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The labor shortage is not temporary. There has been a seismic shift in the labor market that is impeding business growth and expansion. Businesses should be aware that this is the labor market reality we will be dealing with for a very long time.

We are privileged to have Co-founder and Managing Partner Catherine Mott and Managing Partner Sreekar Gadde of Blue Tree Venture Fund as guests of Ben Franklin’s next Capital Call. Based in Pittsburgh, BlueTree Venture Fund is a regionally focused venture capital firm that targets early institutional investments that match the region’s technology platform and leverage the expertise within the Fund. 

Part 2 of a two-part strategic marketing series

In this second session of our two-part Planning for Growth strategic marketing series, communications and media expert Erika Berlin reveals how to create a data-driven communications plan to drive awareness and engagement with customers. Following up from the first session, Erika discusses how to develop an effective communications strategy from the strategic marketing plan.

Part 1 of a two-part strategic marketing series

In the first of our two-part Planning for Growth strategic marketing series, brand management and innovation expert Annie Hughes reveals how to drive business growth through developing a strategic marketing plan. This hands-on program includes exercise to define your positioning, articulate your value proposition, segment your customers, and design tactics to drive sales and marketing success metrics.

We are privileged to have Martin Fedorko, Managing Partner, and Alexa Born, Managing Director of White Rose Ventures as guests of Ben Franklin’s next Capital Call. Based in York, White Rose Ventures invests in South Central Pennsylvania’s brightest and most ambitious entrepreneurs. White Rose Ventures catalyzes growth and sustainability of the next generation of successful companies in South Central Pennsylvania through meaningful investment, successful business practices and deliberate community collaboration.

Researchers and technology entrepreneurs with an enthusiasm for high-science can take advantage of the Innovation Partnership Program (iPart) to improve their capacity to take their product from concept to pilot and, eventually, to market and seek federal funding. Our Get the 360 ° panel features Kelly Wylam, the director of the Innovation Partnership program who will talk about the how to take advantage of the program to achieve the best outcomes.

Karen Rzepecki, is the founder of Mason Jars Company, maker of reCAP, a self-funded product manufacturer. She is also the founder of two-sided specialty marketplace, MasonJars.com and of MakerPlace, a marketplace SAAS platform for communities to brand and grow their region. Find out how this successful entrepreneur has managed to figure it all out from product development and her trajectory to her most recent venture.

We are privileged to have Justin Mandel, Chairperson of Alleghenies Angel Fund, LLC as our next guest on Ben Franklin Capital Call. The Alleghenies Angel Fund, LLC focuses on seed- to mid-stage investments in companies and entrepreneurs that demonstrate the potential for scalable and profitable operations.

Manage and Grow Your Business using Financial Statements & Ratios, Part II is the second session of a two-part virtual workshop series for founders, managers and executives of startups and small- and medium-sized businesses. You do not have to attend the first session to attend Part II.

Part II is a hands-on financial statement and ratio workshop in which participants receive financial worksheets to calculate ratios for their businesses. Participants can complete these worksheets as optional pre-work to bring to the session or to utilize them in the future.

Underserved Small Business (USB)* Legal Services Program at Penn State Law provides free assistance to USB startups and early-stage businesses. This is an informational webinar with Tom Sharbaugh and Britani Peterson from the Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic about the Underserved Small Businesses (USB)* Legal Services Program which provides free assistance to USB startups and early-stage businesses.