NEWARK, NJ — More than 500 founders, investors, technologists, corporate leaders, students, creatives and ecosystem builders gathered in Newark on Monday for the 2026 Newark Tech Summit, launching Newark Tech Week with an afternoon focused on entrepreneurship, emerging technology and connection.
Held at Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall, the Summit brought together participants from across New Jersey and the broader region for conversations around artificial intelligence, startup growth, workforce development, civic innovation and the changing skills needed for the future economy.
The event reflected the growing role Newark is playing within New Jersey’s broader technology and entrepreneurship landscape, while also highlighting companies and founders building across North, Central and South Jersey.
The program opened with a discussion on what it takes to build and scale a company in New Jersey.
Moderated by Justin Murray of Plug and Play NJ, the “Why New Jersey?” panel featured Camron Brown of Counter Finance, Lynn Raynault, CEO and co-founder of Financial Wellness Labs, and Russ Abdrakhmanov of neKey.
The conversation explored some of the opportunities and challenges facing entrepreneurs across the state, including access to customers, capital and talent, as well as the importance of creating stronger connections between different regional startup communities.
Artificial intelligence was another major theme throughout the afternoon.
Featured keynote speaker Dupé O. Ajayi, an AI engagement and governance strategist and Cambridge Ethical AI alumna, challenged attendees to think beyond what new technologies can do and consider who they are ultimately being designed to serve.
Her keynote focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence, inclusion, accountability and the human experience, reinforcing a theme that surfaced throughout the Summit: innovation is not simply about creating more technology, but about ensuring that technology addresses real needs.
That theme continued during a discussion on the future of work.
Moderated by Camille Smith, founder and CEO of STEM So(ul)cial, the panel brought together Nadira M.A. Byles of Justworks, Leo Gordon of the United Federation of Teachers and Kassina Legend of The Knowledge House.
The group discussed how artificial intelligence is reshaping entry-level jobs, the changing value of traditional degrees, and the growing importance of skills-based education and workforce pathways.
As businesses rapidly adopt new technologies, speakers emphasized that employers, schools and workforce organizations will increasingly need to collaborate to prepare people for occupations that may look very different just a few years from now.
A later panel, “A World Run on Tech,” shifted the discussion toward how technology is affecting everyday life and communities.
Moderated by Tish Johnson-Jones, executive director of GreenLight Fund Greater Newark, the conversation featured Kameron Buckner, founder of Social Docket; Anthony Edwards Jr., CTO of Imedview Inc. and co-founder and CEO of EatOkra; and Solomon Steplight, CEO of Newark Alliance.
The panel examined how technology is being used in areas including legal services, food and local business discovery, community development and civic infrastructure.
Beyond the stage, much of the Summit’s energy could be found in Startup Alley, where founders demonstrated products, met prospective customers and investors, and connected with other entrepreneurs.
Participating organizations included The Hadley Broadcasting Company, Stacked Up Academy, Plain Sight, Rightview, Quarks Advantage, STEAManiacs, Scriptify, MARCo Solutions and Verdept, along with PSE&G.
The event also gave early-stage founders a chance to test one of the most important entrepreneurial skills: explaining an idea quickly.
During the 90-Second Founder Challenge, entrepreneurs were given just a minute and a half to explain what they were building, why it mattered and why the audience should care.
Participating startups included Muna, Boomer Technology Group, Quarks Advantage, 1st Street Partnerships, OpenShop, ChainPoints, electr0motiv and CHRP Communications.
The fast-paced competition stripped away lengthy slide decks and presentations and placed the focus directly on the founders, their ideas and their ability to connect with the room.
Perhaps just as important as the formal programming was the time built into the Summit for attendees to meet one another.
Founders connected with investors. Students met technology executives. Entrepreneurs found potential customers and collaborators. And people from different parts of the state had the opportunity to engage with one another in the same room.
That cross-pollination has become increasingly important as New Jersey works to create a more interconnected innovation economy.
The state has no shortage of universities, corporations, investors, entrepreneurs and technical talent. Events such as the Newark Tech Summit provide another piece of the infrastructure needed to bring those communities together.
And with the Summit serving as the opening event of Newark Tech Week, Monday’s gathering was intended not as a culmination, but as a starting point.
