The INNOVATE100 community gathered on the evening of November 18 at the beautiful McCarter Theatre Center on the campus of Princeton University for a spirited Fall Social — an informal, high-energy celebration of New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem and the connections that fuel it.
The event re-imagined networking: no formal programs, no keynotes, and no slide decks. Instead, a relaxed, welcoming environment deliberately designed so entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders and ecosystem builders could meet, mingle and spark new collaborative ideas.
Hosted in the theatre’s lobby, the venue choice underscored a broader agenda: innovation is not just happening in dense tech hubs, but across New Jersey — from academia to industry, from startups to scale-ups and from nonprofits to higher ed institutions.
As the INNOVATE100 network deepens its impact and expands its reach, events like this Fall Social serve as the connective tissue — gathering the people who will build the next wave of breakthroughs, together.
Looking ahead: There will be one more invite-only Winter Social in February in Madison. Then, the next major event for INNOVATE100 is the 3rd annual awards celebration on May 13, 2026, an event that will honor the individuals and teams shaping New Jersey’s future of innovation across startups, universities, corporations and government. Nominations will open soon so stay tuned.
