Assisting Entrepreneurs & Leaders

NJTC celebrates 20 years of advancing state’s high-tech sectors.

By James Barrood, President and CEO, New Jersey Tech Council On Jun 20, 2016

Founded in 1996, the New Jersey Tech Council (NJTC) is a private, not-for-profit membership organization. It is among the largest and most respected trade associations of its kind nationwide, with a mission of providing business development, education, networking and recognition opportunities as well as advocacy for the state and region’s technology businesses.

By collectively representing tech and life science companies and organizations, and the service companies that support them, the Council has the unique ability to: offer opportunities to learn and network; provide access to resources, including financing sources; recognize and promote technological innovation and accomplishment; and support public policy consistent to help strengthen the tech, innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

NJTC boasts some of the most dynamic conferences in the region, including the Innovation Forecast and Venture Conference, which attract hundreds of entrepreneurs and investors with great ideas and capital to invest. Other events include the CIO Conference and Awards, the HealthTech Conference and the CFO Awards. These events offer fantastic educational and networking opportunities, and grow every year with new faces and innovations. This past April, the Council hosted its Internet of Things Conference, which emphasizes collaboration among industry and academia, giving members the opportunity to show their new technological innovations to the community.

The Council holds quarterly educational and networking programs in five industry verticals: IT/Software; Telecom/Media; Life Sciences/MedTech; Electronics, Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chain; and Environment/Energy/Engineering. It also offers forums for CEOs, CFOs, CIOs and innovation leaders.

The Council launched the NJTC Venture Fund in 2001, a $70-million, early-stage fund dedicated to growing technology right here in New Jersey. The fund was fully deployed in 2015, having invested in 33 companies. This year, as part of our 20th Anniversary, the Council is launching its second Venture Fund to support the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem … stay tuned for details.

In 2004, the Council cofounded Jumpstart NJ, the region’s most successful network of angel investors. The group is made up of high net-worth individual investors who collaborate on deals. As of September 2014, it has invested more than $40 million in area startups.

The Council also believes members should be spotlighted and recognized for their contributions to the state and region’s technology community. To that end, the NJ Tech Council Awards Celebration brings together hundreds of technology and business leaders from throughout the region to celebrate the “Best of the Year” awards. In addition, the Council distributes a monthly publication, TechNews, which educates and updates the regional community.

The Council moved earlier this year to downtown New Brunswick in order to better serve its members that are located mostly throughout New Jersey, but also in Philadelphia and New York City.

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New Jersey Tech Council

James Barrood
President and CEO

96 Albany Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

856-787-9700
www.njtc.org

 

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