Councilman Peter Doyle, Atlantic Highlands; Augie Carton, Co-Owner, Carton Brewing; and Tim Lizura, President and Chief Operating Officer, NJ Economic Development Authority

Drives New Small Business Awareness Initiative

TRENTON, N.J. (October 19, 2015) –  As part of the state’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of financing programs available to small businesses, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Lizura visited Carton Brewing in Atlantic Highlands on Friday. The business recently received a line of credit through the EDA’s Premier Lender program, which lowers the cost of borrowing for small businesses through the EDA’s alliance with more than 30 banking partners.
 

"Businesses like Carton Brewing create jobs, invest in our communities, and contribute to the quality of life of local residents and visitors," said Lizura.  "We want business owners all over the State to know that resources are available to help companies of all sizes grow and prosper in New Jersey."
 

Since 2010, through the Premier Lender program, $51.8 million in loans has been provided to 78 small NJ businesses, leveraging more than $201 million in private/public investment. 
 

Carton Brewing was recently approved under the Premier Lender program for a line of credit from Provident Bank, with a 50 percent EDA guarantee. The brewery, which samples beer on-premise and self-distributes to over 350 bars, restaurants and liquor stores in New Jersey, will use its line of credit to expand its business, including the purchase of equipment, working capital, and the acquisition of an adjacent building.
 

"We at Carton Brewing are thrilled about the reception our products have received in our community and are looking forward to expanding our capacity and reaching new people," said Augie Carton, co-owner, Carton Brewing.  "It's important to us to continue doing what we do in our neighborhood and we appreciate the support of the State, Provident Bank, and our customers as we grow."
 

The visit coincides with the launch of EDA’s new small and mid-sized business-focused print and digital marketing campaign, which was created in collaboration with Princeton Partners, Inc.  Featuring the theme "EDA Was Here,” the campaign anecdotally showcases how businesses, like Carton Brewery, have used the EDA’s financing programs to overcome challenges, meet their needs and grow.   The campaign will also target the banking community to highlight the benefit of EDA’s network of Premier Lenders and the value that EDA’s involvement brings to a commercial lending transaction.  The campaign will include print ads in various New Jersey business publications, as well as digital display ads on various business websites and search engine marketing.  
 

"Our new awareness initiative was created to ensure that all New Jersey small business owners take advantage of the valuable resources that are available and accessible to support their growth and prosperity," said Lizura. 
 

EDA has also internally realigned its business banking staff in an effort to optimize its support of small and mid-sized businesses.   This realignment, which was driven by the goal of more adeptly connecting small businesses with appropriate resources,  will dedicate business banking officers to specific programs and geographic areas to ensure that staff is best positioned to assist businesses depending on their need and location.  
 

Two recent EDA staff changes were driven by the move to this new model.  Paul Ceppi was promoted to Director – Business Banking & Community Development after nearly 20 years in Community Development, including eight years with the EDA.  Derrick Benns was promoted to Program Manager – Business Banking after ten years with the EDA and several years with a number of New Jersey banks.  Ceppi and Benns both have extensive knowledge of EDA programs and strong relationships with EDA’s banking partners and various other stakeholders.
 

The EDA is part of the state’s results-driven Partnership for Action.  Created by Governor Christie and led by Lt. Governor Guadagno, the Partnership is the hub for all economic development activity in New Jersey and is comprised of four interconnected and highly focused organizational elements: Choose New Jersey, the Business Action Center, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and the EDA. 
 

To learn more about opportunities for business growth throughout New Jersey, visit the state’s business portal at www.NewJerseyBusiness.gov or call the Business Action Center at (866) 534-7789.
 

Councilman Peter Doyle, Atlantic Highlands; Augie Carton, Co-Owner, Carton Brewing; and Tim Lizura, President and Chief Operating Officer, NJ Economic Development Authority

Drives New Small Business Awareness Initiative

TRENTON, N.J. (October 19, 2015) –  As part of the state’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of financing programs available to small businesses, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Lizura visited Carton Brewing in Atlantic Highlands on Friday. The business recently received a line of credit through the EDA’s Premier Lender program, which lowers the cost of borrowing for small businesses through the EDA’s alliance with more than 30 banking partners.
 

"Businesses like Carton Brewing create jobs, invest in our communities, and contribute to the quality of life of local residents and visitors," said Lizura.  "We want business owners all over the State to know that resources are available to help companies of all sizes grow and prosper in New Jersey."
 

Since 2010, through the Premier Lender program, $51.8 million in loans has been provided to 78 small NJ businesses, leveraging more than $201 million in private/public investment. 
 

Carton Brewing was recently approved under the Premier Lender program for a line of credit from Provident Bank, with a 50 percent EDA guarantee. The brewery, which samples beer on-premise and self-distributes to over 350 bars, restaurants and liquor stores in New Jersey, will use its line of credit to expand its business, including the purchase of equipment, working capital, and the acquisition of an adjacent building.
 

"We at Carton Brewing are thrilled about the reception our products have received in our community and are looking forward to expanding our capacity and reaching new people," said Augie Carton, co-owner, Carton Brewing.  "It's important to us to continue doing what we do in our neighborhood and we appreciate the support of the State, Provident Bank, and our customers as we grow."
 

The visit coincides with the launch of EDA’s new small and mid-sized business-focused print and digital marketing campaign, which was created in collaboration with Princeton Partners, Inc.  Featuring the theme "EDA Was Here,” the campaign anecdotally showcases how businesses, like Carton Brewery, have used the EDA’s financing programs to overcome challenges, meet their needs and grow.   The campaign will also target the banking community to highlight the benefit of EDA’s network of Premier Lenders and the value that EDA’s involvement brings to a commercial lending transaction.  The campaign will include print ads in various New Jersey business publications, as well as digital display ads on various business websites and search engine marketing.  
 

"Our new awareness initiative was created to ensure that all New Jersey small business owners take advantage of the valuable resources that are available and accessible to support their growth and prosperity," said Lizura. 
 

EDA has also internally realigned its business banking staff in an effort to optimize its support of small and mid-sized businesses.   This realignment, which was driven by the goal of more adeptly connecting small businesses with appropriate resources,  will dedicate business banking officers to specific programs and geographic areas to ensure that staff is best positioned to assist businesses depending on their need and location.  
 

Two recent EDA staff changes were driven by the move to this new model.  Paul Ceppi was promoted to Director – Business Banking & Community Development after nearly 20 years in Community Development, including eight years with the EDA.  Derrick Benns was promoted to Program Manager – Business Banking after ten years with the EDA and several years with a number of New Jersey banks.  Ceppi and Benns both have extensive knowledge of EDA programs and strong relationships with EDA’s banking partners and various other stakeholders.
 

The EDA is part of the state’s results-driven Partnership for Action.  Created by Governor Christie and led by Lt. Governor Guadagno, the Partnership is the hub for all economic development activity in New Jersey and is comprised of four interconnected and highly focused organizational elements: Choose New Jersey, the Business Action Center, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and the EDA. 
 

To learn more about opportunities for business growth throughout New Jersey, visit the state’s business portal at www.NewJerseyBusiness.gov or call the Business Action Center at (866) 534-7789.
 

Councilman Peter Doyle, Atlantic Highlands; Augie Carton, Co-Owner, Carton Brewing; and Tim Lizura, President and Chief Operating Officer, NJ Economic Development Authority

Drives New Small Business Awareness Initiative

TRENTON, N.J. (October 19, 2015) –  As part of the state’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of financing programs available to small businesses, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Lizura visited Carton Brewing in Atlantic Highlands on Friday. The business recently received a line of credit through the EDA’s Premier Lender program, which lowers the cost of borrowing for small businesses through the EDA’s alliance with more than 30 banking partners.
 

"Businesses like Carton Brewing create jobs, invest in our communities, and contribute to the quality of life of local residents and visitors," said Lizura.  "We want business owners all over the State to know that resources are available to help companies of all sizes grow and prosper in New Jersey."
 

Since 2010, through the Premier Lender program, $51.8 million in loans has been provided to 78 small NJ businesses, leveraging more than $201 million in private/public investment. 
 

Carton Brewing was recently approved under the Premier Lender program for a line of credit from Provident Bank, with a 50 percent EDA guarantee. The brewery, which samples beer on-premise and self-distributes to over 350 bars, restaurants and liquor stores in New Jersey, will use its line of credit to expand its business, including the purchase of equipment, working capital, and the acquisition of an adjacent building.
 

"We at Carton Brewing are thrilled about the reception our products have received in our community and are looking forward to expanding our capacity and reaching new people," said Augie Carton, co-owner, Carton Brewing.  "It's important to us to continue doing what we do in our neighborhood and we appreciate the support of the State, Provident Bank, and our customers as we grow."
 

The visit coincides with the launch of EDA’s new small and mid-sized business-focused print and digital marketing campaign, which was created in collaboration with Princeton Partners, Inc.  Featuring the theme "EDA Was Here,” the campaign anecdotally showcases how businesses, like Carton Brewery, have used the EDA’s financing programs to overcome challenges, meet their needs and grow.   The campaign will also target the banking community to highlight the benefit of EDA’s network of Premier Lenders and the value that EDA’s involvement brings to a commercial lending transaction.  The campaign will include print ads in various New Jersey business publications, as well as digital display ads on various business websites and search engine marketing.  
 

"Our new awareness initiative was created to ensure that all New Jersey small business owners take advantage of the valuable resources that are available and accessible to support their growth and prosperity," said Lizura. 
 

EDA has also internally realigned its business banking staff in an effort to optimize its support of small and mid-sized businesses.   This realignment, which was driven by the goal of more adeptly connecting small businesses with appropriate resources,  will dedicate business banking officers to specific programs and geographic areas to ensure that staff is best positioned to assist businesses depending on their need and location.  
 

Two recent EDA staff changes were driven by the move to this new model.  Paul Ceppi was promoted to Director – Business Banking & Community Development after nearly 20 years in Community Development, including eight years with the EDA.  Derrick Benns was promoted to Program Manager – Business Banking after ten years with the EDA and several years with a number of New Jersey banks.  Ceppi and Benns both have extensive knowledge of EDA programs and strong relationships with EDA’s banking partners and various other stakeholders.
 

The EDA is part of the state’s results-driven Partnership for Action.  Created by Governor Christie and led by Lt. Governor Guadagno, the Partnership is the hub for all economic development activity in New Jersey and is comprised of four interconnected and highly focused organizational elements: Choose New Jersey, the Business Action Center, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and the EDA. 
 

To learn more about opportunities for business growth throughout New Jersey, visit the state’s business portal at www.NewJerseyBusiness.gov or call the Business Action Center at (866) 534-7789.
 

Councilman Peter Doyle, Atlantic Highlands; Augie Carton, Co-Owner, Carton Brewing; and Tim Lizura, President and Chief Operating Officer, NJ Economic Development Authority

Drives New Small Business Awareness Initiative

TRENTON, N.J. (October 19, 2015) –  As part of the state’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of financing programs available to small businesses, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Lizura visited Carton Brewing in Atlantic Highlands on Friday. The business recently received a line of credit through the EDA’s Premier Lender program, which lowers the cost of borrowing for small businesses through the EDA’s alliance with more than 30 banking partners.
 

"Businesses like Carton Brewing create jobs, invest in our communities, and contribute to the quality of life of local residents and visitors," said Lizura.  "We want business owners all over the State to know that resources are available to help companies of all sizes grow and prosper in New Jersey."
 

Since 2010, through the Premier Lender program, $51.8 million in loans has been provided to 78 small NJ businesses, leveraging more than $201 million in private/public investment. 
 

Carton Brewing was recently approved under the Premier Lender program for a line of credit from Provident Bank, with a 50 percent EDA guarantee. The brewery, which samples beer on-premise and self-distributes to over 350 bars, restaurants and liquor stores in New Jersey, will use its line of credit to expand its business, including the purchase of equipment, working capital, and the acquisition of an adjacent building.
 

"We at Carton Brewing are thrilled about the reception our products have received in our community and are looking forward to expanding our capacity and reaching new people," said Augie Carton, co-owner, Carton Brewing.  "It's important to us to continue doing what we do in our neighborhood and we appreciate the support of the State, Provident Bank, and our customers as we grow."
 

The visit coincides with the launch of EDA’s new small and mid-sized business-focused print and digital marketing campaign, which was created in collaboration with Princeton Partners, Inc.  Featuring the theme "EDA Was Here,” the campaign anecdotally showcases how businesses, like Carton Brewery, have used the EDA’s financing programs to overcome challenges, meet their needs and grow.   The campaign will also target the banking community to highlight the benefit of EDA’s network of Premier Lenders and the value that EDA’s involvement brings to a commercial lending transaction.  The campaign will include print ads in various New Jersey business publications, as well as digital display ads on various business websites and search engine marketing.  
 

"Our new awareness initiative was created to ensure that all New Jersey small business owners take advantage of the valuable resources that are available and accessible to support their growth and prosperity," said Lizura. 
 

EDA has also internally realigned its business banking staff in an effort to optimize its support of small and mid-sized businesses.   This realignment, which was driven by the goal of more adeptly connecting small businesses with appropriate resources,  will dedicate business banking officers to specific programs and geographic areas to ensure that staff is best positioned to assist businesses depending on their need and location.  
 

Two recent EDA staff changes were driven by the move to this new model.  Paul Ceppi was promoted to Director – Business Banking & Community Development after nearly 20 years in Community Development, including eight years with the EDA.  Derrick Benns was promoted to Program Manager – Business Banking after ten years with the EDA and several years with a number of New Jersey banks.  Ceppi and Benns both have extensive knowledge of EDA programs and strong relationships with EDA’s banking partners and various other stakeholders.
 

The EDA is part of the state’s results-driven Partnership for Action.  Created by Governor Christie and led by Lt. Governor Guadagno, the Partnership is the hub for all economic development activity in New Jersey and is comprised of four interconnected and highly focused organizational elements: Choose New Jersey, the Business Action Center, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and the EDA. 
 

To learn more about opportunities for business growth throughout New Jersey, visit the state’s business portal at www.NewJerseyBusiness.gov or call the Business Action Center at (866) 534-7789.
 

Councilman Peter Doyle, Atlantic Highlands; Augie Carton, Co-Owner, Carton Brewing; and Tim Lizura, President and Chief Operating Officer, NJ Economic Development Authority

Drives New Small Business Awareness Initiative

TRENTON, N.J. (October 19, 2015) –  As part of the state’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of financing programs available to small businesses, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Lizura visited Carton Brewing in Atlantic Highlands on Friday. The business recently received a line of credit through the EDA’s Premier Lender program, which lowers the cost of borrowing for small businesses through the EDA’s alliance with more than 30 banking partners.
 

"Businesses like Carton Brewing create jobs, invest in our communities, and contribute to the quality of life of local residents and visitors," said Lizura.  "We want business owners all over the State to know that resources are available to help companies of all sizes grow and prosper in New Jersey."
 

Since 2010, through the Premier Lender program, $51.8 million in loans has been provided to 78 small NJ businesses, leveraging more than $201 million in private/public investment. 
 

Carton Brewing was recently approved under the Premier Lender program for a line of credit from Provident Bank, with a 50 percent EDA guarantee. The brewery, which samples beer on-premise and self-distributes to over 350 bars, restaurants and liquor stores in New Jersey, will use its line of credit to expand its business, including the purchase of equipment, working capital, and the acquisition of an adjacent building.
 

"We at Carton Brewing are thrilled about the reception our products have received in our community and are looking forward to expanding our capacity and reaching new people," said Augie Carton, co-owner, Carton Brewing.  "It's important to us to continue doing what we do in our neighborhood and we appreciate the support of the State, Provident Bank, and our customers as we grow."
 

The visit coincides with the launch of EDA’s new small and mid-sized business-focused print and digital marketing campaign, which was created in collaboration with Princeton Partners, Inc.  Featuring the theme "EDA Was Here,” the campaign anecdotally showcases how businesses, like Carton Brewery, have used the EDA’s financing programs to overcome challenges, meet their needs and grow.   The campaign will also target the banking community to highlight the benefit of EDA’s network of Premier Lenders and the value that EDA’s involvement brings to a commercial lending transaction.  The campaign will include print ads in various New Jersey business publications, as well as digital display ads on various business websites and search engine marketing.  
 

"Our new awareness initiative was created to ensure that all New Jersey small business owners take advantage of the valuable resources that are available and accessible to support their growth and prosperity," said Lizura. 
 

EDA has also internally realigned its business banking staff in an effort to optimize its support of small and mid-sized businesses.   This realignment, which was driven by the goal of more adeptly connecting small businesses with appropriate resources,  will dedicate business banking officers to specific programs and geographic areas to ensure that staff is best positioned to assist businesses depending on their need and location.  
 

Two recent EDA staff changes were driven by the move to this new model.  Paul Ceppi was promoted to Director – Business Banking & Community Development after nearly 20 years in Community Development, including eight years with the EDA.  Derrick Benns was promoted to Program Manager – Business Banking after ten years with the EDA and several years with a number of New Jersey banks.  Ceppi and Benns both have extensive knowledge of EDA programs and strong relationships with EDA’s banking partners and various other stakeholders.
 

The EDA is part of the state’s results-driven Partnership for Action.  Created by Governor Christie and led by Lt. Governor Guadagno, the Partnership is the hub for all economic development activity in New Jersey and is comprised of four interconnected and highly focused organizational elements: Choose New Jersey, the Business Action Center, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and the EDA. 
 

To learn more about opportunities for business growth throughout New Jersey, visit the state’s business portal at www.NewJerseyBusiness.gov or call the Business Action Center at (866) 534-7789.
 

Co-Founder Honored with New Jersey Immigrant Entrepreneur Award
 

GENEWIZ Co-Founder Dr. Steve Sun honored with the George Perrott Macculloch Award for Leadership at the Third Annual New Jersey Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards (NJIEA) on October 13.  Pictured from left: EDA’s Technology and Life Sciences Director Kathleen Coviello, Steven Sun, CCIT Program Manager Anne-Marie Maman. (Photo provided by GENEWIZ)
 

TRENTON (October 14, 2015) – Over the last 16 years, GENEWIZ co-founders Steve Sun, PhD, and Amy Liao, PhD, have grown the company from a two-person biotechnology startup business at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (EDA) Commercialization Center for Innovative Technologies (CCIT) in North Brunswick to an internationally-recognized operation. Now headquartered in South Plainfield, GENEWIZ employs more than 700 people across 12 facilities at major biotech hubs around the world.

GENEWIZ, a global leader in research and development (R&D) genomics services, was recently named to the Inc. 5,000 List of Fastest-Growing Private U.S. Companies for the second year in a row. The company has also made NJBIZ’s “50 Fastest Growing Companies” for four straight years.
 
Last year, GENEWIZ, a graduate of CCIT, opened its new 11,000-square-foot headquarters in South Plainfield, where it continues to develop novel and unique technologies to advance the life sciences. These proprietary technologies, like GENEWIZ’s FuzeSeq^TM Antibody Sequencing, which was launched in March of this year, are helping aid research scientists in their pursuit of scientific discoveries, better healthcare, a greener environment, and abundant food supplies. 
 
“The four years we spent at CCIT enabled us to take advantage of numerous services offered by the life sciences incubator, including affordable lab and office space, and access to business development resources,” Dr. Sun, GENEWIZ’s Chairman and CEO, said. “CCIT gave us the business tools we needed to put GENEWIZ on a solid foundation, enabling us to grow into a worldwide enterprise serving blue-chip pharmaceutical corporations, emerging biotechnology companies, and top-tier research institutions.”
 
Also in 2014, GENEWIZ launched Admera Health, an advanced molecular diagnostics company focused on personalized medicine and non-invasive cancer testing. Now an independent company, Admera Health continues to benefit from GENEWIZ’s resources as a leading global genomics service company, while sharing its former parent-company’s commitment to improving patients’ quality of life.
 
Dr. Sun received the George Perrott Macculloch Award for Leadership at the Third Annual New Jersey Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards (NJIEA) on October 13. The NJIEA honors current first-generation immigrant business leaders helping local New Jersey communities thrive, and the George Perrott Macculloch Award specifically recognizes a visionary entrepreneur who inspires by his or her commitment, strong ethical values, and integrity. The award is given to a mentor who empowers others in his or her industry and community to achieve success, and who demonstrates a strong ability to create win-win relationships.
 
While GENEWIZ no longer resides at CCIT due to its vast increase in size, Dr. Sun remains committed to fostering the ecosystem of New Jersey’s emerging technology companies. This is evidenced by his continued presence on the CCIT Advisory Board and on the Innovation Sounding Board of Rutgers University’s Center for Innovative Ventures of Emerging Technologies (CIVET). CIVET’s mission is to encourage dialogue between academic researchers, their industrial counterparts, and entrepreneurs, regarding technology commercialization.

@NJEDATech asked Dr. Sun about GENEWIZ’s experience in New Jersey and the company’s plans for the future:

Why did you decide to grow your company in New Jersey?
New Jersey is home to many of the top pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the world. Our service model has always been to exceed our customers’ expectations by providing high-quality results as soon as the same day — even on the most difficult projects. As such, location, and access to top-notch talent, has been crititcal to our growth strategy.

What’s your biggest success to date?
We haven’t had just one “big success to date.” Our success is due to the cumulative efforts of the entire GENEWIZ team to provide our customers value, each and every day, by making their research more productive and cost efficient.  Our commitment to personalized, industry-leading service, for customers large and small, has made GENEWIZ the top choice in genomics R&D services.

What’s in the near future for GENEWIZ?
The global genomics service market is expected to continue to grow both in the United States and around the world. By introducing new technologies, and continuing to provide premiere technology support to our customers, we expect to continue to capitalize on the growth of the market. Also, with the recent addition of our offices in the United Kingdom and Japan, we will continue to expand our international footprint.

For more information about the resources that CCIT offers, visit https://www.njeda.gov/ccit and follow @NJEDATech on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority's next public Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 10 a.m. at the EDA offices at 36 West State Street, Trenton. A copy of the proposed agenda can be found prior to the meeting at www.njeda.gov/Board. Following the Board Meeting, minutes and the full agenda will also be available at www.njeda.gov/Board.

TRENTON (October 8, 2015) – As storms barreled up the East Coast last week, businesses scrambled to make sure their information technology (IT) infrastructure remained intact. Many of these organizations turned to companies like Edison-based FieldView Solutions for support.

FieldView Solutions is an industry-leading provider of data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software. The company helps data center managers, IT and Facilities personnel run their IT environments at peak efficiency – ensuring they maximize uptime, optimize power and cooling, and enhance green initiatives.  It provides managers of today's complex, mission-critical data centers with browser-based, scalable software tools that deliver a real-time view into all aspects of DCIM, while helping them realize meaningful cost reductions by optimizing their energy consumption.

FieldView Solutions’ software is used to monitor over two gigawatts of power by its clientele, which includes single-site operators, as well as six of the top ten banks, five of the ten largest technology and cloud providers, and 15 of the biggest co-location players in the United States, Europe and Asia/Pacific.

“When every minute counts, FieldView Solutions’ proprietary DCIM technology enables clients on six continents to keep critical infrastructure in place, while helping them reduce their carbon footprints,” FieldView Solutions Founder and Chief Executive Officer Fred Dirla, Jr. explained. “We’ve seen how data centers were affected by Superstorm Sandy, and have taken those lessons into the design of our software to monitor and assess the resilience and readiness of data centers.”

FieldView Solutions became the first company to receive financing through New Jersey’s Edison Innovation Green Growth Fund (EIGGF) when it received a $1 million growth capital loan from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) in 2012. Funded by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and administered by the EDA, the EIGGF offers assistance in the form of loans with a performance grant component of up to $1 million to New Jersey class I renewable or energy efficiency clean technology companies that have begun generating commercial revenues and have matching funding to support the growth of their clean technology businesses. With the positive performance of the company, up to 50 percent of the funding may be converted to a performance grant. 

“New Jersey marked a significant milestone three years ago when it provided FieldView Solutions with EIGGF funding, and we continue to see the benefits of that investment today,” EDA Chief Executive Officer Melissa Orsen said. “We are pleased that FieldView Solutions has been able to leverage this investment to grow its business and expand its global customer base.”

FieldView Solutions was selected last week as a finalist for NJBIZ’s Business of the Year, and its CFO Tom Edwards is in the running to be honored as NJBIZ’s CFO of the Year. The winner of the CFO of the Year Award will be announced at a breakfast and ceremony on October 9.  FieldView Solutions also received the 2015 Corporate Culture Award from SmartCEO New York for fostering a creative and collaborative workplace culture. 

@NJEDATech asked Dirla, Jr. about his company’s experience in New Jersey and its plans for the future:

Why did you choose to grow your company in New Jersey?
New Jersey is my home (I grew up in Edison)! New Jersey has so much to offer the entrepreneur: a skilled workforce, supportive, involved business community – the list goes on.  We’re driving distance from New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC, and right in the middle of the densest concentration of some of the world’s largest data centers. It’s really the perfect, centrally-located place to establish a business on the East Coast.

How did funding provided through the EIGGF help FieldView Solutions?
The funding from the EIGGF helped us grow when we needed it, plain and simple. It helped us get to the next level. The funding made it possible to hire much-needed staff in development, marketing and other areas. We couldn’t have grown the way we did without those additional hands and minds.

For example, the funding made it possible for us to commission research among our customers that documented how FieldView software helped them save — in some cases millions of dollars a year. The research helped us quantify what we’ve been saying since we established the company – that our DCIM solution can help customers save energy, manage their facilities better, and conserve space to delay expensive build-outs. Other FieldView marketing materials were based on that research, which we believe really helped us reach out to a bigger and more diverse client base.

What is your company’s biggest success to date?
First of all, I’m most proud of our customers and our employees. We are a hard-working, skilled and fun bunch of people who really enjoy being together and are stoked about the work we do.  We believe in the product and each other, and we believe that work should be fun or you’re doing something wrong. Our company culture encourages cooperation and participation, and we’re so pleased that our employee turnover has been so low.  People want to make FieldView their home away from home.

We refer to ourselves as the “FieldView Family.” I’m so proud that it really feels that way to people. Our FieldView Family extends to a customer base that’s a “Who’s Who?” of international household names: banks, financial institutions, co-location and cloud providers, research institutions and more trust FieldView Solutions software to manage their mission-critical data centers — monitoring 2.5 Gigawatts of power for customers on six continents. Not bad for a small, scrappy, startup upstart from Jersey that competes against three Fortune 100 companies, as well as numerous West Coast startups that were able to secure as much as ten times the funding we did!

What are FieldView Solutions’ plans for the near future?
We’ve got great momentum right now. We’ve experienced steady growth during our first six years in business and we’d like to continue to grow and expand our client base, while keeping our present clients happy.

We launched a new version of our software this year, FieldView 2015, with terrific new features. We’d like to continue to provide, and continue to improve, what we believe to be the best DCIM product out there, with the cooperation and feedback of our clients. Through our Customer Advisory Council, we give our customers the opportunity to tell us what features they’d like added to our software, what they’d find helpful and what their experience has been.  There’s really nothing like direct feedback from people who use the software every day. 

We’d also like to continue to improve our already outstanding customer service.  And we dream about the next challenge to come down the pike…

For further information about the EIGGF and additional resources available to New Jersey technology businesses, visit https://www.njeda.gov/tls and follow @NJEDATech on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Advaxis President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel J. O’Connor accepts Medical Visionary Angel Award at Farrah Fawcett Foundation program on Sept. 9. (Photo Credit: JCMCC Inc. Photo)

TRENTON (September 24, 2015) – Four and a half years after graduating from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority's (EDA) Commercialization Center for Innovative Technologies (CCIT) in North Brunswick, clinical-stage biotechnology company Advaxis  continues to receive national recognition for its innovative therapies. The Princeton-based company develops immunotherapies to combat various forms of cancer, including human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers, prostate cancer and certain aggressive types of cancerous solid tumors.

On September 14, Advaxis announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Orphan Products Grants Program awarded $1.1 million over the course of three years to Baylor College of Medicine to support the ongoing Phase 2 trial of the biotechnology company's lead immunotherapy, axalimogene filolisbac (ADXS-HPV), in HPV-associated oropharynx (throat) cancer, a type of head and neck cancer. The goal of the Orphan Products Grants Program is to encourage clinical development of products for use in rare diseases or conditions.

That same week, Advaxis and the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) announced that ADXS-HPV showed a 12-month survival rate of 38.5 percent in 26 patients with persistent/recurrent metastatic cervical cancer (PRmCC) in Stage 1 of an ongoing Phase 2 trial. According to Advaxis President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel J. O'Connor, the GOG has conducted more than 17 studies of a diverse set of investigational agents and regimens, but never has the 12-month overall survival rate exceeded 30 percent in PRmCC.

Earlier this month, Advaxis accepted the Farrah Fawcett Foundation's inaugural "Medical Visionary Angel Award," in recognition of the company's commitment to innovative research in anal cancer and HPV-related cancers. Fawcett died in 2009 at the age of 62 after a three-year battle with anal cancer. While accepting the award, O'Connor announced the company will initiate a Phase 2 clinical study of ADXS-HPV in metastatic anal cancer, aptly named the Fawcett trial.

"Advaxis is a prime example of why New Jersey is a great state for an emerging technology business," EDA Chief Executive Officer Melissa Orsen said. "The EDA is pleased to have been able to support Advaxis and to see it receive this well-deserved recognition."

Advaxis graduated from CCIT in 2011. During its time at the life sciences incubator, the company had access to a multitude of resources to further its growth. CCIT offers emerging life sciences companies affordable lab and office space. The incubator also provides a wide variety of programs and services to its tenants, including help identifying funding sources, access to small business development resources, and opportunities to speak with on-site mentors.

Advaxis also benefited from the State's New Jersey's Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer (NOL) Program. The company was one of 44 companies that shared a total of $54 million through the NOL Program in Fiscal Year 2015. Since the program's inception in 1999, more than 500 businesses have been approved for awards totaling $820 million.

@NJEDATech asked O'Connor about the company's experience in New Jersey and its plans for the future.  

1. Why did you choose to grow your company in New Jersey?
I'm a lifelong NJ resident and am committed to growing our company right here in New Jersey where there is an excellent base of talent and thought leaders to draw upon as we grow.

2. How did resources provided through CCIT and the NOL program benefit Advaxis?
The non-dilutive capital we received from the NOL program has allowed Advaxis to continue our development efforts. We strive to make a difference in patients' lives, and with three products in clinical development and an exciting and robust pipeline to follow, resources are needed to move forward. The funding we have received gets put right back into our technology, helping to provide better medicines for patients in need.

3. What do you consider Advaxis's biggest success to date?
Advaxis's biggest success to date is the company turnaround in 2013.  I joined the company, along with a new leadership team, and we uplisted to Nasdaq with a $20 million capital raise, the proceeds of which fund research and development activities for our Lm Technology™ immunotherapy pipeline.

4. What's in store for your company in the near future?
Advaxis's vision for the future is to maximize the potential of its proprietary Lm Technology™ immunotherapy platform and focus on advancing lead product candidate, ADXS-HPV, into a Phase 3 study for invasive cervical cancer. We also look to continue developing the more than 20 distinct Lm Technology™ immunotherapies in our pipeline and partnering with leading academic and biopharmaceutical industry leaders.

For more information about resources available to support New Jersey's technology industry, visit https://www.njeda.gov/tls and follow @NJEDATech on Twitter and LinkedIn. 
 

TRENTON (September 17, 2015) – JumpStart New Jersey Angel Network (JumpStart) Executive Director Katherine O’Neill visited the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (EDA) Commercialization Center for Innovative Technologies (CCIT) in North Brunswick on Monday to present “Top Ten Essentials for Raising Angel Money” to CCIT tenants and other interested New Jersey technology professionals.

During the presentation, O’Neill, who was named one of NJBIZ’s 2015 “Best 50 Women in NJ Business,” advised entrepreneurs to have the following available when meeting with investors:
 

• A one to two minute introduction with the company’s value clearly identified;
• An excellent ONE PAGE business summary; and
• A list of the team (and advisory board) members.

O’Neill also said that entrepreneurs should be able to demonstrate that they have:
 

• Domain and competitive knowledge;
• Focus and ability to execute their plan;
• Skin (read: money) in the game;
• Initiative, character, drive, knowledge and coachability;
• Honesty and transparency (numbers provided should be real, not inflated);
• Capital efficiency (e.g. no large corporate salaries); and
• A proven track record (company’s ability to execute and meet its goals).

O’Neill has led JumpStart since 2003, a year after it was founded. JumpStart, which began as a collaborative effort between the EDA and the New Jersey Technology Council (NJTC), has grown to approximately 40 members and is one of the largest angel investing networks in the Mid-Atlantic region. Under O’Neill’s leadership, the network has invested a total of more than $50 million in more than 65 early-stage technology-based companies. Approximately 50 percent of the funds have gone to New Jersey companies, including EDA-supported Bergen Medical Products in Cedar Knolls and South Brunswick-based United Silicon Carbide Inc.

JumpStart holds quarterly “Meet the Angels” sessions, which are informal opportunities for invited early-stage entrepreneurs to meet with network members. O’Neill said that the next session is planned for Oct. 13. Entrepreneurs can contact info@jumpstartnj.org for more information.

Underscoring the importance of cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs and investors, JumpStart has participated in all three previous EDA-hosted Founders & Funders events. Held semi-annually, Founders & Funders introduces emerging technology and biotechnology companies to investors in ten-minute, one-on-one conversations. O’Neill said that she looks forward to meeting entrepreneurs at the next event on Oct. 27 at CCIT.

With extensive expertise in healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, information systems, e-commerce and social media, O’Neill is a mentor at regional accelerators Princeton University E-Labs and TechLaunch. She also runs her own business, O’Neill Associates, through which she consults with emerging companies on a wide variety of topics. O’Neill also sits on numerous boards, including the EDA’s Edison Innovation Fund Technology Advisory Board, the New Jersey Technology CFO Advisory Board, and the Rutgers University Innovation Park Advisory Board.

“As an active investor, O’Neill plays an integral role in New Jersey’s dynamic technology scene, and brings invaluable knowledge and expertise to the Garden State’s angel investing community,” EDA Chief Executive Officer Melissa Orsen said.

On a broader level, O’Neill serves on the board of the national organization Angel Capital Association (ACA), which represents angel groups in North America. As the chairwoman of ACA’s 2016 Annual Summit, which will be held in Philadelphia next May, she believes the event will provide the Garden State with an opportunity to showcase the region’s investors and promote the New Jersey Angel Tax Credit Program.

O’Neill graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and received a Master of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

@NJEDATech spoke with O’Neill about angel investing in New Jersey:

JumpStart has been a participant in several of the Founders & Funders events. What nuggets of information do you provide to emerging companies during these meetings?
In addition to providing entrepreneurs with a few of the “Top Essentials” mentioned above, we help them realize that their pitch is their opportunity to open a door and start a relationship.  We talk to them about how to improve discussions about their company. We also make suggestions on potential funding groups and collaborators.
 
Can you talk about how the New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Program has affected the Garden State’s angel investing community?
We have found that the Angel Investor Tax Credit Program has been a great motivator for angel investors. Specifically, it gives out-of-state investors the opportunity to receive a check for ten percent of the money they invest in New Jersey technology and biotechnology companies.
 
What do you recommend to a person looking to start out in angel investing?
There are lots of ways to get started in angel investing. My suggestions would be to join a group and surround yourself with peers who have the expertise you want to develop.  Learn from those who invest well and have excellent reputations.  Developing your reputation as a connected, valuable partner and active investor will ensure that you have quality companies seeking your funding.

For more information about resources available to support New Jersey’s technology industry, visit https://www.njeda.gov/tls and follow @NJEDATech on Twitter and LinkedIn.