Money Growth

EDA Hosts Third ‘Founders and Funders’ Event to Connect Emerging Tech Companies with Investors

Furthering the state’s commitment to bolster the Garden State’s technology industry, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) hosted its third “Founders and Funders” event, providing 30 emerging companies with access to angel and venture capital investors.

Held at the EDA’s Commercialization Center for Innovative Technologies (CCIT) in North Brunswick, the event introduced the startup companies to more than 20 prospective investors.  Early-stage businesses met with investors in 10-minute, one-on-one sessions to discuss strategy, business models and funding opportunities.  The event also featured EDA President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Lizura, as well as Don Newman, Director of Small Business Advocacy at the New Jersey Business Action Center, who both provided presentations on available state resources.

“Because funding and support is vital to growing technology companies, the EDA continues to look for ways to connect these early-stage businesses with the resources they need to thrive,” Lizura said.  “More than 400 meetings have taken place as a result of the first two Founders and Funders events, and we look forward to additional results in the months and years ahead.”

The “Founders and Funders” event featured more than 20 participating venture and angel investors, including Edison Partners; NJIT Highlanders Angel Network; and Rostra Capital.

Investors met with a variety of tech and biotech companies, including: Gold Mobile, a Clark-based company that provides a cloud-based platform to enhance a business’s mobile ordering, payment, and loyalty programs; NeedMe of Red Bank, which is developing a website where people can meet others with similar medical diagnosis, medications and procedures; Arkay Therapeutics, a life sciences company located in East Windsor focused on developing drugs to treat diabetes; and CCIT tenant BioAegis Therapeutics, which creates products that restore depleted levels of plasma gelsolin.

The EDA plans to host Founders & Funders events semi-annually.  The next event is scheduled for September and registration can be accessed via https://application.njeda.com/tls/.

The EDA is part of the State’s Partnership for Action.  Created by Governor Chris Christie and led by Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, the Partnership is the hub for all economic development activity in New Jersey and is comprised of four interconnected and highly focused organizational elements: Choose New Jersey, the Business Action Center, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and the EDA.

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