The New Jersey Entrepreneurial Network, a nonprofit group that hosts events for the business community, has been merged into the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Technology Business Association.
“Innovation and entrepreneurship are the backbones of creativity. Combining these two business organizations reflects the importance that the Chamber places on supporting innovation that leads to increased new business development,” said John Goedecke, chairman of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“We are pleased to be part of an organization that supports innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives throughout New Jersey,” said Lou Wagman, president of NJEN.
The NJEN’s highest-profile events are the Gathering of Angels, an annual meet-and-greet giving entrepreneurs the chance to meet one-on-one with investors that usually takes place in June, and the Poster, Pitches, and Prizes event at Princeton University in April. There was no Gathering of Angels in 2018.
Wagman says he expects both events to return under the Princeton chamber’s leadership. Wagman said he would have an advisory role in the new organization.
“The combination of these two organizations will result in the Chamber better recognizing and discovering new business opportunities. We are thrilled to welcome NJEN as part of our Chamber,” said Peter Crowley, CEO of the Princeton Regional Chamber.
The NJEN was founded 28 years ago and is an all-volunteer operation. Wagman said the merger made sense because the Princeton Chamber has deeper infrastructure, including administrative staff, with which to run NJEN programs.
“We wanted to increase our footprint, and we saw the chamber as being an excellent way to do that,” Wagman said. “At the same time, the Princeton Chamber was very interested in expanding its technology and life science base.”
The NJEN name will remain, but as part of the Princeton Chamber.
“It’s a great way for the NJEN name and goals to be continued into the future,” Wagman said.
Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, 182 Nassau Street, Suite 301, Princeton 08542. 609-924-1776. Peter Crowley, CEO. www.princetonchamber.org.
