INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

In the vibrant heart of downtown Jersey City, a city that boasts one of the most diverse populations in the nation, Move The Needle at the Brand Experience Lab (a retail technology showroom) stands as a testament to the power of inclusive innovation. Founded by Jose Espinoza, a visionary entrepreneur...

Optical Academy- Has been pioneering the change in the delivery of eye care by making eye care the most convenient, affordable, and accessible it has ever been. The company came to life 14 years ago after CEO, Abby Ayoub, crossed paths with a 15-year-old girl who was desperate for an...

EDISON PARTNERS-WE’RE AN INTEGRATED TEAM OF INVESTORS AND OPERATORS THAT LIVE AND BREATHE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY COMPANIES AT THE GROWTH STAGE. Edison Partners is a leading growth equity firm that invests in high-growth, capital-efficient companies in the fintech, enterprise software and healthcare IT sectors. Over our 37-year...

Choose New Jersey is New Jersey’s leading nonprofit economic development organization. We stimulate job creation and attract capital investment with the aim of growing New Jersey’s economy. We market New Jersey globally as the most ideal state in the U.S. to live, work, and play, and we guide businesses in...

In an era where data breaches and identity theft run rampant, Kaizen Secure Voiz emerges as a trailblazer, reshaping the security landscape with cutting-edge voice biometric solutions. As the digital realm expands, so do the challenges, and Kaizen stands as a beacon, providing not just security but a seamless and...

INTRODUCTIONSince our inception, Bektek has been on a remarkable journey of innovation and growth. What began as a pioneering venture into Time and Attendance management, with the introduction of HostedTime, our flagship software, has evolved into a one stop solution for today’s workforce. OUR STORYAt Bektek, our story is one...

Founded by CEO Steve Sashihara in 1980 and still headquartered in Princeton, we help clients improve performance through the successful deployment of AI and Optimization. Blending world-class technical expertise and deep business insight, our consultants work in small, agile teams to provide transformational solutions and services that drive innovation. Our...

BIOPHARMA INVESTMENT FIRM SYRIDEX BIO ADDRESSES HEALTH EQUITY BY FUNDING R&D OF THERAPIES DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. Princeton-based Syridex Bio is a biopharma investment firm that makes early-stage, venture creation investments in innovative treatments that can bring transformative changes to diseases disproportionately affecting underserved communities. It is uniquely focused on...

Offshore wind presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity that will further New Jersey’s clean energy goals, create thousands of union construction jobs, and ensure a more resilient environment and economy for future generations. This booming industry will open doors for thousands of New Jerseyans looking to reap the benefits from these investments,...

New Brunswick Development Corporation (Devco) was established in 1976 as a nonprofit development company to initiate redevelopment projects and to serve as the vehicle for public and private investment in the City of New Brunswick. Under the leadership of Christopher Paladino, DEVCO has initiated, developed, and managed 8.3 million square...

Who knew in 2003 that Passwords would become the bane of our existence and a constant drag on productivity? We did. We also knew that there was a technology called Biometrics that enabled computers to recognize humans uniquely. We decided to build a platform that would provide services such as...

INNERSTILL -WE HELP PEOPLE FEEL BETTER BY DEVELOPING, LAUNCHING, AND DELIVERING BIOELECTRICAL NEUROMODULATION SOLUTIONS THAT NORMALIZE HOMEOSTASIS. Innerstill was one of 17 start-ups awarded a combined $1.275M in grants from NJ Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology’s (CSIT’s) Maternal and Infant Health Research and Development (R&D) Grant Program. Innerstill is...

Unionwear manufactures – from scratch—100% made in USA baseball hats, backpacks, messenger bags, portfolios, and binders, with 160 union sewers in Newark, NJ. Mitch Cahn founded Unionwear in 1992 with six sewers and a contract to make baseball hats for Ralph Lauren, and has evolved by buying legacy manufacturers of...

Qredible is a first-of-its-kind platform, leading the way in building trust and transparency in the cannabis, CBD, and hemp supply chains. The legalized cannabis industry can be a maze of false, misleading, outdated, or missing information. Qredible’s unique platform is revolutionizing the industry by connecting the entire CBD, hemp, and...

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) has been operating out of its U.S. headquarters in Ramsey, NJ since the 1970s. Across the country, more than 5,000 employees work together to reshape and revolutionize the workplace to achieve true connectivity through the Intelligent Connected Workplace. The company guides and...

JumpStart NJ Angel Network invests in early-stage growth companies with high potential and innovative technology that disrupts traditional businesses. The group of angel investors screens more than 100 companies each year and invests an average $1.5 million annually in leading-edge startups. Based in the Garden State, JumpStart NJ invests in...

FUNDERS & INVESTORSUnderstanding that early-stage companies have particularly unique challenges when it comes to securing capital, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) offers a suite of resources to support them throughout their lifecycle. As the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth, the Authority plays a pivotal role in...

Storied data is a next generation publishing platform for the digital world. It allows users to combine visuals, data, and interactivity in a single document that provides an app-like experience and reduces information overload. In Storied data, you can produce any document – reports, dashboards, infographics, catalogs, and more in...

Rutgers University–Newark is a leading urban research university that leverages diversity and high-impact scholarship to cultivate the talent essential to transform communities and change the world. An anchor institution in our home city, we are not just in but of Newark. The RU-N community has long recognized that our location...

Where are today’s opportunities and possibilities for business success? And with all the information available and options to consider, how can you recognize them? Prioritize them? Evaluate them? Align them with your organization’s growth objectives? And a question that we hear with great frequency when making a marketing commitment: “What’s...

Founded in 1923, Turtle stands tall as a beacon of enduring success in the US market, marking its presence as one of the largest independent electrical and industrial distribution companies. Having amassed a century of experience, Turtle doesn’t just rest on its past laurels. Instead, it envisions a future illuminated...

It’s been over two decades since Hanini Group began contributing to Newark’s skyline. Our commitment to restoring and upholding Newark’s historic character is reflected in over $750 million worth of projects successfully delivered. We’ve been a part of this community since 2004 and, through careful restoration and rehabilitation projects, have...

OUR STORYBiggins Lacy Shapiro & Company (BLS & Co.) is one of the largest independent firms in the specialty fields of site selection and economic development incentives advisory services. Our principals have been delivering our mix of services for more than twenty-five years and arehighly respected leaders in their field....

Renovatio Global (“Renovatio”) is a strategic business development consulting firm that helps “abundance mentality” CEOs hone vision, relationships, and resources into a force that hyper grows companies and redirects markets. The company is actively engaged in sectors including Technology, Defense, Energy, Healthcare, Media, and Internet Platforms. Renovatio is a Latin...