Saima Farooq named Ben Franklin Northeast TechVentures Portfolio Manager

On Tuesday, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania announced it had named Saima Farooq to TechVentures Portfolio Manager.

Farooq will manage the 40+ early-stage companies housed at TechVentures incubator/post-incubator facility in Lehigh’s Mountaintop Campus. The portfolio companies include AI and software developers, advanced material and semiconductor companies, as well as life science companies and others. Farooq will engage Lehigh Valley entrepreneurs while supporting client initiatives, like the SPARK Mentorship program, educational sessions, Venture Idol and others, officials said.

“We are thrilled to have Saima join the portfolio group team at Ben Franklin Northeast. Our current and future portfolio companies will benefit from her background in technology and innovative thinking,” Wayne Barz, Ben Franklin Chief Investment Officer, said.

Farooq is currently an adjunct instructor of information sciences and technology at Penn State University, teaching courses in emerging technologies and human-centered design practices. Prior to coming to Ben Franklin Northeast, Farooq was with Pfizer as the Digital Innovation Lab Partnership and Innovation Challenges Lead and launched Pfizer’s global healthcare innovation challenge engine, as well as developed the Breakthrough Change Accelerator and Pfizer’s global TEDxPfizer events.

She has an MBA with an Innovation Management concentration from Temple University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences and Technology and a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Biology, both from Penn State.

“Our TechVentures incubator facility is an incredible resource for not only Bethlehem, but our region as a whole,” said Farooq. “I’m excited to collaborate with the bright entrepreneurs and promising startups we have here to help them achieve their full potential.”