Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania has approved $1.8 million in investments in nine early-stage technology companies.
The state-funded economic development group approved money for:
Advanced Mobile Solutions, Wayne, $125,000.
(Ben Franklin previously invested $125,000)
This four-year-old firm creates apps that allow people to use mobile and smart phones to get information on rental listings, cars for sale, and more.
Click Equations Inc., Conshohocken, $50,000.
(Ben Franklin previously invested $250,000.)
This firm creates software to help businesses manage and improve paid search advertising campaigns, in which a business pays a search engine to have its website show near the top on its result pages when users type certain keywords. The program allows for more complete reporting of what search words were typed to get to the client's business listing, and how much profit was generated by each key word.
Document Depository Corp., Philadelphia, $100,000.
This company's applications are designed to more safely allow companies to share financial and legal documents with board members and investors.
First Flavor Inc., Bala Cynwyd, $100,000.
(Ben Franklin previously invested $250,000.)
Taking inspiration from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the company has developed Peel 'n Taste, an edible film technology that can deliver tastes to consumers without the need for formal product-sampling events and other promotional campaigns.
Molecular Detection Inc., Wayne, $250,000.
(Ben Franklin previously invested $500,000.)
This molecular diagnostics company has developed a screening test for MRSA (infections that are resistant to most antibiotics) in less than three hours. The test has been launched in six European countries; the company says it expects U.S. marketing approval in 2011.
Real Time Tomography L.L.C., Villanova, $275,000.
(Ben Franklin previously invested $150,000.)
The company develops state-of-the-art image processing and image reconstruction solutions for the next generation of 2D and 3D medical imaging systems.
Snipi Inc., Philadelphia, $150,000.
(Ben Franklin previously invested $125,000.)
The company's social-media platform lets users capture products, photos, videos and other content off any website, and share the information on such sites as Facebook and Twitter. Snipi's users can also start Streams, which let others contribute their "snips" to a conversation topic.
SRS Energy, Philadelphia, $250,000.
SRS Energy develops and makes integrated photovoltaic (solar-powered) roofing tiles, which allow sunlight to be captured and turned into electricity, just like traditional solar panels, but they are also designed with aesthetics in mind.
Topaz Pharmaceuticals Inc., Horsham, $500,000.
(Ben Franklin previously invested $250,000.)
The company is seeking FDA approval for its head lice treatment, a topical cream. - Roslyn Rudolph
