Five Lehigh Valley startups and manufacturers will share $1.6 million from the latest round of funding from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (Ben Franklin Northeast). 
The investment is part of the $2.3 million that Ben Franklin recently approved for distribution in support of regional economic development in the first quarter of 2024.
The Lehigh Valley recipients are:
iDEAL Semiconductor
iDEAL Semiconductor, located at Ben Franklin TechVentures in Bethlehem, develops silicon-based, power semiconductors that handle the higher voltages increasingly demanded by servers, AI computers, and electric vehicles. The $500,000 investment supports staff expansion and product manufacturing.
Learnics
Learnics is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform in Easton that provides an analytics dashboard allowing teachers to see individual and class-wide data and gives students the ability to record and submit a record of their online activity for specific assignments. The $100,000 investment supports staff expansion and sales development.
GaudiumAI (dba GoCharlie.ai)
GoCharlie.ai of Upper Macungie Township is commercializing artificial intelligence applications for small and medium-sized businesses to allow for the automated creation of customized marketing content. The $500,000 investment supports product development and marketing efforts.
Mussel Polymers
Mussel Polymers, located at Ben Franklin TechVentures in Bethlehem, develops water-resistant/waterproof adhesives that mimic the chemistry used by mussels for a variety of applications where adherence in wet conditions is required. Products are used for a range of industries including coral reef restoration, defense and aerospace, biomedical and dental, and industrial. The $500,000 investment supports scaling manufacturing of products.
Universal Compressed Air
Universal Compressed Air (UCA) of Upper Saucon Township manufactures compressed air systems for industry. The $25,000 investment will support the development and implementation of a computerized maintenance management system to increase efficiency and customer service. UCA will partner with Lehigh University on this project.
Ben Franklin Northeast has been building an ecosystem that fosters innovation and entrepreneurial success by providing investment capital and business support services to technology startups and established manufacturers for 40 years. Ben Franklin Northeast invests in and supports companies to create and retain highly paid sustainable jobs, accelerate technology-based economic growth in northeastern Pennsylvania, and advance technologies that improve the human condition.