Jersey City Tech Meetup Returns: Exploring the Collision of Art, Tech, and Community

On June 24, 2025, the Jersey City Tech Meetup (JCTM) made its highly anticipated return—bringing together a packed house of founders, creatives, technologists, and community leaders for an unforgettable night at Andco North. It was standing room only as attendees gathered to discuss what’s next for Jersey City’s rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem.

With the theme “The Collision of Art, Tech, and Community in Jersey City,” the event marked more than just a relaunch—it was a bold signal that JCTM is back as the hub for meaningful conversation, local connection, and boundary-pushing innovation.

What We Covered: Key Themes and Conversations

🎨 The Role of Art in Urban Innovation

John Tokar, artist and Director at Andco, opened the conversation with reflections on how physical spaces like coworking hubs and studios fuel creativity and collaboration. He spoke about the importance of design, intentionality, and building environments that support meaningful human connection—especially in cities like Jersey City, where artistic energy and startup hustle often coexist.

🧠 Scaling Tech From Jersey City to the World

Angelo Stracquatanio III, CEO and co-founder of Apprentice.io, shared insights into building a venture-backed company rooted in New Jersey. He unpacked his journey from startup inception to creating a platform that powers manufacturing and AI innovation on a global scale—proving that world-class startups don’t need to be built in Silicon Valley.

🔄 Human-Centered Marketing and Community Building

Janet Alicea, a senior B2B marketing strategist and the founder of TechWalk JC, spoke on the power of storytelling and walking-based networking to build authentic relationships in a city often crowded with transactional events. Her message was clear: Jersey City thrives when we focus on people first and embrace non-traditional ways of connecting.

🔥 A Spirited AI Debate: Ethics, Creativity, and the Human Touch

One of the most engaging moments of the night came during an impromptu community-wide debate on AI—sparked by a conversation about what constitutes originality and authenticity in the age of generative technology. The audience, which included AI founders, artists, and tech professionals, dove into everything from algorithmic bias and ethics to the future of creative work and whether AI can ever truly replicate human intention.

Rather than shying away from complexity, the debate highlighted JCTM’s renewed mission: to hold space for bold, nuanced, and challenging conversations at the intersection of technology and humanity. 

👥 A Full Room, New Faces, and Old Friends

This wasn’t just another tech meetup. With over 70 people packed into the venue, the energy was electric—and the diversity of attendees made it all the more powerful. Founders pitched ideas over drinks, artists connected with developers, and multiple people left saying they hadn’t felt this inspired or connected in a long time.

As JCTM continues to grow, our focus is clear: Celebrate local wins. Elevate new voices. Build a bridge between creativity and commerce.

💬 What’s Next

We’re just getting started.

✔️ Check out our full event video on YouTube
✔️ Join our newsletter for upcoming events and community features
✔️ Interested in sponsoring a future event or getting your brand in front of 3,000+ local professionals? Let’s talk - [email protected].

Whether you’re building the next big thing, looking to collaborate, or simply curious about what’s happening in Jersey City, there’s a seat for you at the table.

See you at the next one.