Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP) has approved investments totaling $2.3 million for 10 early stage technology companies.

"This round of company investments continues to demonstrate the rich diversity of our region's technology, for both consumer products and services and industry applications," says RoseAnn B. Rosenthal, President & CEO of BFTP/SEP.

Advanced Mobile Solutions Worldwide
Wayne (Chester County)
Approved Investment: $250,000

Advanced Mobile Solutions (AMS) is an innovator in the mobile publishing and classified listings search space. AMS provides mobile technology and services that enable the newspaper and publishing industry to enhance advertising revenue, expand content distribution and reach new audiences. AMS' existing suite of mobile text applications and unique search functions allow clients to quickly establish a mobile channel with content/editorial distribution, marketing campaigns and mobile alert services. One of the company's most popular services delivers classified ads to the mobile phone.

AMS customers include many popular print and web publishing brands in the U.S. such as Apartments.com, NJ.com/The Star-Ledger, Chron.com/The Houston Chronicle and Builder Homesite, Inc. Bret J. Dunlap is founder and CEO of AMS. Mr. Dunlap previously co-founded Advanced Telecom Services, Inc. (ATS), which has been supplying telephone and Internet-based services to media since 1989. Today, ATS is a leading interactive voice response company, having provided audio text applications for hundreds of media companies within the newspaper, radio and TV industries.

American Hometec
Relocating to PA
Approved Investment: $100,000

American Hometec develops and markets advanced tankless water heaters for residential and light commercial markets. Employing a novel, patent-pending heating technology, the products offer high energy efficiency, superior temperature control and long service life. The devices heat water only when needed, rather than providing a continuously heated supply, thus providing significant energy savings over traditional tank-based devices. Some of the products are also eligible for federal tax credits. Other tankless water heater technology is used extensively throughout Europe and Asia. Shimin Luo is the Founder of American Hometec.

ColdLight Solutions
Fort Washington (Montgomery County)
Approved Investment: $250,000

ColdLight Solutions provides next-generation business intelligence technology that automates the process of transforming complex data into competitive action. ColdLight's prescriptive technology helps businesses improve market research, strengthen customer loyalty, detect growth opportunities and grow profits.

Collages.net
Langhorne (Bucks County)
Approved Investment: $150,000
(BFTP/SEP previously invested $350,000 in 2002 and 2003)

Collages.net enables professional photographers to offer their clients customized, e-commerce websites, high-end products such as albums and proof books, DVD slide show presentations and professionally printed images for events such as weddings, portraits, sports, special events, reunions and corporate parties. Collages.net's platform allows photographers to sell pictures online and market their studios to guests, associates, friends and family members who previously had no access to the professional photographs. Today, Collages.net is partnered with more than 10,000 professional photographers. Kevin Casey, CEO, has held key roles in two startup companies in the medical and laboratory industries. He earned an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

DermAvance Pharmaceuticals
Berwyn (Montgomery County)
Approved Investment: $500,000

DermAvance develops, acquires and commercializes innovative anti-aging products that enhance the health and appearance of aging skin in order to treat dermatologic conditions and diseases. The company markets and sells both prescription and cosmeceutical products to dermatologists and aesthetic physicians. Recently, the company completed the acquisition of a patented combination second generation dermal filler that will compete in the booming aesthetic market. Keith Greathouse is president and CEO of DermAvance. Mr. Greathouse has more than 27 years of industry experience with major pharmaceutical companies and was previously executive vice president for Dermik Laboratories, Inc.

Internet Order
Philadelphia
Approved Investment: $200,000

Internet Order is a product marketing company with capabilities in the areas of interactive and traditional direct response advertising. The company is focused on the domestic self-improvement market, primarily marketing Pimsleur language course materials. Dan Roitman is founder and CEO of Internet Order.

Healthy Humans
Wayne (Chester County)
Approved Investment: $150,000

Healthy Humans helps people with chronic illnesses achieve better outcomes. They provide personalized integrative health solutions and online health guidance—developed by integrative health and medical experts—including all the information, resources, social networking and interactive tools to empower individuals to live healthy and well. Their site will be launched this summer. Chris Conway is founder and president of Healthy Humans.

Novetas (formerly New Age Blast Media)
Relocating to PA
Approved Investment: $300,000

Novetas develops and markets environmentally friendly blast media (sand-blasting material) using recycled glass feedstock. Blast media is used to remove dirt, grime, rust and paint in commercial (e.g. buildings and bridges) and military (e.g. ships) applications. Glass feedstock is a substitute for traditional coal slag and sand feedstock, which can cause health complications. The company is a spin-off of New Age Fastening Systems Inc., an industry leader in the application and technology of stud welding. Paul Mellon, Jr. is president of Novetas.

Real-Time Tomography
Villanova (Montgomery County)
Approved Investment: $150,000

Real-Time Tomography (RTT) is developing technically innovative medical imaging products to increase diagnostic accuracy and improve clinical workflow. RTT has developed a technology that enables the clinical application of tomographic imaging for the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. This technology was developed with NIH SBIR grant support and is patent pending. RTT founders Susan Ng and Peter Ringer have more than 30 years experience in the medical imaging industry. Both were original members of Ecton, a successful medical device startup which was previously funded by BFTP/SEP and exited through a sale to Siemens. Susan Ng is president and CEO.

TicketLeap.com
Philadelphia
Approved Investment: $250,000

TicketLeap.com is a web-based platform that enables event organizers anywhere to sell tickets online in a simple, highly cost-effective manner. The service is designed to meet the needs of a wide variety of user types in the small-to-medium-size segment, including community theaters, sporting events, comedy clubs, bars, seasonal festivals, business meetings and seminars, charitable and political fundraisers and more.

The TicketLeap.com open platform can be implemented via multiple channels simultaneously, including the organizers' own website and marketing collateral, social networking sites, traditional media and strategic partners. The company's objective is to be the most simple and flexible platform—enabling anyone, anywhere, to sell tickets to their events in a matter of minutes. The company was incubated within the "Venture Initiation Program" at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania by graduate Chris Stanchak.