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EVENTDEX TAKES THE WIN AT WINTER TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN

March 30th, 2022 | by NJ Tech Weekly

At the winter TechLaunch BullPen, New Jersey startup Eventdex (Morganville), which has a platform for in-person, online and hybrid events, as well as an artificial intelligence (AI)-based attendee match function, took home first prize from the panel of judges.

NEW JERSEY INVESTORS REACT TO NEWS THAT STATE WAS IN TOP 10 FOR VENTURE FUNDING IN 2021

March 17th, 2022 | by NJ Tech Weekly

By now most members of the New Jersey tech ecosystem have heard the phenomenal news that New Jersey ranked in the top 10 in the nation for venture capital invested in 2021.  Innovation-focused companies in New Jersey secured $5.5 billion in 219 venture capital deals last year, up from $1.7 billion in 154 deals in 2020, according to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and data on PitchBook. By contrast, in 2017 the state saw a total of only $818 million received in 143 venture capital deals.

AFTER SUCCESSFUL PROTOTYPE AT RUTGERS MAKERSPACE, ROBOTICS STARTUP AERSYS IS DEVELOPING A LOGISTICS SOLUTION FOR SMALL RETAIL CHAINS

February 27th, 2022 | by NJ Tech Weekly

Let’s say you are Rutgers University, and your makerspace has become an integral resource for the development of student projects and faculty inventions. It’s essential that it be responsive to the research needs of the university. Then COVID strikes. For safety reasons, you can’t open the makerspace to students, faculty and others who need it. But the research and projects still must go on. What’s your solution?

CALAMU GETS $16 MILLION SERIES A, NJEDA APPROVES NJ ACCELERATE LOANS, EVENTDEX WINS TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN

February 13th, 2022 | by NJ Tech Weekly

Calamu (Clinton), a data security company with a unique concept, raised $16.5 million in a Series A round. Insight partners (New York) led the round with participation from existing seed investor Dell Technologies Capital (Palo Alto). The funds will be used to accelerate team expansion and further evolve the product platform.

EVENTDEX WINS INVESTOR AWARD AT LATEST TECHLAUNCH PITCH COMPETITION

February 11th, 2022 | by ROI-NJ

Eventdex, a Morganville-based event management software company, took the top prize at TechLaunch‘s latest pitch competition, BullPen #23, on Thursday February 10th, 2022. 

CATCHING UP WITH SAFECOM WIRELESS

February 8th, 2022 | by NJ Tech Weekly

NJTechWeekly.com decided to get in touch with former winners of New Jersey pitch competitions, to see how their startups have been faring since they won their events. In this article, Steve Sears interviewed Henry Wojtunik, CEO of Safe-Com Wireless which won the September 2018 TechLaunch BullPen.

QUEENS-BASED EZ HEALTH TAKES SEPTEMBER BULLPEN

November 17th, 2021 | by NJ Tech Weekly

At the September TechLaunch BullPen pitch event, three startups competed for $15,000 worth of advisory services and a chance to pitch to JumpStart NJ Angel Network (New Brunswick) and Tech Council Ventures (Summit). The startups had received mentoring prior to the event.

WHEN IT CAME TIME TO PIVOT, HACKENSACK'S PCI GLOBAL WAS PREPARED

November 8th, 2021 | by NJ Tech Weekly

When the COVID-19 pandemic made landfall in the United States 20 months ago and PCI Global’s clients were, in the words of founder and CEO John Censor, “scared to death and didn’t know what to do,” his team was ready to make their move to all-digital work.

EZ HEALTH TAKES TOP PRIZE AT TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN #22

September 30th, 2021 | by NJ Business Magazine

TechLaunch BullPen #22 proved overwhelmingly that it takes more than energy and ambition to make a successful entrepreneur. It also takes heart. In a trio of aspiring startups participating in the Shark Tank-like event (a hallmark of BullPen), a common denominator revealed itself as a commitment to some disenfranchised segment of society. That shared value proposition made the judging even tougher.

TECHLAUNCH'S LATEST AWARD GOES TO HEALTH TECH PLATFORM FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS

September 30th, 2021 | by ROI-NJ

A health tech platform for non-English speakers won the top prize at the recent TechLaunch BullPen #22 pitch contest, the tech organization announced.

IN UNUSUAL TWIST, NIGHTCLUB APP TOOK SUMMERTIME TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN

September 3rd, 2021 | by NJ Tech Weekly

Mario Casabona and his team at TechLaunch (Kinnelon) have been holding BullPen pitch events since 2017, but never in the pitch competition’s history has a consumer-facing company in the entertainment industry emerged as the winner.

CATCHING UP WITH CHRISTOPHER DUDICK OF SILAS SOLUTIONS

August 24th, 2021 | by NJ Tech Weekly

NJTechWeekly.com decided to get in touch with former winners of New Jersey pitch competitions, to see how their startups have been faring since they won their events. In this first of an occasional series, Steve Sears interviewed Christopher Dudick, of SiLAS Solutions, who won the February 6, 2019 TechLaunch BullPen.

VIRTUAL NIGHT CLUB APP TAKES INVESTOR AWARD AT TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN NO. 21

June 24th, 2021 | by ROI-NJ

With the pandemic seemingly coming under control — and the state beginning to reopen — many think people are ready to go out and cut loose…

CALAMU'S CYBERSECURITY IS BUILT AROUND BASIC CONCEPT - DATA BREACHES ARE UNAVOIDABLE...SO, PROTECT YOUR DATA BEFORE IT'S STOLEN

May 4th, 2021 | by ROI-NJ

Paul Lewis, who has been in cybersecurity his entire career, considers it a sad state of affairs that, somewhere along the way, businesses embraced a new best practice…

ROI INFLUENCERS: TECHNOLOGY 2021 - INVESTORS | ROI-NJ

April 19th, 2021 | by ROI-NJ

Casabona might be on the Mount Rushmore of the New Jersey tech scene.

AT MARCH BULLPEN, WINNER TRIPKICKS HELPS COMPANIES RESTART BUSINESS TRAVEL AFTER THE PANDEMIC

April 9th, 2021 | by NJ Tech Weekly

We must be turning the corner on the pandemic when a  travel application can win a serious pitch competition.

INTERVIEW: PAUL LEWIS OF CALAMU WHO RECENTLY RAISED A $2.4 MILLION SEED ROUND TO DISRUPT HOW SENSITIVE DATA IS STORED

March 30, 2021 | by NJ Tech Weekly

The idea behind Calamu, a Clinton-based startup, is easy to understand. Calamu’s product fragments data files, then encrypts and scatters them across multiple public clouds. 

TRIPKICKS WINS TOP PRIZE AT A RAZOR CLOSE BULLPEN #20

March 22, 2021 | by NJ Business Magazine

The most recent TechLaunch BullPen was the closest thing to a photo-finish horse race in the history of the pitch event, with all three presenting companies neck-and-neck at the finish line.

TRIPKICKS, ADD-ON, FOR BIZ TRAVEL PROGRAMS, IS WINNER OF TECHLAUNCH'S BULLPEN #20

MARCH 22, 2021 | by ROI-NJ

Tripkicks, an ingeniously simple add-on for business travel programs that provides actionable insights for trips, guidance on appropriate spend and behavior and enhanced traveler experience, was named the winner of the BullPen #20 event by TechLaunch. 

TECHLAUNCH ANNOUNCES $1.65M INVESTOR RAISE FOR CALIMU

MARCH 4, 2021 | by NJ Business

TechLaunch is celebrating the success of Clinton-based Calamu, a data protections company whose Founder and CEO, Paul Lewis, could be the “poster-person” for a lesson in tenacity.

PENNINGTON-BASED NEONEUR TAKES HOME FIRST PLACE IN DECEMBER TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN

JAN 27, 2021 | by NJ Tech Weekly

Neoneur, a Pennington-based startup with a digital development biomarker for neonates that can detect complications in feeding and respiration, was the winner of the December TechLaunch pitch competition.

PREDICTING 2021 - MARIO CASABONA TAKES A LOOK AT THE 2021 ANGEL INVESTMENT LANDSCAPE

Dec 23, 2020 | by NJ Tech Weekly

Trying to predict 2021 based on past data may be difficult because 2020 has seen an unprecedented economic situation. 

NJTW NEWS: EDA GIVES ACCELERATOR HELP TO STARTUPS, INNOVATION EVERGREEN FUND NEWS, TECHLAUNCH WINNER

Dec 20, 2020 | by NJ Tech Weekly
It’s been a busy week for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority as it announced that a program to help startups who get into approved accelerators is underway.

NEONEUR WINS TOP PRIZE AT TECHLAUNCH'S BULLPEN #19

Dec 18, 2020 | by New Jersey Business

The first Nor’easter of the season may have made driving a mess last night but caused no roadblocks for the smooth conditions of BullPen #19, the latest in the series of premier (virtual) pitch events in the Garden State.

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT TECH COMPANY WINS LATEST TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN | ROI-NJ (ROI-NJ.COM)

Dec 18, 2020 | by ROI-NJ

Neoneur, a Pennington-based company offering a digital developmental biomarker for infants, was named the winner of the Investor Award at the most recent TechLaunch BullPen pitch competition.

CLINTON DATA PROTECTION STARTUP CALAMU TAKES SEPTEMBER TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN

Oct 12, 2020 / by NJ Tech Weekly
TechLaunch held its 18th BullPen pitching event on September 22, shining a light on three startups.

TECHLAUNCH NAMES WINNER OF 18TH BULLPEN PITCH COMPETITION

Sept 29, 2020 / by ROI-NJ

TechLaunch, the Kinnelon-based accelerator for the region’s technology startups, held its 18th BullPen pitch competition in virtual form earlier this month.

ZIOTAG CLAIMS INVESTOR AWARD AT TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN

Jul 28, 2020 / by Ziotag

TechLaunch BullPen #17 Video: Ziotag Claims Investor Award

NJ BASED ZIOTAG WINS VIRTUAL TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN

Jul 28, 2020 / by NJ Tech Weekly

On July 28, TechLaunch, the New Jersey-based tech business accelerator and mentorship organization founded by Mario Casabona, held its very first virtual BullPen pitch competition, transitioning the event online.

TECHLAUNCH TO HOLD FIRST VIRTUAL BULLPEN. PLUS FEB. 12TH BULLPEN RECAP

Jul 17, 2020 / by NJ Tech Weekly​

For the last several years, TechLaunch founder and managing director Mario Casabona and his team have run an event called “BullPen,” where mentored startup founders could pitch their companies to an audience and a panel of investors. . . Now, during the COVID-19 health emergency, TechLaunch is moving its platform online, with its next event scheduled for July 28, without the pizza.

DURING VIRTUAL CHAT, CASABONA GIVES INSIGHTS INTO WHAT ANGELS ARE THINKING NOW

Apr 27, 2020 / by NJ Tech Weekly

Angel investor Mario Casabona sat down with Jim Barrood, an adviser to Tech Council Ventures and former head of the New Jersey Tech Council, for an online chat on April 9 to provide some advice to startup founders who are going through tough times right now.

WITI IN MORRISTOWN, TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN AT FDU, WOMEN OF COLOR CONNECTING IN NEWARK AND PITCHSTOP IN HAMILTON

Feb 17, 2020 / by NJ Tech Weekly

TechLaunch held its latest BullPen event Wednesday at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison in conjunction with the Morris Tech Meetup.

NEW JERSEY STARTUP PITCH COMPETITIONS ARE MAKING THE GRADE

Feb 13, 2020 / by Grit Daily

For people that live on “the other” side of the Hudson River, there’s always a bit of “me versus them” in reference to anything going on in the city when contrasted to the efforts within the Garden State. Make no mistake, the New Jersey startup tech scene is growing. Broader angel investor tax incentives announced by NJ Governor Phil Murphy plus increased access to capital are making an impact.

TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN AT MOMOUTH UNIVERSITY, NJ TECH COUNCIL AWARDS, STARTUP GRIND PRINCETON AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Nov 25, 2019 / by NJ Tech Weekly

A Mendham-based, woman-led startup called eMedEvents won the investor panel’s choice award at the TechLaunch BullPen at Monmouth University, Tuesday.

MED EVENTS, HOOKE AUDIO TAKE HOME TOP PRIZES AT TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN NO 15

Nov 21, 2019 / by NJBIZ

Two companies left as winners from TechLaunch BullPen No. 15, held Wednesday evening at Monmouth University. eMedEvents walked away with the investor award – and more than $15,000 in professional services – while Hooke Audio took home the Audience Choice Award.

FAIRFIELD-BASED COLLABORATION TOOL WINS TECHLAUNCH'S LATEST BULLPEN PITCH COMPETITION

Oct 14, 2019 / by ROI-NJ

TechLaunch announced the winner of BullPen #14, a startup pitch competition held Wednesday at the Princeton Innovation Center BioLabs on Princeton University‘s campus. The event provided an opportunity for four technology startups to pitch their business models to attendees and a panel of judges.

PANELISTS TALK ABOUT MARKETS, RUNAWAY VALUATIONS AT PRINCETON PITCHSTOP EVENT

Oct 4, 2019 / by NJ Tech Weekly

On August 1, the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber held its inaugural Princeton Pitchstop event. The event, designed to encourage startups to stay in the Princeton area, featured a panel discussion on angel and venture-capital investment trends moderated by Mario Casabona, founder and CEO of Casabona Ventures and TechLaunch (both in Kinnelon). The panelists then served as judges for the three startups who pitched that evening.

SPEAK2SOFTWARE CLAIMS AWARDS AT TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN

Jul 31, 2019 / by Business 365

Three New Jersey-based startups competed for $20,000 in advisory services at the April TechLaunch BullPen.

STARTUP SWEEP: SPEAK2SOFTWARE CLAIMS AWARDS AT TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN EVENT

Jul 12, 2019 / by ROI-NJ

Three New Jersey-based startups competed for $20,000 in advisory services at the April TechLaunch BullPen.

THE ENTREPRENEUR’S 9 STEP PROGRAM TO ACQUIRING FUNDING

Jul 2, 2019 / by NJ Tech Weekly

The startup entrepreneur has plenty of anxiety and frustration to deal with when trying to figure out how to raise capital or what that process entails. It’s the number one question aspiring entrepreneurs ask me. I wanted to show the basic process that an entrepreneur should be prepared for when embarking on a capital-raising journey. It is by no means the only path, nor is it simple. But it’s a start.

SPEAK2SOFTWARE TAKES ALL AT APRIL TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN PITCH COMPETITION

Jun 7, 2019 / by NJ Tech Weekly

Three New Jersey-based startups competed for $20,000 in advisory services at the April TechLaunch BullPen. They were Catapult (Montclair), an ad tech company that lets businesses easily insert high-quality video advertising into videos to acquire customers; UrboLabs (Freehold), a mobile app that allows organizations and businesses to interact with users’ mobile devices without the costs and challenges of supporting their own custom apps; and Speak2Software (Morganville) a voice command solution for assisted living facilities.

NEW JERSEY STARTUP SILAS WINS AUDIENCE CHOICE AND INVESTOR PANEL AWARDS AT FEBRUARY BULLPEN

Apr 29, 2019 / by NJ Tech Weekly

Leaders of some of the most promising, investible startups in New Jersey can be found pitching at TechLaunch BullPen events, where audience members can ask questions of startup founders and an investor panel will provide critical advice.

WAKE-UP CALL: INVENTOR OF CAFFEINE SPRAY AIMS TO FILL NEED FOR ATHLETES, OTHERS

Feb 12, 2019 / by ROI-NJ

Ashu Jain used to wake up in the middle of the night with puffed-up, swollen eyes. It was from his sleep apnea. Coffee and tea took too long, so he looked for a solution. Something that would help him stay awake but he could always keep on his nightstand.

SILAS MAKES CLEAN SWEEP OF INVESTOR, AUDIENCE AWARDS AT TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN 12

Feb 8, 2019 / by NJ BIZ

TechLaunch BullPen’s Tuesday evening event at Rutgers University was filled with a standing-room-only, capacity crowd of investors, mentors, academia, students and business people hearing investor pitches from a select group of presenting companies representing a broad swath of business models.

CAPITAL IDEA: AT TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN, DESIRE TO DEALFLOW FUELS ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM

Nov 27, 2018 / by NJ Tech Weekly
With all the recent attention given to the tech entrepreneurial ecosystem in New Jersey by Gov. Phil Murphy and others, very little has been said about TechLaunch, the virtual accelerator that holds a pitch competition called “BullPen” every two months at various university venues throughout the state.

TECHLAUNCH ANNOUNCES WINNER OF LATEST BULLPEN TECH VENTURE COMPETITION AT PRINCETON

Sep 19, 2018 / by ROI-NJ

TechLaunch announced the winner of BullPen #10, held Tuesday at Princeton Innovation Center BioLabs. Holmdel-based Safe-Com Wireless, a public safety company, claimed the top spot. It’s pitch was presented by Steve Clark, co-founder and CEO, and Henry Wojtunik, co-founder. The company is creating a technology disruption in public safety “in-building” communications for first responders.

TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN IN MADISON AND BRIEFING GOVERNMENT ABOUT TECH INNOVATION IN NUTLEY

May 30, 2018 / by NJ Tech Weekly

TechLaunch held its ninth BullPen startup pitch event at Fairleigh Dickinson University Tuesday in conjunction with the Morris Tech Meetup.

FAIR HAVEN'S 'YELP FOR EXTRACURRICULARS' WIN BULLPEN EVENT

May 24, 2018 / by ROI-NJ

KidGooRoo, a Fair Haven-based website for reviews of after-school activities, swept the top honors at TechLaunch’s ninth BullPen event, held earlier this week at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Florham campus.

TECHLAUNCH: ENTREPRENEUR WINS $20K AT PITCH COMPETITION

May 23, 2018 / by NJ BIZ

Alex Skove, co-founder and CEO of KidGooRoo, an online resource for parents-reviewed children’s activities, won $20,000 in business services after pitching her company to investors.

EXPERTS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT N.J'S PUSH FOR BIGGER SHARE OF INNOVATION-STARTUP ECONOMY

May 23, 2018 / by NJ BIZ

Mario Casabona, an entrepreneur who runs startup accelerator TechLaunch as well as the investment firm Casabona Ventures LLC, has been watching the local community for innovation evolve over the years. And several years back, he spotted a grim trend.

CASABONA TO MURPHY: REVIVE STATE COMMISSION ON SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Jan 14, 2018 / by NJ Tech Weekly

For New Jersey Tech Weekly’s end-of-year series in 2017, we asked company officials and other members of the tech ecosystem in New Jersey to craft a letter to the incoming governor, Phil Murphy, telling him about important business or social issues they are encountering, and giving him ideas on how the state help could solve them. This letter is from Mario Casabona, an angel investor who also founded the state’s first tech accelerator, TechLaunch.

NEWARK INNOVATION ACCELERATION CHALLENGE & TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN

Dec 4, 2017 / by NJ TechWeekly

The TechLaunch BullPen pitching event took place at Monmouth University Wednesday. Four participants, three early stage companies and one student company, pitched to a full house including investors, community members and students from the university.

JUNE BULLPEN PITCH EVENT AT FDU FEATURES FOUR COMPANIES WORTHY OF INVESTMENT

Aug 3, 2017 / by NJ Tech Weekly

The most recent TechLaunch BullPen pitch event took place in June at Fairleigh Dickinson University (Madison) in conjunction with the Morris Tech Meetup.

NJ-BASED STARTUPS FLUIDSENS AND ISPORT360 WIN THIRD TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN EVENT

Jun 1, 2017 / by NJ Tech Weekly

Four New Jersey startups participated in the third BullPen pitch competition, which was hosted by TechLaunch (Kinnelon) at Princeton University on April 19, in conjunction with the Princeton Tech Meetup.

TECHLAUNCH FOUNDER SELECTED BY ACG NEW JERSEY FOR PANEL ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP & ANGEL INVESTING

Mar 30, 2017 / by ACG New Jersey
The Future is Now: Large Corporate Connects with Early-Stage Innovators. Best Practices in Deals between Early-Stage Innovators and Large Companies in M&A, Investment, Etc. An exciting invitation-only event presented by ACG New Jersey and hosted by Gibbons P.C

TECHLAUNCH BULLPEN HOSTED WITH NEW JERSEY INNOVATION INSTITUTE AT NJIT

Feb 28, 2017 / by American Entrepreneurship Today

When/Where: Thursday, March 2, 2017 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM; NJ Innovation Institute at NJIT, Campus Center, Newark, NJ – Open and Free Registration & Free Parking

TECHLAUNCH'S BULLPEN PITCH SESSIONS OFF TO A PROMISING START

Feb 8, 2017 / by NJ Tech Weekly

Seasoned and budding entrepreneurs, investors and college students filled a classroom on the Piscataway campus of Rutgers Business School for TechLaunch’s first “BullPen” event, a pitch competition for tech startups held on January 25.

RESPONSIVE HEALTH ANNOUNCES STARTUP ENTREPRENEUR EDWARD BERDE AS CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Responsive Health Selects Startup Entrepreneur To Spearhead Development of Medical App Curation and Prescription Technology.

TECHLAUNCH RE-EMERGES

Nov 7, 2016 / by New Jersey Tech Weekly

TechLaunch Re-Emerges, NJBIA Innovation Summit, Newark Lights Up Fiber For Commercial Buildings

Linking his enthusiasm for motorcycle riding with a desire to ensure the safety of fellow riders, New Jersey entrepreneur Ryan Shearman co-founded Fusar Technologies in 2013. Fusar develops technology that can turn regular helmets into smart helmets for cyclists, motorcyclists, skaters, skiers and snowboarders to use during their adventures.

Indicative of the influx of emerging technology companies within New Jersey and collaboration among the state’s entrepreneurs, accelerators are cropping up throughout the Garden State as a way to support technology startups as they grow.

The effort to reinvigorate New Jersey’s economy from the ground up by supporting entrepreneurs and start-up companies got a boost Monday with the announcement of a new business accelerator backed by a $50 million fund.

Small businesses and start-ups in New Jersey soon may have another avenue for reaching investors.

Mario Casabona, an angel investor best known as the founder of TechLaunch, was awarded the top prize at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s second annual Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year ceremony on Tuesday.

From grocery store aisles to college campuses to PTA meetings, the startups that pitched at the October NJ Tech Meetup have products they hope will improve significant aspects of everyday life. All of the participating startups came out of the past class of the TechLaunch accelerator based in Clifton.

On July 14, 2014, the seven startup companies that have developed underTechLaunch’s LaunchPad program these last 16 weeks presented their business models at TechLaunch Demo Day 2014. The event gave these startup entrepreneurs the opportunity to promote their companies to a cross section of the New Jersey entrepreneurial community that included entrepreneurs, academics, and prospective investors who may be attending. As noted by TechLaunch founder Mario Casabona, the presentations are not a solicitation for funds, but a showcase of their business models and the great progress that has been made due to their participation in the TechLaunch Accelerator program.

Sometimes seeing the world from multiple vantage points can help avoid trouble. At least that’s the intent behind Fusar Technologies and its smart helmets for motorcycle riders.

The TechLaunch LaunchPad 3 class is about to graduate. The Clifton-based tech accelerator will hold its Demo Day – at which investors and the New Jersey tech community will be officially introduced to the seven startups that entered the accelerator with an idea and left with a real company – July 14, 2014.

Montclair — The TechLaunch LaunchPad 3 program, aimed at helping new technology startups get their business off the ground, will end next week with Tech Launch Demo Day, an investor conference to close the program and feature live demos from the participants.

If your friends’ lack of kayaks keeps spoiling your dreams of organizing flotillas in nearby lakes, weep no more: last week, a small group of New Jersey men formally quit their jobs to focus on The Outdoor Exchange (OX), a subscription-based gear closet.

On Monday, July 14, seven New Jersey tech companies will have the opportunity to pitch their product for a room full of angel investors looking to back the next step in technology innovation.

Who better to give fledgling start-up companies an insider’s perspective on how to raise capital than the man who has his name on the sign at Casabona Ventures?

New Jersey Lt. Governor, Kim Guadagno recently got a sneak peek at what it takes to launch a start-up from scratch when she attended one of the weekly workshops at TechLaunch, NJ’s premier technology accelerator.

Montclair State University’s Eighth Annual Student Research Symposium, “Promoting Collaboration across Disciplines,” held on April 12, 2014, celebrated the outstanding scholarship and research of more than 400 graduate and undergraduate students from each of the University’s six colleges and schools.

TechLaunch, New Jersey’s Technology Accelerator, will be granting the winner of Startup Weekend New Jersey Semi-Finalist status in their LaunchPad 3 program. This 16-week accelerator program awards startup companies up to $25,000 in seed capital, and offers a comprehensive bootcamp for building the essentials of a successful company.

One of the most interesting companies to come out of NJ’s TechLaunch accelerator, who relocated to the Garden State from Finland to participate in the LaunchPad program, Caktus has just closed a $200,000 seed investment round led by Kima Ventures, a European VC company which invests in over 100 hopeful startups every year. Other players in this round included private angel investors from the U.S., such as TechLaunch’s own founder, Mario Casabona.

NJTechWeekly.com asked some of the leaders of the tech community in New Jersey to evaluate the biggest challenge for the industry in 2014 and tell us how they would solve it.

In any startup, agility is a top priority. Changing directions based on customerfeedback, streamliningfocus, responding to consumer needs … it’s all part of creating a new business. We’re lucky that the beauty community is so vocal. They tell us what they need and want, and when we take a moment to stop and listen, we learn […]

Entrepreneurship is touted as the salvation for many who have great ideas for how to improve our lives and grow the economy. However, the number of entrepreneurs that fail still far exceed the much heralded few that succeed. Why is that? The answer is clear — the lack of a well thought plan and insufficient […]

As TechLaunch begins taking applications for its third class of startups, NJTechWeekly.com is reminded of some interviews we did with the second class of companies to graduate from the New Jersey tech accelerator. TechLaunch was founded by Mario Casabona in collaboration with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA). So far 19 companies, many of which have stayed in the Garden State, have […]

TechLaunch, a Clifton-based technology accelerator, will begin accepting applications Friday for its next LaunchPad, a 16-week bootcamp-style business training program for tech startups scheduled to begin in 2014. Graduates of the program – which typically runs from May to September, though the 2014 schedule is still being determined – earn seed capital of up to […]

Invidio launched their new web application, Inspired, which allows users to shop different looks and styles from the latest music videos. The app features multiple artists including Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Austin Mahone, Avril Lavigne and many others. Organizing the videos and outfits by artist, the app allows the user to click on their artist […]

Beautystat.com founder Ron Robinson is certainly thinking big. With the goal of becoming the “Google of beauty,” Robinson’s site, which had been primarily based on social networking and blogging, will be relaunched today with a host of new features, including e-commerce capabilities. “What our consumers have been telling us is that they want an easy way […]

“Can I borrow your phone?” is the digital age version of asking your neighbor if they have any sugar. Some things never change – even in 2013, when our iPhone battery runs out, just like the old days, we must ask to use our neighbors’. Here’s how one Clifton tech startup plans to put and […]

What started off as the usual demo day for the Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator in New York quickly showed how the JOBS Act’s new rules on fundraising have clamped down the way startups pitch–or have they? Over and over, the audience at last month’s ERA demo day was told the companies on stage were not seeking funding, which […]

The objective of any accelerator program is to turn startups that need work into fundable entities. Clifton-based TechLaunch, the accelerator founded with the help of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, is no exception. Many of the TechLaunch founders made serious changes to their businesses during the 16 weeks in which they were involved with […]

NJTechWeekly.com attended the TechLaunch Demo Day Sept. 19, 2013, and saw nine polished presentations from the startups who had attended the 16-week program in Clifton. All the presenters had come a long way since they started the program, and it was amazing to think of how far they could go. The class included a business-to-business (B2B) startup, a hardware […]

One of the aspects of angel investing that I enjoy the most, is the ability to become involved with my portfolio companies. Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the “Demo Day” for the 2013 crop of start-ups in TechLaunch NJ, a 16-week technology accelerator program.  As an investor in and mentor to this group of […]

Summer’s all but over, but it’s no less important to stay hydrated. According to the CDC 43 percent of Americans drink fewer than four glasses of water a day, and while the actual amount you should drink varies from person to person, four glasses probably doesn’t cut it. That’s where Caktus, a neat Finnish hardware startup […]

For the nine technology startups who spent the last 16 weeks in intensive business development training at the Clifton-based TechLaunch, it all came down to today on the Montclair State University campus – demo day, the chance to make their pitch before a room of investors flush with cash and eager to find the next […]

30 Second Showcase announces the release its mobile application, 30 Second Showcase, on iOS. This innovative application marries the traditional elevator pitch with images to generate a rich visualization of creative work tailored for every conversation. Allowing users to create custom micro-portfolios or “showcases”, creatives are able to truly highlight their unique abilities in ways […]

The folks at TechLaunch, NJ’s tech accelerator, have been uncharacteristically quiet during this 16-week LaunchPad session, but their newsletter gives some insight into what their companies have been doing. It looks to us like the teams have been receiving a lot of advice from a number of experts and have been pitching to practice panels leading up […]

In 1982 you founded electro-radiation (eri) a developer of radar, navigation and Communications technology and equipment for the defense industry, which was acquired by honeywell international in 2004. you stayed on for three years as the Director of electronic Protection to oversee the transition. after being at the helm of eri for more than 20 […]

A graduate of TechLaunch’s Inaugural Class of 2012 – Pervasive Group – has announced that their MMGuardian product — a parental control software app — has just won the 1st place prize for Technology Innovation at the mega-watt CTIA Wireless Show in Las Vegas.  They were among hundreds of applicants, including heavy hitters such as […]

* Accelerator puts start-ups on firm footing with mentors, seed capital. An online guide for comic book fans. A smartphone application that allows freelancers to show their work on the go. An electronic water bottle that measures your hydration level. Eight start-up companies from as close as Bergen and Passaic counties and from as far as Finland […]

The Montclair State University Seventh Annual Student Research Symposium, “Promoting Collaboration across Disciplines,” held on April 20, 2013, celebrated the outstanding scholarship and research presentations of more than 300 graduate and undergraduate students from each of the University’s six colleges and schools. On the same day, the College of Science and Mathematics hosted the first-ever […]

Technology companies dominated the March 2013 NJTC Venture Conference, held recently in New Brunswick, and life sciences pulled in a close second. This year’s crop included a number of already well-developed businesses. New Jersey companies took home roughly half the awards presented at the conference, which drew participants from as far as California. Angels and […]

MONTCLAIR — TechLaunch is expanding its team by appointing Joshua Trojak as Operations Manager.  Formerly the Acting Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology, Trojak has a strong background and experience with the New Jersey’s science and technology communities. At the Commission, Trojak was instrumental in developing a catalog of programs, […]

On March 15, Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison will host the state’s first Startup Weekend, an event bringing together entrepreneurs, designers, developers and startup enthusiasts to participate in 54 hours of taking innovative business ideas from concept to launch. Local CEOs, founders, and startup veterans will be on hand to provide expertise and give talks […]

Streamed live on Jan 28, 2013 Listen and watch Travis Kahn, Executive Director of TechLaunch, a New Jersey technology accelerator, talk about start-ups, entrepreneurship and raising cash for your big idea.

FUNDINGHumayun Khan  January 18, 2013 NYC-based Echolocation, a location-based microblogging mobile app, recently announced that it closed a $200,000 round of seed funding fromTechLaunch, Casabona Ventures, in addition to other angel investors. The startup completed the TechLaunch accelerator program and launched its initial iPhone app two months ago, and will look to use the funding to build out […]

Techlaunch is looking for the next Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg or Nicholas Catania. Nicholas who? Catania was one of the first dozen attendees at the tech start-up boot camp organized byClifton-based TechLaunch, the state-backed business accelerator that is looking to help New Jersey become a tech entrepreneurial hub. Catania, who created a Mahwah-based startup, NickelBus.com, that […]

The Consumer Electronics Show is expensive and for a lot of startups, it’s prohibitively expensive, thousands – or tens of thousands – of dollars to be a very small fish in a very big ocean. As a result, there are external activities that are affiliated with CES but aren’t actually part of the show floor and major event […]

At CES next week, Pervasive Group will give an official launch to two new apps for letting parents control the use of mobile devices by children and teens: MMGuardian Tablet Security for Android tablets and MMGuardian Premium for Android smartphones. The apps will be demo’d during a Power Session on CES Press Day. An MMGuardian Tablet Security […]

Over the past few weeks NJTechWeekly.com approached New Jersey tech community leaders, asking them to consider a question: What is the greatest challenge facing the N.J. technology industry/community in 2013? We are happy to report there was an overwhelming response. We have decided to present the replies in alphabetical order by responder last name, in an attempt […]

It’s almost time for the holidays but not quite yet. For one of the last EDUKWEST interviews of this year, I invited Abran Maldonado to talk about his edtech startup NuSkool and to share his philosophy on how to integrate lessons centered around topics like pop culture and music in a rigorous curriculum.   Coming […]

Shawn Oates, founder of SeamBLiSS and former model, passionate about fashion talked to us about his love for designs, innovation and of course about his online e-site catered to men, women, and children looking for independent fashion designers and a social shopping experience as both buyers and sellers are encouraged to input ideas in terms of the […]

For the past year, Stevens alumnus Brian Donohue ’11 has spent 80+ hours per week building his company, worked out of a tiny basement, and moved office spaces five times, but he is hoping it all pays off very soon. Today, this budding entrepreneur launched what he thinks could be this year’s breakout interactive technology […]

* State plan introduces entrepreneurs to possible investors. MITSU YASUKAWA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Luis Croussett, the founder of Zenmenu, giving a presentation at Montclair State University. The event wrapped up TechLaunch, the state’s first technology accelerator. Ten New Jersey technology start-ups pitched their products to advisers and investors Wednesday at Montclair State University, after completing New Jersey’s first technology […]

If we were to do a quick word association exercise, the follow-up to “Jersey” would probably be something like “Shore,” “Snooki,” or “Boys.” “Startup” probably wouldn’t even make the list.  Despite — or, perhaps, because of — its proximity to New York, the Garden State doesn’t get a whole lot of love from the tech […]

When [Mario] Casabona reminded TechLaunch’s 10 resident CEOs on Tuesday to start thinking about tax returns, the room filled with groans and sighs. The truth is that poring over Schedule C or 1065 forms is a good problem to have. As the first TechLaunch cohort, the entrepreneurs had $20,000 to spend on their startup companies […]

By HEATHER HADDON Hoboken wants to extend Silicon Alley across the Hudson River and grab a piece of the New York City technology boom. The Mile Square City now claims a tech meetup with 2,160 members–one of the largest communities in the Greater New York area. The Hoboken City Council is set to vote next month […]

TechLaunch, the tech accelerator begun in collaboration with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), announced its first startup class on August 13, 2012. The accelerator provides the portfolio companies early seed-stage funding, mentorship, key services and exposure to qualified investors through its 12-week LaunchPad I accelerator program, which ends with Demo Day on November 1. The […]

Eleven angels spoke at the New Jersey Entrepreneurial Network(NJEN) Gathering of Angels event, held at the Princeton Marriott Conference Center on June 6, 2012, where each was asked to offer a single piece of advice to entrepreneurs. Many couldn’t stick to just one. The following is a summary of what they had to say: “Don’t give up,” was […]

If you are an aspiring tech entrepreneur with an innovative concept worth developing, or a fledgling tech start-up who just needs the critical support to transform your dream into reality, don’t miss the bus!  TechLaunch, New Jersey’s Technology Accelerator, is still taking applications at www.techlaunch.com, for the 2012 LaunchPad program….until the Deadline of June 8th. The […]

In one of the most competitive Pitch Olympics ever held by the Venture Association of New Jersey, entrepreneurs seeking funding and vying in a pitching contest to a panel of investors resulted in ties for both 1st and 3rd place—prompting Jay Trien, co-founder of VANJ to note the unique circumstance of needing more plaques for the winners.

It’s fair to say that tech accelerator programs are launching, well, frequently now, all with the same basic template. Between Blueprint Health, DreamIt Ventures and Entrepreneurs Roundtable, Betabeat can barely keep up with the demo days just here in New York. It’s difficult to say who started the craze; Y Combinator may have pioneered the form, but TechStars put its version on […]

Silicon Valley has never been shy to turn away dim startups, but that’s not the reason young entrepreneurs are looking towards the east coast to plant their roots. Let’s take a look at the cold, hard facts here – Silicon Valley is a breeding ground for tech startups. They are known as being more “ambitious”, according to […]

N.J. is getting its first tech accelerator, called TechLaunch, funded by a partnership between the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) and private equity and founded by tech industry veteran and angel investor Mario Casabona. Casabona’s proposal was selected from a field of six prospects interested in starting a tech accelerator in N.J. after the […]