Facebook, Drones, And New Jersey: Propelify Innovation Festival Kicks Off In Hoboken

HOBOKEN, NJ — An annual business and entrepreneureal festival — the Propelify Innovation Festival —kicked off on the Hoboken waterfront Wednesday morning, showing off businesses with unique ideas, many of them based in New Jersey.

The women of the Co-Co Collaborative in Summit stressed the importance of professional women networking, while companies like Wonder — a truck that provides fresh-cooked meals in towns like Westfield — were there to seek workers and expand.

Under a tent, a large networking lounge sponsored by Facebook was just starting to fill up.

Many of the companies came from New Jersey, and state agencies like the Economic Development Agency were there as well.

"New Jersey is a state of high-achievers led by visionaries," said Gov. Phil Murphy, in a video played to kick off the event.

Propelify founder Aaron Price told of how the festival evolved from a tech meetup in Hoboken.

Several companies said they expected to hire hundreds more employees in the near future. Attendees showed off products ranging from scooters to drones to systems to back up data.

The festival will continue today on the central waterfront through 5 p.m., when there's a happy hour.

In the past, it has drawn as many as 5,000 people over several days, but this year, the organizers — TechUnited:NJ — kept it outdoors and one-day long. And yes, they are checking vaccination cards.

Guest speakers range from Al Roker to Bradley Tusk.

Read more about Propelify here.

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