LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/NEP) board approved investments of $428,500 in four Pennsylvania companies. BFTP/NEP is a state-funded economic development organization that links early-stage companies and established manufacturers with experts, universities, funding, and other resources to help them prosper through innovation.

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BFTP/NEP will invest in the following early-stage companies:

In Silico Scientifics, Inc., Bethlehem

Investment: $150,000

Advance ISS's drug discovery research in the area of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Proprietary research techniques are being employed to identify novel targets in this disease area. The initial focus is on utilizing these targets to screen for new molecules with the goal of bringing more effective and safe drugs to the marketplace.

Johnson-McCormick Technologies, LLC, Bethlehem

Investment: $100,000

Complete beta testing and begin commercialization of proprietary "rVibe" software for the online music industry. Johnson-McCormick's patent-pending software system makes recorded music, licensed from the major record labels and individual musicians, available for a legal, user- and advertiser-paid download via an Internet-enabled peer-to-peer network. This enables users to buy and sell on-line with each other legally through social networking, and be rewarded for their use and loyalty. This investment will allow the company to complete client and server upgrades and dramatically increase available song titles, thereby expanding membership and downloads.

Solid Cactus, Inc., Wilkes-Barre

Investment: $150,000

Solid Cactus is developing and commercializing proprietary software for an e-commerce application directed to Yahoo! Stores. Solid Cactus is a selected partner of Yahoo! Stores. With this investment, Solid Cactus will continue development of "Feed Perfect" software, which allows e-commerce stores to operate more profitably through analysis of product inquiries and sales profitability.

Ben Franklin announces the following investment in an established manufacturer:

Penn Summit Tubular, LLC, West Hazleton

Investment: $28,500

Penn Summit Tubular produces tubular steel poles used for electric power and telecommunications transmission and in the transportation and lighting markets. This investment will allow Lehigh University's Enterprise Systems Center to partner with the company to analyze and establish new labor standards reflective of new plant equipment and facility upgrades. These standards will be utilized for productivity enhancement and incentive programs for all employees.

BFTP/NEP
Laura S. Eppler, Director of Marketing, 610-758-5237
leppler@nep.benfranklin.org