The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, a technology incubator which creates and retains highly paid, sustainable jobs by investing in and linking companies with experts, universities, follow-on funding, and other resources to help them prosper through innovation. (BFTP/NEP) Board of Directors has approved the investment of $400,000 in support of regional economic development. Two early-stage companies received funding.

* Grovara, LLC, www.grovara.com, Philadelphia; launched in Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, Northampton County

Ben Franklin Investment: $200,000

Continue to expand a web-based marketplace platform that connects “Made in USA” natural foods, beverages, and other health and wellness retail brands with international wholesalers and retailers. Grovara provides end-to-end foreign market distribution and international brand management solutions, lowering the barriers to entry for smaller U.S.-based manufacturers to engage in global trade. The portal makes international trade faster and significantly more cost-effective and efficient, while giving brands and buyers more options and flexibility. Starting with two founders and leveraging a total of $200,000 in previous BFTP/NEP investments, the company now represents more than 80 brands in 30 countries, employs 23, and is growing rapidly.

* Vessel Health, Inc., https://vesselhealth.com/, Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, Northampton County

Ben Franklin Investment: $200,000

Continue to develop Vessel Health’s in-home wellness tracker that measures key chemistries from the user’s urine, and then provides recommendations to users to improve their health. Using the results of a test strip, the Vessel Health mobile app provides results for 10 chemistry tests that measure vitamin and mineral levels, and ketones and pH levels. The app makes recommendations to users to improve results, and also provides wellness coaching as part of its subscription-based service. The demand for in-home diagnostics is growing rapidly because of the pandemic and other factors.

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