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Join the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University, Middlesex County and NJ Economic Development Authority at the first annual NJ FoodTech 2023 Conference on Wednesday, June 28th from 8:30am-4:30pm. This is a day when food and beverage companies, investors, academics, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and food innovation leaders come together to share their insights, discuss opportunities, and identify future partners. Hear from experts in their field present on industry trends, indoor vertical farming, and the state of the market. There will be dynamic panel discussions on innovative sustainability, funding through private equity, food manufacturing survey results and plenty of networking throughout the day. The conference will help promote the growth of New Jersey’s food technology sector by building awareness of its strength in food innovation, leading to business retention, and attract business opportunities.
NJ FoodTech 2023 will be held Wednesday, June 28, at the Rutgers University College Avenue Student Center located at 126 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. The location is convenient for travel from the tri-state area via train or car.
This is a learning and networking opportunity that should not be missed. Act now to save your seat at the conference!
Conference Agenda
8:30 – 9:30am Registration, continental breakfast, networking
9:30 – 9:35am Conference Opening – Sho Islam, Division Head Life Sciences & Food Innovation
Middlesex County; Craig Peck, Senior Manager, Business Development, Rutgers FIC
9:35 – 9:45am Introductory Remarks – Kathleen Coviello, Chief Economic Transformation Officer, NJEDA; Sandy Castor, Director, Office of Business Engagement, Middlesex County
9:45 – 10:45am Keynote Speaker – Food for Thought: Food Industry Trends Lou Cooperhouse, Founder, President & CEO, BlueNalu; Introduction by Dr. Peggy Brennan Tonetta, Director, Resource and Economic Development, Sr. Associate Director, Rutgers NJAES
10:45 – 11:30am NJ Indoor Vertical Farming Innovation – Marc Oshima, Co-Founder, AeroFarms
11:30 – 12:00pm State of the Markets – Jonathan Kozy, Managing Director and Senior Macro Strategy Analyst, Bank of America
12:00 – 1:00pm Networking Lunch
1:00 – 1:30pm Panel Discussion on NJ’s Market Potentials & Food Manufacturing Survey Results – Moderated by Doyin Ashiru, Sector Lead – Non-retail Food & Beverage, NJEDA; James McIntosh, CPA, MST, Partner, GRASSI; Joseph Carnevale, CPA, Partner, GRASSI
1:30 – 2:15pm Panel Discussion on Sustainability – Moderated by Dr. Jonathan Deutsch, CHE, CRC, Professor & Director, Drexel Food Core Lab, Dept. of Food and Hospitality Management, Drexel University; Dr. Paul Takhistov, Associate Professor, Dept. of Food Science, Rutgers University; Desmond Hayes, Founder, GeoGreens; Robert Began, Director of Sustainable Growth Platforms, Sabert Inc; Jessica Gebel, Chef & Founder, Fabalish; Marianna Shakhova, Food safety professional, Solato + Q&A
2:15 – 3:00pm Panel Discussion on Funding Through Private Equity (Entrepreneur Perspective) – Moderated by Nolan Lewin Executive Director, RFIC; Dr. Mukund V. Karwe, PhD., Distinguished Professor, Dept. of Food Science, Rutgers University, Zheng Song, Founder & CEO, Angel Planet Foods; Luis de la Cruz, Manufacturing Lead, Simulate; Audley Wilson, CEO, ROBOBURGER; Juan Salinas, Founder & CEO, Pnuff
3:00 – 3:45pm Panel Discussion on Funding Through Private Equity (Investor Perspective) – Moderated by Tim Rollender, Director -Venture Programs NJEDA; Sean O’Sullivan, Managing General Partner, SOSV; Wesley Wilson, General Partner, Cornucopian Capital; Thomas Mastrobuoni , Chief Investment Officer, Big Idea Ventures; Sharjeel Kashmir , President, Harvard Business School Alumni Angels + Q&A
3:45 – 3:50pm Closing Remarks – Nolan Lewin, Executive Director, Rutgers FIC
3:50 – 4:30pm Networking
Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Time: 8:30AM – 4:30PM
Come join us for a day of learning and networking.
Location: Rutgers University College Avenue Student Center located at 126 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Parking on Campus: All visitors will be required to register their vehicles online to park on campus or a citation will be issued. We will email you a follow-up confirmation with the parking link for this course as soon as parking has been assigned.
Rutgers Faculty/Staff/Students: do not use the parking link or you will receive a citation. Instead, use your regular Rutgers permit and park in your designated lot.
Registration Fee:
$30.00 / person with registration by June 26, 2023
$0.00 / Rutgers Affiliates (faculty, staff, students, and conference partners)
**No Refunds**
Please register early.
**No Refunds**
Register here for this conference.
Stay tuned to this website for more information about this conference. You can contact us by email at FIC@NJAES.rutgers.edu.
About the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University
The Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University (FIC) is a unique food business incubator and accelerator that is a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES). The Center supports established early stage entrepreneurs and existing food companies from concept to commercialization. Combining years of industry expertise and the advanced technologies offered by Rutgers, we provide business, marketing, food safety, product design and scale up expertise within FDA and USDA certified facilities to help companies successfully build and grow their business.