Three Bucks County startups receive $25,000 Bucks Built investments, $70,000 in funding still available
Clockwise from bottom left: Ian Henrich, Lily Paulovic, Randall Hyer (Merlin Biotech); Adam Warren (Innovative Supply Solutions); Keenan Hawekotte, Yousif Memon (Kuaay)
Three high-potential, Bucks County startups have been selected to each receive $25,000 investments funded by the Bucks County Industrial Development Authority along with advisory support from Startup Bucks as part of the Bucks Built Startup Fund.
The three latest startups to receive investment and join the Bucks Built portfolio, now numbered at 18 companies, span various industries and are based throughout Bucks County:
Innovative Supply Solutions - SaaS company helping pharmaceutical customers address the challenges they face in clinical trial supply chains.
Kuaay - Platform helping buyers purchase used vehicles by offering documents, payments, and shipping.
Merlin Biotech - Developmental stage immunology therapeutics company utilizing the clinically proven mRNA platform for the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines to address important unmet medical needs.
The application window for this cycle of Bucks Built will remain open through February 12th with two $25,000 investments still available.
Applicants are reviewed on a first come first served basis and are evaluated on a number of factors, including the potential to grow quickly and broadly while having a positive economic impact in Bucks County. Qualified applicants are advanced through a streamlined pitch and interview process, with investments made on a rolling basis.
Partner Penn Community Bank has sponsored an additional $20,000 in grants for promising applicants that do not receive investment. Grantees are evaluated on the same criteria and will receive grants in amounts of up to $5,000 to be announced by early March.
Interested startups can learn more and apply at BucksBuilt.com.
The 15 portfolio companies and seven grant recipients from previous cycles have spanned diverse industries ranging from HR and clinical software to vegan haircare and medtech. The 15 investment recipients have already gone on to raise over $10 million in combined follow-on funding, with five receiving funding from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA.
Keep up to date with local startup news by subscribing to updates from Startup Bucks and connect with the Bucks County startup community every Wednesday at 9am on Zoom during Startup Buck’s weekly entrepreneur forum, Founder's 30.
Want to learn more? Head to bucksbuilt.com for program details and criteria.
Recipient Startup Contacts
Innovative Supply Solutions - Phil Heifetz, pheifetz@innovativesupplysolutions.com
Kuaay - Yousif Memon, yousif@kuaay.com
Merlin Biotech - Lily Paulovic, lily.paulovic@merlinbiotech.com
