Hi all! I’m Samanyu Kurra, and this summer, I interned with the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, an exceptional non-profit Venture Capital firm. Combining the terms ‘non-profit’ and ‘venture capital’ might seem unconventional, but Ben Franklin pioneers this unique model, aiming to foster positive growth in the state of Pennsylvania.
Ben Franklin operates with the support of private investors and the Pennsylvanian state government. Their goal is twofold: to boost state employment and help emerging local startups all the while obtaining a sound financial return. The office I worked with centers its efforts on Philadelphia and its vicinity. Meanwhile, the three other Ben Franklin branches serve distinct parts of Pennsylvania. Witnessing the developing startup ecosystem in Philadelphia was truly a great experience. My summer was dotted with pitch competitions, networking events, and insightful conversations with growing local startups.
I was working partly under Julie Olley, with the IT Investment Team, and Michelle Atherton, with the Strategic Initiatives Group. It was also great to interact with fellow Haverford alum Kathie Jordan ‘94, who has joined the firm as the Managing Director for the Healthcare Investment Group. Working with fellow interns Dylan Zhang (Swarthmore ‘26) and Kyle Li (Princeton ‘25), it was great to learn the ropes of venture capital investing.
A question often posed is: What’s more important – a compelling business idea or a robust founding team? My observations show that while investors aim for a harmonious blend of both, in the early stage, the strength of a team matters a lot. I noticed how even though startups in general are having a challenging time in the current economic climate, all the teams are working tirelessly to overcome the tough times. A strong team will pivot as necessary and face the challenges head on.
Within the IT investment team, my responsibilities spanned analyzing company financials, studying specific industry competition, and identifying potential organizations or investors that resonate with the firm’s mission. While working with the Strategic Initiatives team, we were building towards assessing portfolio companies against varied Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). It was intriguing to observe the different impact metrics Ben Franklin deploys for each company – ranging from carbon emissions reduction to improving healthcare outcomes for different medical conditions. Impressively, most firms in their portfolio directly align with one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals.
A highlight of my summer was observing the collaboration between New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvanian universities, state and local authorities. Together with Ben Franklin, they’re striving to secure federal funding (EDA Tech Hubs Grant) to establish Philadelphia as a leading technology hub in the life sciences industry. The future for the Greater Philadelphian Region looks bright and I’m eager to witness its growth in the coming years and decades.
Before college, the realm of venture capital/impact investing was unfamiliar to me. I strongly recommend students passionate about making a societal impact within finance to explore this field. Courses like ECON 298: Impact Investing would be a great introduction, as is the Microfinance Consulting Club. Led by Professor Shannon Mudd, this club is dedicated to enhancing financial access in underserved regions through offering micro-loans to budding global entrepreneurs. Similarly, the Bi-Co Effective Altruism group educates students on maximizing their positive societal impact.
I’m truly grateful for the summer experience, learning from Michelle, Julie, and the entire leadership team at Ben Franklin, especially Margaret Berger Bradley, Omar Mencin, Rick Genzer, and Scott Nissenbaum. I’m eager to witness the firm’s growth trajectory and the transformative impact it will imprint on Philadelphia and Pennsylvania at large. A big thank you to the Whitehead Internship Fund for facilitating this remarkable summer experience.
