Newark’s Rise as Hi-Tech Hub

Newark’s strong transportation network, its cargo port, proximity to industries with hi-tech needs, and a highly trained regional workforce also make the Brick City a more affordable and convenient alternative to locating in New York City and the Hudson River Gold Coast. The decision by Audible to move its headquarters to Newark in 2007 helped jumpstart the city’s hi-tech emergence, which was further galvanized by this year’s opening of hard-tech accelerator HAX’s US headquarters in the city.

Susan Schofer, a HAX partner and chief science officer, says HAX has a “Call to Action’’ for would-be entrepreneurs in the “hard-tech” sphere, which she categorizes as, “Anything that when you drop it, it hurts your foot,’’ as opposed to software initiatives.

HAX, she notes, is both “local and global,’’ with a focus also in the “deep-tech’’ realm, which involves scientific and technological innovations – particularly clean climate technology – that can be commercialized.

“We’re already up and running,’’ says Schofer, expressing appreciation to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) for $25 million in funding to get rolling. “We’re looking to add new teams to our portfolio, and we’re really serious about getting going on some of these big challenges.”

HAX plans to open a 40,000-square-foot space next year in downtown Newark, which will include co-working space for start-up teams, major space and workshop areas to develop and refine prototypes, along with a wet lab to assist the needs of climate tech teams and others.

“What’s unique about HAX, versus a lot of other venture investors, is just the very hands-on way that we work with teams,” Shofer explains. “We have the capabilities to help them literally be in the lab and help them figure out how they’re going to scale up and conduct experiments and tests to get to through-points. We also help them build hardware and prototypes.”

Examples of the initiatives HAX is investing in are a company working on automating and robotizing installation of solar roofing, a nascent effort to fight global warming by directly capturing carbon dioxide from the air, and a firm that uses Artificial Intelligence to detect defects in early-stage textile manufacturing – preventing large amounts of knitting material from being wasted.

NJIT, via its New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), which strives to drive innovation, and VentureLink, the state’s largest startup incubator, works with HAX, NJEDA, Newark officials, venture capitalists like Wisniewski, corporations and others to further foster Newark’s place in the hi-tech startup world.

Among the companies leveraging investments in Newark’s hi-tech sphere are Prudential, TD Bank, and Amazon via Audible, as well as RWJBarnabas Health in the health-tech arena.

“What we’ve done, very purposefully, is to try to be part of a larger ecosystem,’’ says Simon Nynens, NJII’s former chief executive officer who announced he was stepping down from his post in early August.

“We concentrate on technology-focused companies where we can truly add value,” Nynens explains. “And if we cannot, we should know the partners in our surrounding area that might be better to oversee or to guide you.’’

Providing constructive feedback to hi-tech initiatives is essential.

“It’s not what is good for us – we are a non-profit,’’ Nynens continues. “We spur innovation and job growth. … So, we’re going to do whatever we can to make the world a little bit more just and equitable for all … and Newark is a great place to do so.’’

Nynens recalls a dispiriting study that found only about 2% of funding went to African-American company founders.

However, NJII officials cite the inspirational local success of Profit, an online business bank for minority business owners founded by two minority software engineers, Frantz Romain, who attended NJIT, and Vin Montes, a U.S. Air Force veteran, who went to Fairleigh Dickinson University. Both grew up in underserved parts of New Jersey.

William Lutz, director of commercialization and co-director at NJIT’s VentureLink under NJII, says his team’s entry point “is the intersection of entrepreneurship and small business as it intersects with technology in the community.’’

VentureLink’s programming includes its LinkUps Workshop series to help would-be entrepreneurs start and build their companies. On the first Wednesday of each month, there is an Open Coffee Club – Newark, open to all to discuss ideas and build connections. A mentorship program brings valued advice to new entrepreneurs – with schedules allowing them to stay in their current jobs.

Additionally, VentureLink recently launched a pilot minority entrepreneur residence program in Newark, offering a living stipend as participants make a full go of their talents.

“There’s always been entrepreneurship, there’s always been that spirit in Newark, but as a community, I think we’re starting to be more collaborative,’’ Lutz says.

So, what of the lure of that big metropolis across the Hudson River?

“Don’t compete with New York,’’ Lutz suggests. “Just be different.”

MJ Durkin, HAX’s operations and talent lead, praises Newark officials for “doing great things to support the city and continue its path forward’’ with hi-tech initiatives.

“We just want to be part of that,’’ says Durkin, citing a priority of helping residents by creating jobs over the next five years as HAX looks to launch a hundred startups. “And then alongside that, our goal … is to be part of mentorship, talent development, and workforce training.”

Wisniewski of Newark Venture Partners says the collaboration in Newark extends to investors.