BFTP SEP Investment

BFTP SEP Investment

Supports healthcare and technology companies in Southeastern Pennsylvania with recoverable capital for building and scaling.

Eligibility · United States · US-PA

The BFTP SEP Investment programme is a recoverable investment facility administered by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP SEP), one of four independent regional centres in the statewide Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority network. BFTP SEP focuses exclusively on for-profit technology companies headquartered or with a substantial operational presence in the five-county Southeastern Pennsylvania region comprising Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. The programme is funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is designed to provide patient, non-dilutive-style capital to companies at stages where traditional bank and early VC financing is limited.

BFTP SEP invests across two defined technology tracks. The Information Technology track covers SaaS, adtech, and fintech companies. The Healthcare and Life Sciences track covers biopharma, medical devices, diagnostics, and biomaterials. Both tracks require the applicant to demonstrate substantially differentiated technology — incremental improvements to existing products are not sufficient — and to provide a dollar-for-dollar cash match to the BFTP investment. Stable corporate governance and sound financial management are also required. Investment amounts are not publicly disclosed but are understood to range from $100,000 to $1 million or more across stages. The instrument is a recoverable advance, not a grant.

The Healthcare track reviews applications on a rolling basis throughout the year. The IT track operates on specific review cycle dates that are not posted publicly, making early contact with BFTP SEP essential to align with the next cycle. The application process involves an initial inquiry, relationship-building with the investment group, one to two presentations to industry experts, third-party due diligence, and formal approval by the investment group, executives, and board. Companies should initiate contact through the inquiry form at bftp.my.site.com or by calling BFTP SEP's Philadelphia office at 215-972-6700 well in advance of the desired review cycle.