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Project Liberty Digital Incubator startup applications due Fri.

The Project Liberty Digital Incubator is seeking applications this week from digital entrepreneurs who would get free business consulting, Center City Philadelphia workspace, and tech support if selected.

The incubator, hosted by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pa., has set a noon, May 2 deadline for its fifth 'class' of entrepreneurs. Ben Franklin Technology Partners works with Interstate General Media (parent company of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com), the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, DreamIt Ventures, and Drexel University to operate the incubator.

Entrepreneurs or companies chosen for the incubator receive a range of benefits including mentoring and strategic business counseling from Ben Franklin; free Center City office space, utilities, software and administrative support from IGM; and, help from graduate and undergraduate students at Drexel University. They also gain access to Philly.com as a potential platform to launch products.

The incubator's goal is to stimulate new digital media startups in the Philadelphia region. Applicants should be pursuing innovative products related to publishing, community building, reader engagement, e-commerce (particularly solutions focused on SMBs), mobile platforms, or advertising.

This round marks the fifth class of the incubator, which is funded through a Knight Foundation grant.

So far, alumni of the incubator have raised $9 million. Those include DreamIt Ventures, A View From My Seat, CloudMine, ElectNext, Fitly, SnipSnap, Rumble, Zaahah, tapCLIQ, TuvaLabs, and VUID.