Alan Kraus is the Director for Information Technology Investments at the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania managing a portfolio of more than 40 active early stage IT company investments. With investments generally ranging from $100,000-$500,000, Alan has presided over with investments that have created 100’s of jobs in Pennsylvania and raised more than $150,000,000 in follow-on funding. In just the last three years, his portfolio has had 15 successful exits. In addition to being closely involved with applicants prior to formal funding decisions, once a company receives a Ben Franklin investment, Alan, supported by a highly skilled group of independent portfolio manager consultants as well as his colleagues at Ben Franklin, assists in coaching the company in numerous areas including fundraising, financial statement analysis, business plan and marketing materials development, Board management and development, making introductions and on-going strategic and implementation planning.

Prior to joining Ben Franklin in 1998, Alan was the Manager of Resource Development and a Business Consultant at the Temple University Small Business Development Center. Additionally, he had worked several years as a manufacturer’s sales representative of women’s accessories and also as an entrepreneur, helping to found Optimum Executive Search, a Silicon Valley firm specializing in the placement of software professionals.

Alan received his MBA at Temple University and his BBA from the University of Michigan.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania is the region’s catalyst for Stimulating Entrepreneurial Potential. For over 25 years, we have invested in innovative enterprises and created commercialization pathways and partnerships that generate wealth through science and technology.

Ben Franklin is part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Ben Franklin Technology Partnership. We provide entrepreneurs and established businesses the Capital, Knowledge and Networks to compete in the global marketplace. Over the years, we have provided more than $130 million to grow more than 1,600 regional enterprises across all areas of technology.

Our partnerships with universities and others strengthen the innovative fabric of our region. We are founding partners of The Nanotechnology Institute™ (NTI), Mid-Atlantic Nanotechnology Alliance (MANA®), Pennsylvania Green Growth Partnership (PAGGP), Pennsylvania Advanced Textiles Research and Innovation Center (PATRIC), Pennsylvania Environmental Technologies for the Pharmaceutical Industry (PETPI), and the PA Biotechnology Center of Bucks County. We are founding partners of the Energy Commercialization Institute (ECI) and other partnerships emerging through our regional energy strategy, funded through the Commonwealth’s Alternative Energy Development Program. Ben Franklin is also a founding partner of the Emerald Stage2 Venture Fund, the Minority Angel Investor Network, and is a partner of the Mid-Atlantic Angel Group (MAG) Fund I & II and DreamIt Ventures.