Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA Announces $1.15 Million in Quarterly Investments Across Four Pennsylvania Companies

Regional Investments Span Adams, Centre, Perry and York Counties Supporting Innovation in Software Development/Legal Technology, AI/SaaS and Web Development, Food Manufacturing, and Industrial Software

Four technology and manufacturing businesses in central and northern PA recently secured $1.15 million in total funding from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern Pennsylvania (Ben Franklin CNP). Spanning industries from food manufacturing to AI/SaaS, these investments will provide the capital needed to accelerate innovation, expand their market reach, strengthen operations, create jobs, and advance the commercialization of new products and technologies.

At the recent September board meeting, Ben Franklin CNP approved investments in the following companies:

Foodthink Ltd. / DBA The Pretzel Company, located in York, PA (York County), is a family-owned Pennsylvania bakery that handcrafts soft pretzels and ships its small-batch, handmade products to customers across the country.

KCF Technologies, Inc., located in Bellefonte, PA (Centre County), helps manufacturers prevent equipment breakdowns by using smart sensors and AI to detect machine problems before they lead to costly downtime.

Pixlel, Inc., located in Gettysburg, PA (Adams County), is an AI-powered website builder that helps small businesses create professional, mobile-friendly websites in about 90 seconds, with real human support available throughout the process.

Publius Legal, Inc., located in Marysville, PA (Perry County), provides AI-powered legal technology that helps law firms and solo attorneys streamline research, discovery, and trial preparation, making sophisticated legal tools more accessible and affordable.

"We are always pleased to support the growth of innovative businesses across our 32-county footprint," said Steve Brawley, President and CEO of BFTP/CNP. "When local startups succeed, the entire region benefits, and that impact is what motivates our work every single day. We are also proud to note that Publius Legal is our first-ever investment in Perry County, marking an important historical milestone for our organization."