Beyond the Meetup: 5 Ways to Get Involved with the New Jersey Startup Scene (Part I)

In my experience in organizing the New Jersey Entrepreneurs and Tech Startups Meetup, I have met a lot of insightful people who are eager to get involved. The great thing about a developing scene is that it is quite easy to get involved and make your mark, no matter how small or large your contribution is.

One question that I usually get from our attendees is what can I do to contribute once the meetup is over, and where can I find the opportunities?

To answer these questions, I’ve listed 5 ways to get involved after a meetup, and expand your horizons. I am pretty deliberate with the order in which I have listed things. The first step is to keep yourself informed, and through information comes the knowledge that allows you to start producing.

1. Start reading the New Jersey Startup Digest

Curated by JuiceTank Co-Founder and CTO Charlie Patel, this solves a key issue that I think we’ve been seeing with all of the media attention towards the other technology hubs in the country: New Jersey just doesn’t get enough credit! New Jersey Startup Digest Bi-Weekly Newsletter will highlight events, local startups, and ways that you can easily get involved in the community. There are a lot of startup companies in New Jersey with great stories, you just don’t know about them yet. Sign up to receive your first issue. 

2. Help Lean Startup Machine Events Get Unlocked Across New Jersey

After hosting a great event in Newark at the end of last year, Lean Startup Machine is spreading across New Jersey! This an effort that requires the help of the NJ community, though. In case you don’t know what happens at an event like this, attendees will gather for a weekend where they will come up with ideas for companies, create a business plan using the Lean Business Canvas, and then get out the building to validate their ideas to actual customers. The event answers questions such as: what will it take to get a minimum viable production (MVP) out the door, is there a consumer demand for my product, and how much is the customer base willing to pay?

We recently pulled together and voted the event to be held in Morristown, but we are also in the process of voting to have a workshop held in New Brunswick for Rutgers students.

Voting will take 30 seconds of your time, so I hope to see a lot of contributions here!

Inevitably all of the Lean Startup events may be unlocked by the time you come across this article. Hopefully this piece inspired you to become involved with Lean Startup Machine in other ways. In that case, contact Desi Saran at desi@leanstartupmachine.com for other opportunities to get involved.

3. Attend Startup Weekend New Jersey

This is where it begins. From March 28-30, people of all ages and backgrounds will come together for a weekend to a take 10-15 companies from idea to execution over 3 days. It’s an opportunity to meet other innovative thinkers and doers. Most of all, the event is entirely based on action, rather than talk. I am also a co-organizer of this event, so write any questions that you have in the comments section and I will get back to you shortly. More information can be found about Startup Weekend New Jersey on the website.

4. Apply to be a keynote speaker or pitch your startup at an event

There are so many meetups sprouting up in New Jersey (such as NJ Entrepreneurs, Madison Tech, Montclair University’s meetup, and Morris Tech) that are looking for great keynote speakers and startups to pitch at their events. Let me know if you would like to apply to any of the events around New Jersey, and I can help you get in touch. If you would like to speak at New Jersey Entrepreneurs and Tech Startups, email me at mason@juicetank.com or Charlie Patel at charlie@juicetank.com.

5. We are looking to build our mentor and advisory network

We are in the process of building a network of mentors and advisors for our JuiceTank member community. If you believe you could be a great resource for JuiceTank, apply now by contacting me at mason@juicetank.com.

If you are interested, the next step is to send a quick note outlining your background, interests, experience and the value that you believe that you can add to startup companies and/or the community.

Stay Tuned For Part II

You didn’t think those were the only 5 ways to get more involved beyond the meetup, right? Stay tuned for Part II where I outline 5 more ways that you can become better connected with the New Jersey startup scene!