The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP-NEP) Board of Directors has approved the investment of $357,100 in support of regional economic development.

BFTP-NEP owns and manages Ben Franklin TechVentures, an award-winning business incubator-post-incubator facility on Lehigh University's campus in Bethlehem at which it is headquartered.

Ben Franklin announces the following early-stage company investments that are provided to clients in the form of loans for those in the Lehigh Valley Press circulation region.

HB Custom Media, Inc., Ben Franklin TechVentures. Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, Northampton County: $25,000 to expand the commercialization effort for producing and selling custom tissue culture media, reagents, cell culture supplements, and mouse embryo culture media to the Research-Use-Only market. These products are essential for life sciences companies in various applications, including drug development, cancer research, nerve cell regeneration investigation, and treatments for heart attacks.

Skaffl, LLC, Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem: $100,000 to add additional functionality to Skaffl, a new mobile application through which teachers and students can exchange class materials, assignments, completed homework, assessments and grades. The digital application addresses the growing use of tablets in K-12 classrooms and the needs of teachers as they develop tools and curricula to enhance real-time educational interaction.

TSG Software, Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem: $50,000 to implement processes to significantly increase marketing and sales lead generation in commercializing software for business cleaning services, property and facility managers and building management contractors.

Ben Franklin announces the following established manufacturer company investments in the Lehigh Valley Press circulation region. Ben Franklin provides 1:1 matching funding for work with a college or university partner on technology-based manufacturing innovation in established manufacturers.

B. Braun Medical, Inc., Allentown, University Partner: Lehigh University's Enterprise Systems Center: $50.000 to conduct a baseline energy assessment and a carbon footprint analysis at this manufacturer and distributor of disposable medical devices that distributes worldwide. The goal is to reduce energy use by at least 10 percent.