburgh Equity Partners, based in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, is a venture capital firm focused on nurturing early-stage companies in the life sciences and information technology sectors within Western Pennsylvania. The firm aims to address the region's historic lack of capital for these fledgling enterprises, targeting software and TMT (Technology, Media, and Telecommunications) sectors for investment.

SolomonEdwards is a national professional services firm that specializes in strategy execution, focusing on delivering tailored solutions to address critical business challenges. The firm provides extensive expertise in areas such as business transformation, accounting and finance, governance and regulatory compliance, and mergers and acquisitions. By leveraging a strong network of specialized consultants, SolomonEdwards effectively manages teams to drive results for clients across various industries, including banking, energy, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, and education. With its headquarters located outside Philadelphia and offices in major U.S. cities, the firm is well-positioned to serve both domestic and multinational clients, adapting to the evolving dynamics of the business landscape.

NewSpring, established in 1999, is a private equity firm headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania. It specializes in investing in companies within the business services, enterprise and infrastructure technology, security, and business intelligence sectors across the United States.

The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine offers graduate-level programs in allied health and behavioral sciences, with a focus on hands-on training using state-of-the-art facilities. Students can earn advanced credentials or pursue a flexible Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. The college emphasizes clinical experience through clerkships at local hospitals and clinics, along with internship and fellowship opportunities. It fosters student engagement through over 40 organizations and encourages community service.

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., established in 1953, is a growth capital firm headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, with an additional office in Weston, Massachusetts. The company specializes in providing growth capital and operational support to technology companies operating within the healthcare, financial services, and digital media sectors. Safeguard typically invests between $5 million and $25 million in growth equity financing and between $5 million and $10 million in early-stage financing. It prefers to be the largest shareholder in its portfolio companies, usually taking a 20% to 50% stake, and often seeks a Board seat. The firm focuses on companies with proprietary technology and intellectual property, and it has a history of fostering innovation and building market leaders.

Techstars is a global platform that invests in and supports early-stage technology companies. Founded in 2006, it operates a mentorship-driven accelerator program, providing seed funding, intensive mentorship, and access to a network of investors and entrepreneurs. Techstars has programs in various locations worldwide, including Boston, Boulder, New York, Seattle, London, Chicago, and Austin. It invests $118,000 in each company, with $18,000 in seed funding and an optional $100,000 convertible debt note. Techstars also has industry-specific accelerator programs, such as Techstars Retail and Techstars Music, focusing on retail and music technology, respectively. Its portfolio includes over 1,000 companies with a combined market cap of $8.1 billion.

Science Center Ventures, based in Philadelphia, specializes in investing in life sciences and technology companies. It is part of Science Center, a hub for entrepreneurial activity and healthcare innovation.

SOSV, established in 1995 and headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, is a global venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments. It focuses on deep tech innovations in the health and environmental sectors, supporting founders with breakthrough technologies through its HAX and IndieBio startup development programs. SOSV provides resources, facilities, and lab equipment to accelerate product development and scale, with a track record of helping its portfolio companies secure subsequent funding rounds led by top-tier investors.

SEI Investments Company, established in 1968 and headquartered in Oaks, Pennsylvania, is a global provider of technology and investment solutions for the financial services industry. Primarily serving institutional and personal wealth management clients, SEI offers a range of services including asset management, investment processing, and investment operations. Its client base comprises banks, investment advisors, investment managers, institutional investors, and affluent families. SEI also operates a corporate venture capital program, SEI Ventures, which invests in emerging technologies and business models to drive innovation and enhance its service offerings.

Devon Park Bioventures, based in Wayne, Pennsylvania, is a venture capital firm specializing in investments in the life sciences sector. Founded in 2006, the company focuses on identifying and supporting innovative companies involved in therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, and drug discovery technologies. With its strategic location in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, Devon Park Bioventures is well-positioned to engage with a multitude of leading organizations in the healthcare and biotechnology fields. The firm is dedicated to fostering advancements that can enhance patient care and drive growth in the life sciences industry.

Founded in 2013, Riverfront Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It specializes in seed and early-stage investments, focusing on companies with high growth potential across sectors such as software, healthcare, life science, and robotics within the Pennsylvania region.

Draper Triangle Ventures, established in 1999, is a venture capital firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with additional offices in Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Columbus, Ohio. The firm specializes in early-stage investments, focusing on technology companies in the Midwest, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio. Draper Triangle Ventures typically invests between $250,000 and $2 million in first-round financing, seeking a board seat in its portfolio companies. It targets software, internet, high-technology, and medical device companies, aiming to support entrepreneurs who can create iconic and disruptive businesses in emerging markets. The firm's goal is to help these companies achieve sales of up to $50 million within three to five years. Draper Triangle Ventures is a member of the Draper Venture Network, collaborating with other independent venture funds globally to share resources and create greater value.

Founded in 2020, Xponance is an employee-owned investment manager based in Philadelphia with additional offices in Durham. It primarily serves pension funds, pooled investments, charitable organizations, and high net worth individuals, employing a combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis for public equity and fixed income markets.

Laboratory Testing is an accredited, independent testing laboratory and calibration company based in Pennsylvania. Since 1984, it has served customers worldwide with nondestructive and material testing, specializing in metal testing and extending to powders, ores, ferroalloys, composites, ceramics and polymers. It offers calibration services, machining of test specimens, failure analysis investigations, and materials engineering services, aiming to be a one-stop provider for metal testing needs, including materials testing, fastener and weld testing, metrology, and related services for aerospace, automotive, forging, and other industries.

Founded in 1914, Boenning & Scattergood, Inc. is a Philadelphia-based independent investment bank and asset management firm. It provides a wide range of financial services to individual, institutional, corporate, and municipal clients. The firm's offerings include equity research, public finance, portfolio management, and investment banking, along with asset management and sales and trading for both equity and fixed income. Boenning & Scattergood also specializes in securities analysis, portfolio construction, financial statement preparation, cash flow analysis, and various planning services such as business succession and estate planning. The firm serves diverse sectors, including aerospace, defense, healthcare, energy, and education, maintaining a legacy of service and expertise that spans over a century.

Ballard Spahr is a business law firm established in 1985 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firm provides a range of legal advisory services, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, private investment funds, securities, securitization, debt, transactional finance, and valuations. Ballard Spahr serves a diverse clientele across various sectors, including construction, consumer financial services, technology, emerging companies, real estate, resorts and hotels, housing, healthcare, and telecommunications. The firm is recognized for its responsiveness to client needs, emphasizing a commitment to effective communication and service.

Aperture Venture Capital, founded in 2021 and based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in diverse founders and multicultural ventures. The firm targets startup companies in the fintech, enterprise, and consumer sectors, with particular interest in areas such as insurance, software as a service (SaaS), security and identity, infrastructure, lending, and banking. By leveraging financial innovation, Aperture aims to support individuals and businesses in achieving growth and success.

Benjamin Ross Group is a business brokerage firm based in Southampton, Pennsylvania, established in 2000. The company specializes in facilitating mergers and acquisitions, business sales, and exit planning for owners looking to transition their businesses. It offers services in business financing and valuations, helping clients navigate the complexities of selling their businesses while ensuring a smooth handover to new owners. The firm operates primarily in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, focusing on providing business owners with the expertise needed to leave their employees and customers in capable hands.

Founded in 2017, 2M Investment Partners is a growth and expansion investment firm based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It prefers to invest in small and medium-sized firms, supporting growth and market expansion for its portfolio companies.

Sixers Innovation Lab, based in Camden, New Jersey, operates as an accelerator and investment firm focusing on early-stage companies in various sectors, including consumer products, media, gaming, and sports. The Lab offers selected startups essential resources such as office space, access to industry experts, and essential services like branding, marketing, and legal support. Additionally, participants benefit from free meals and housing in the Philadelphia area, along with opportunities to present their business ideas to prominent investors and venture capital firms. By providing individualized consulting and investment opportunities, Sixers Innovation Lab aims to foster rapid growth and innovation among promising startups.

Founded in 2007, Patriot Financial Partners is a private equity firm based in Radnor, Pennsylvania. It specializes in investing in community banks, thrifts, and financial services companies across the United States.

Boathouse Capital is a private equity firm based in Wayne, Pennsylvania, serving the Mid-Atlantic and broader United States. It makes direct investments in middle-market and growth-stage companies, focusing on software, fintech, and technology-enabled services, including SaaS and healthcare IT/services. The firm provides flexible capital through a combination of debt and equity, typically supporting growth, acquisitions, and recapitalizations, and often takes a majority stake. Its portfolio targets U.S. companies with recurring revenue and solid EBITDA, with deal sizes generally in the single to tens of millions of dollars. Founded in 2008, Boathouse Capital emphasizes partnering with management to create durable value and accelerate growth across sectors such as financial services, business services, transport, and technology.

New Enterprise Associates is a venture capital firm founded in 1977 and based in Menlo Park, California, with offices in the United States, India and China. It makes investments across technology and healthcare startups at multiple stages, from seed to growth, including software, cloud, data, internet services, fintech, AI, e-commerce, and enterprise technology, as well as healthcare information technology, life sciences, medical devices, and biopharma. It also considers energy technology and infrastructure opportunities, such as solar, batteries and smart grids. The firm pursues a global approach, with activity in the United States, Asia and other regions, and supports companies through rounds of financing ranging from small to sizable investments as they scale. NEA focuses on building portfolios in software, IT services, consumer technology, and healthcare technology, backing ambitious entrepreneurs across sectors and geographies.

First Round Capital, established in 2004, is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm specializing in seed-stage investments. It focuses on building a robust community of technology entrepreneurs and companies, providing custom software solutions, in-person experiences, and unique services to help early-stage companies grow. First Round Capital has invested in notable startups like Uber, Square, and Warby Parker, and has adopted the Diversity Term Sheet Rider to promote diversity in its portfolio. The firm invests nationally, with additional offices in San Francisco and New York, typically providing around $500,000 in the initial investment. It actively supports its portfolio companies and has facilitated a VC-sponsored exchange fund for qualified entrepreneurs. To date, members of the First Round Capital community have raised over $2.5 billion in follow-on capital.

Enhanced Capital, established in 1999, is a New York-based investment firm managing over $400 million. It specializes in providing flexible equity and debt financing to small and mid-sized businesses, promoting their growth and expansion. The firm's investment approach is practical and tailored, aiming to maximize the growth potential of companies poised for rapid growth. Enhanced Capital also invests in renewable energy, historic real estate rehabilitation, and affordable housing projects, often leveraging federal and state incentive programs.

Founded in 2019, Reinforced Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It focuses on investing in seed or pre-seed stage startups operating within the robotics, software, autonomous systems, and biotechnology sectors.

General Atlantic is a private equity growth and expansion firm founded in 1980 and headquartered in New York. It provides growth capital and strategic support to growth companies across sectors including software and services, technology, consumer, financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing, with a long-term investment horizon and a collaborative approach. The firm maintains a global footprint with offices in Stamford, Palo Alto, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, London, Munich, Jakarta, Mumbai, Singapore, Mexico City, Sao Paulo and other major markets to partner with management teams and build market-leading businesses.