I meant every word in my opening speech!
Today, I want to challenge your perceptions about a place often overlooked and underestimated: New Jersey. But I'm here to tell you that New Jersey has a secret that's been hidden in plain sight.
We have an unmatched legacy of innovation. Bell Labs, the birthplace of the transistor, was founded here. Einstein, one of the greatest minds of the 20th century, called New Jersey home. Today, we have top universities like #Princeton and #Rutgers, funding initiatives like the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), and massive infrastructure projects like the Newark Liberty International Airport—a gateway to the world.
But what drives this spirit of innovation? What fuels this fire? It's not just about having the right resources or the right talent. It's about having the right mindset. It's about being hungry, driven, and willing to take risks. It's about having a healthy dose of ambition, passion, and GREED.
Greed, in the sense of wanting more, striving for more, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Greed that drives us to innovate, to experiment, and to take calculated risks. Greed that fuels our entrepreneurial spirit and propels us forward. GREED IS GOOD. Greed is right!
So, what's holding us back? Fear? Doubt? Complacency? I say, no more. It's time we take a chance, take a risk, and make New Jersey the hub of innovation that it’s meant to be. Imagine a state where startups thrive, innovation is the norm, and creativity is the status quo. That state is New Jersey, and it's time we make it happen.
I have one question for you: who's with me? Are you ready to take a chance and make New Jersey great? The time for hesitation is over. The time for action is now. Let's make it happen. ARE YOU WITH ME!
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Thanks to Montgomery Township , Somerset County, NJ , New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) , and a special thanks to our sponsor, Greenberg Traurig, LLP , who presented a panel on IP Law. AREA 23 LABS, who provided space (and is looking for tenants at 23 Orchard Rd. in Skillman, NJ). Beniamino Iovine in Skillman for catering. Mike Johnson from YourTownTube for filming. Organizers and co-hosts David Stengle from StartupGrind Princeton, Mahender Gorrai of Venture X , Christopher Gittings of Cogent Connections, Roopak Naresh Gupta of mTap, Ben Jen of our firm, 1435 Capital Management, and the fantastic #startups for making this event possible.
#NJxVentureSummit #VentureToThePowerofX #LifeSciencesNJ #NJTheInnovationState #OpportunityMeetsInnovation
Data Diva 👩🏻🎤 Founder of Vermillion Analytics
7moAwesome, looks like you guys will be having fun doing this together!