Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (Ben Franklin Northeast) has approved $972,500 in investments from January to March.

The investments will support eight early-stage companies and seven established manufacturers, fostering innovative product development, workforce expansion, and operational growth across the region, according to a March 26 press release from Ben Franklin Northeast.

There will be $785,000 in investments made to the following early-stage companies:

Ayana Active, Montour County. Ayana Active creates sustainable, high-performance active-wear for women, utilizing breathable fabrics to enhance comfort and mobility. Information: ayanaactive.com

Hyrding LLC, Carbon County. Hyrding offers an AI-powered platform to streamline regulatory documentation for industries such as life sciences, finance and aerospace. Information: hyrding.com

I Need A Speaker, Lackawanna County. I Need A Speaker connects event planners with speakers of all experience levels through an online directory, facilitating direct communication without liaison fees. Information: ineedaspeaker.com

Infuse AI Tech Corp., Berks County. Infuse AI Tech Corp. offers tools designed to streamline machine learning workflows, enhancing productivity for organizations. Information: infuseai.io

Power Down Semiconductor, Inc., Northampton County. Power Down Semiconductor focuses on developing innovative, low-power solutions for microcontrollers and other semiconductors to optimize battery life and performance. Information: powerdownsemi.com

Social Guides, Inc., Lehigh County. Social Guides offers curated guides and recommendations on local dining, events, and experiences, helping users discover options tailored to their interests and location. Information: socialguides.io

The Varona Co., Berks County. The Varona Co. offers Ocoa Beauty, a line of luxury hair-care products designed to nourish and enhance curls, with a focus on clean ingredients and sustainability. Information: ocoabeauty.com

Thread Bioscience, Lehigh County. Thread Bioscience is focused on improving healthcare outcomes by leveraging advanced technologies to provide personalized diagnostic solutions. Information:threadb.com

There will be $187,500 invested in the following manufacturers, incorporating student enrichment work with a college or university partner:

American Crane & Equipment Corp., Berks County. American Crane & Equipment Corp. has been an innovator of high-quality specialty lifting equipment for more than 50 years. They will partner with Alvernia University on a project to select a new Enterprise Resource Planning system. Information: americancrane.com

Human Active Technology, LLC, Northampton County. Human Active Technology focuses on developing innovative technology solutions to improve ergonomics and enhance user experience in the workplace. For the project, Lehigh University will assist in defining workflows to support future product flow. Information: hatdw.com

IHE Bev, LLC, Lycoming County. IHE Bev, operating as New Trail Brewing Co., is dedicated to enhancing craft beer. They will partner with Pennsylvania College of Technology on the project to boost yields while maintaining quality. Information: newtrailbrewing.com

JED Pool Tools, Inc., Lackawanna County. JED Pool Tools, Inc., operating as Northeastern Plastics, specializes in custom injection molding, prototyping and 3D printing services. They will partner with Lehigh University on a project for a strategic organizational assessment to support future growth and development.

Information: northeastern-plastics.com

LifeAire Systems, LLC, Berks County. LifeAire Systems specializes in medical-grade air purification solutions, delivering high-purity air to sensitive environments. Their patented technology effectively removes airborne pathogens and chemical contaminants, aiming to improve clinical outcomes and ensure safety. Information: lifeaire.com

NovaTech, LLC, Northampton County. NovaTech provides automation products and solutions for electric utilities, including substation automation, precision timing, metering, and grid edge applications. They will work with Lehigh University’s ESC team on the evaluation and selection of an Enterprise Resource Planning system. Information: novatechautomation.com

Wacker Silicone Manufactured Innovations, LLC, Lehigh County. Wacker Silicone Manufactured Innovations specializes in silicone adhesive coating solutions for medical device and advanced wound-care applications. They will partner with Lehigh University to develop process documentation and training materials to support future improvements. Information: wacker.com

Some projects were financed in part by Pennsylvania Small Business Credit Initiative funds from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development.

Ben Franklin Northeast information

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority. For more than 40 years, Ben Franklin Northeast has supported innovation and economic growth by investing in promising startups and established manufacturers in the 21-county area it serves. Its mission is to fuel economic development and create high-paying, sustainable jobs.

Information: nep.benfranklin.org