For many years, tech founders visiting the Ben Franklin Technology Partners’ offices in Philadelphia grappled with navigating public transit to reach the Navy Yard.
Scott Nissenbaum, the CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners, frequently found himself providing intricate directions that involved multiple legs of public transportation or recommending a drive through the challenging traffic of Philadelphia to reach the location at the city’s southern tip.
“You can take a train to Center City. You can then take a subway down to the stadiums and then you can take a bus there to the Navy Yard,” Nissenbaum explained.
Unfortunately, this complex commute often deterred potential visitors and investors.
To address these accessibility challenges, Ben Franklin Technology Partners is slated to relocate to a more central office space in the coming months.
The organization will be moving to the PNC Bank Building, a 39-story high rise located at the intersection of 16th and Market streets in Center City, Philadelphia.
This move is anticipated to take place in late December 2025, with approximately 30 employees relocating to the new office environment.
Nissenbaum noted that the transition has already begun cultivating positive relationships with investors, especially concerning the technology industry investment group’s proposed innovation center.
Historically, the organization’s former office location struggled with attracting investment due to its lack of central accessibility.
In Nissenbaum’s words, “We’ve already had people in the innovation economy say, ‘We want to join you there.’ Nothing is committed, but we’re starting to get real traction.”
Previously, Ben Franklin Technology Partners operated out of an entire 33,000-square-foot building that had originally served as a renovated U.S. Marines barracks, featuring distinct attributes such as a shooting range.
However, the old office space did not fully align with the organization’s mission to foster connections among high-tech startups.
Nissenbaum highlighted the limitations of their former setup, stating, “There was no 100-person classroom building or a big banquet room. Our board room barely fits 20 people.”
The upcoming new office will offer improved opportunities for meetings and events, which are crucial for nurturing a thriving startup ecosystem in the region.
“The new building has all of that. It’s got great meeting space, easy transportation, an 80-person classroom. It’s even got a bar and lounge that’s part of the building access and a huge board room,” Nissenbaum explained.
Additionally, the new plans include a co-working space where multiple companies can work collaboratively side-by-side.
Since the startup organization was its own landlord, having sold their previous property at the Navy Yard for approximately $6 million to a school, they have reinvested the profits back into the startups they support.
“We do seed and early-stage investments in startup companies and then give them the support and services and introductions to help them grow,” Nissenbaum concluded.
image source from：whyy
