EqualSpace Secures $625,000 Grant from City of Newark for ES550, Their New Tech and Innovation Campus

In a monumental move towards fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Newark, Equal Space has proudly announced the acquisition of a $625,000 grant from the City of Newark and Invest Newark through the Newark Retail Reactivation Grant. This substantial grant marks a significant stride forward for Equal Space as it establishes a cutting-edge tech and innovation campus at 550 Broad Street, Newark.

This grant, administered through the Newark Retail Reactivation Initiative, is a testament to the city’s commitment to nurturing business growth and revitalizing downtown Newark. Mayor Ras J. Baraka, alongside Invest Newark, the city’s leading economic development corporation, unveiled this initiative to empower businesses and not-for-profit organizations to expand their presence in Newark’s downtown core. The initiative seeks to enhance downtown’s retail, cultural, and culinary landscape while simultaneously enhancing safety, aesthetics, and overall quality of life for Newark residents, workers, and students.

Equal Space’s utilization of this grant will materialize in creating ES550, a dynamic 50,000-square-foot tech and innovation campus. Located at 550 Broad Street, this state-of-the-art facility will encompass three floors of office spaces, multimedia studios, podcast studios, a 300-person event space, and headquarters tailored for more prominent startups. With a focus on inclusivity and community-building, Equal Space aims to cater to solopreneurs and teams of up to 24 individuals, providing a nurturing environment for businesses at every stage of their growth journey.

“Our vision for the tech and innovation campus is to cultivate positive and inclusive spaces where tech enthusiasts and innovators can thrive and make lasting contributions to Newark,” says Medina, CEO and Co-founder of Equal Space. “We are committed to ensuring that businesses not only come to Newark but also choose to stay and grow within the city. Newark has the potential to nurture startups from their inception to becoming established businesses, and we want to be instrumental in facilitating that journey.”

Citi Medina, EqualSpace Co-founder
at ES550
Citi Medina and Ralphie Roman,
Co-founders of EqualSpace with
Jonathan Collins, Operations Manager
Hallway of 4th floor of ES550

Beyond fostering business growth, the tech and innovation campus is poised to generate new job opportunities and serve as a catalyst for economic development in Newark. The vision outlined by Mayor Ras J. Baraka underscores the significance of initiatives like the Newark Retail Reactivation Initiative in propelling downtown Newark toward becoming a vibrant, 24/7 hub for innovation, commerce, and community engagement.

Mayor Baraka expressed his enthusiasm for the Newark Retail Reactivation Initiative, emphasizing its potential to invigorate downtown Newark and attract diverse entrepreneurs and small retail businesses. “This program will make downtown even more attractive as a destination—a place for residents and visitors to enjoy,” Mayor Baraka remarked. “It is an important step in our strategy to make downtown a 24/7, exciting, walkable area where people can live, work, and play.”

As Equal Space embarks on this transformative journey, fueled by the support of the City of Newark and Invest Newark, the stage is set for a new era of innovation and growth in Newark’s downtown landscape. Through initiatives like the Newark Retail Reactivation Initiative, Newark is poised to emerge as a beacon of opportunity and progress, offering a fertile ground for businesses to flourish and communities to thrive.

Unleashing the Potential: Exploring the Rise of Generative AI in Various Industries

Imagine a world where an algorithm can create, and generate art that speaks to the soul, and compose music that resonates in our hearts. Generative AI is the creative alchemist, fusing data-driven intelligence with human imagination, producing masterpieces beyond our wildest dreams. Through sophisticated algorithms, it analyzes patterns, learns from vast amounts of data, and generates original content that captivates audiences.

Overview of Generative AI Use Cases

Generative AI transcends industry boundaries with its versatile applications. Chatbots and virtual assistants powered by generative AI offer a glimpse into the future of customer service, engaging users in natural language conversations and providing personalized assistance. 

Meanwhile, in the realm of design and development, generative AI algorithms boldly venture into unexplored design spaces, crafting optimized solutions that push the boundaries of architecture, product design, and urban planning.

But the power of generative AI doesn’t stop there. It wields its creative prowess in content creation and repurposing, revolutionizing workflows by automating the generation and adaptation of content on an unimaginable scale. 

Data analytics takes on a new dimension as generative AI models sift through vast amounts of information, extracting insights and generating visualizations that elevate decision-making across industries.

Risks, too, are met with formidable resilience through the simulated scenarios crafted by generative AI. This technology empowers industries such as finance and cybersecurity, allowing experts to identify potential risks and develop robust mitigation strategies, forging a path of stability in a rapidly changing landscape. 

And when it comes to maintenance, generative AI takes the reins, analyzing sensor data to predict equipment failures and enabling proactive maintenance that minimizes downtime and optimizes performance.

Across sectors, generative AI breathes life into industries, propelling them forward with enhanced efficiency, personalized experiences, and informed decision-making. It unlocks the realm of limitless possibilities, fostering innovation and growth while paving the way for a future where the creative force of artificial intelligence amplifies human potential.

Generative AI in 9 Industries

E-commerce

Generative AI can enhance the e-commerce experience by creating realistic product images. For example, it can generate high-quality images of products from different angles, colors, or even in different environments. This allows customers to understand the product better and make informed purchasing decisions. Generative AI can also assist in personalized product recommendations based on user preferences and historical data.

Healthcare

The impact of generative AI extends far beyond the realms of creativity. It has seeped into the realm of healthcare, offering a glimmer of hope for patients worldwide. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of medical data, identify patterns, and assist in diagnosing diseases with remarkable accuracy. This technology empowers doctors with valuable insights, aiding them in making informed decisions and providing personalized treatment plans. In radiology, genomics, and drug discovery, generative AI has emerged as a silent hero, accelerating breakthroughs and saving lives.

Travel and Transportation

In the vibrant domain of travel and transportation, generative AI has emerged as a trailblazer, empowering businesses with optimized route planning, demand prediction, and enhanced customer experiences. By scrutinizing historical data with a discerning eye, generative models possess the prowess to anticipate travel patterns, facilitating companies in designing more efficient flight schedules and resource allocation. Furthermore, these remarkable algorithms can whisk customers away on a virtual voyage, offering immersive pre-travel experiences that enable exploration and informed decision-making.

Manufacturing and Supply Chain

Generative AI can be crucial in optimizing manufacturing and supply chain operations. It can generate synthetic data to simulate production processes, enabling companies to identify bottlenecks, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. Generative models can also assist in developing designs for new products or components, facilitating rapid prototyping and reducing the time-to-market. Furthermore, generative AI can aid demand forecasting by generating synthetic data based on historical sales patterns, helping companies make better inventory management decisions.

Entertainment

Generative AI has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry. It can generate realistic and immersive virtual environments for video games and virtual reality experiences. Game developers can create lifelike characters, dynamic landscapes, and interactive narratives by leveraging generative models. Generative AI also has the potential to revolutionize content creation by generating synthetic music, art, and even scripts. This can help artists and creators explore new ideas and push the boundaries of traditional creative processes.

Education

In education, generative AI can be utilized to create intelligent tutoring systems. These systems can generate personalized educational content, such as interactive exercises, quizzes, and simulations, tailored to individual student needs. Generative models can also assist in generating educational materials like textbooks, lecture notes, and study guides, providing students with additional resources. Furthermore, generative AI can facilitate language learning by developing synthetic conversations or providing translation and synthesis services.

Art

Generative AI has breathed new life into the art world, transcending the boundaries of human creativity. By blending the insights gleaned from countless artworks and the capacity to understand aesthetics, AI can generate unique and mesmerizing pieces that challenge our perceptions. It allows artists to collaborate with AI, amplifying their vision and inspiring new possibilities. From creating abstract paintings that evoke emotions to designing sculptures that defy conventional forms, generative AI has become a muse, guiding artists into uncharted realms.

Marketing

The rise of generative AI has revolutionized the way businesses connect with their customers. Through intelligent algorithms, AI can analyze customer behavior, preferences, and trends, providing invaluable insights to marketers. It becomes the ultimate storyteller, helping brands craft personalized narratives that resonate with their target audience. By generating compelling content, AI assists in creating impactful marketing campaigns, enhancing customer engagement, and fostering brand loyalty.

Finance

Generative AI has found its way into the complex world of finance, emerging as a powerful guardian of wealth. With its ability to process vast amounts of financial data, analyze market trends, and predict future outcomes, AI has transformed the landscape of investment strategies. It offers valuable insights to traders, portfolio managers, and financial analysts, enabling them to make data-driven decisions and mitigate risks. AI-powered chatbots have also revolutionized customer service in the financial industry, providing personalized advice and streamlining transactions.

Conclusion

As we continue to explore the rise of generative AI and its transformative impact on various industries, we find ourselves on the cusp of a new frontier. The creative alchemy of AI, the harmonious symphony between technology and art, the life-saving potential in healthcare, the reinvention of marketing, and the redefinition of finance—all point to a future brimming with possibilities.

The Importance of Cold Chain Management: Best Practices for Success

Before temperature-sensitive products hit the shelves, they undergo a complicated logistical process that ensures the proper storage, handling, and transporting of these goods. Doing so can especially be a challenge where many things can go wrong in the cold chain. From malfunctioning equipment to severe weather conditions, there are many hurdles that a product has to undergo before it reaches the consumer. The solution to all of these is cold chain management. But before anything else, let’s briefly define it. 

What Is Cold Chain Management?

Cold chain management is the management of the logistical process involved in transporting temperature-sensitive goods throughout the whole supply chain. From the dispatching of goods to the receiving of them in another warehouse to the display on shelves, cold chain management ensures that these products are stored in the proper conditions. Products that require proper cold chain management include produce, frozen foods, and pharmaceuticals. 

Without cold chain management, food products will end up getting spoiled and drugs will no longer be efficacious. These can pose significant harm to consumers. Hence, it’s crucial that good cold chain management practices are followed. 

What Are the Best Cold Chain Management Practices? 

Following good cold chain management practices ensures that your products meet quality standards and are safe for use or consumption. Here are some of the practices that you should take note of: 

Strictly Define Your Storage Requirements 

Different products require different storage requirements. What may be cool for a product may actually be warm for another one, and vice-versa. Hence, for manufacturers of these products, it’s vital to conduct stability studies for products such as food and drugs to identify your minimum and maximum temperature requirements. These studies are conducted to determine a product’s shelf-life, provided that the storage requirements are followed. Additionally, choosing the right packaging materials plays a huge role in maintaining the storage requirements throughout the logistical process.  While these are determined in the product development process, manufacturers must strictly follow the proper storage requirements for the finished products before dispatching. 

Meanwhile, suppliers in the logistical process must be aware of a product’s storage requirements and maintain them across the cold chain. That way, we avoid substandard products from reaching the market. 

Allow Trained Personnel to Handle Your Products

Cold chain management must only be handled by trained personnel. Leaving products in the hands of untrained staff can cause issues in the cold chain, such as the failure of a product to meet its technical specifications due to improper storage requirements. For example, in the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry, only pharmacists are allowed to handle pharmaceutical products – that includes ensuring the proper storage and distribution of them. 

Moreover, training the relevant personnel on Good Storage Practices (GSP) and Good Distribution Practices (GDP) ensures that the authorized personnel follow the best practices on cold chain management. 

Documentation Is Key

At the heart of a cold chain management system lies a strong foundation of documentation. As they say, if it’s not documented, it didn’t happen. For example, a warehouse must have the relevant documents for temperature and environment monitoring to ensure that the storage conditions are followed. Documents allow for easier traceability when any issue in the cold chain arises. 

Included here is creating the relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs). These are documents that contain specific instructions on how to carry out an operation – even including the responsible personnel involved and the equipment needed to perform a task. Protocols must be established for the storage, handling, and transporting of these goods. 

Create a Risk Management Plan and Contingency Plan  

What can go wrong will go wrong. If you haven’t established a risk management plan, chances are that quality issues may arise in the future. A risk management plan starts with identification, followed by risk assessment, then mitigation and monitoring activities. To identify the severity, likelihood, and occurrence of a specific risk, you’ll have to follow a risk matrix to quantitatively measure these risks. Once your calculations are done, you could carry out the necessary actions to prevent these from escalating. 

Always, always have a contingency plan. Equipment failures are common and failing to have back-ups can have serious consequences. Without a backup plan, you might encounter financial losses when your products are no longer usable. 

Comply With Local and International Regulations

In the ever-changing regulatory landscape, it’s wise to be aware of new cold chain management guidelines. This is particularly true for the healthcare industry. The Food and Drug Administration regularly releases new guidelines for cold chain management, so it’s vital to be kept up to speed with these. To ensure that these guidelines and practices are being followed, conducting internal audits and inspections is essential. If these results are non-compliant with regulatory guidelines, then the necessary actions must be done to correct them. 

In Conclusion 

Defining the storage requirements, training authorized personnel, crafting the necessary documents, and complying with local and international regulations – these are all good cold chain management practices that every stakeholder must follow. In a process where many things can go wrong, it is in every organization’s best interest to follow the best practices. This ensures that consumers only receive the best from you. 

Web3 EdTech: Metaschool is the Future of Education

Technological advancements have sped up our lives and have disrupted the traditional ways in which many of us are taught. Education has been revolutionized by the massive transformation of technology, especially in the form of Web3. Web3 is an emerging form of technological advancement that supports decentralized applications (dApps) running on a blockchain network like Ethereum.

But how exactly does Web3 affect educational institutions, and how will it define the future of education? Continue reading to find out more!

What is Web3 EdTech?

Web3 EdTech uses advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and blockchain to enhance the education system. It is an innovative way to dramatically improve the quality of learning and teaching in educational institutions. 

Web3 allows for a more secure, efficient, and transparent way to interact with educational content using blockchain technology. This system enables students and teachers to communicate without third-party interference or manipulation.

The Metaschool Learning Platform is one of the most popular Web3 EdTech trends that use blockchain, AI, and VR to create an immersive learning experience. It allows for a more personalized learning environment where users can interact with content at their own pace. The Metaschool also allows for collaboration between Web3 developers to create custom learning experiences.

The Benefits of Web3 EdTech

Web3 EdTech can potentially revolutionize how people learn and access educational materials. And the benefits of Web3 EdTech extend far beyond traditional education models!

For students, this technology provides a more interactive and engaging learning experience. The multimedia-rich platform helps keep students engaged in their studies while giving instructors the tools they need to track student progress and adjust their instruction accordingly.

For educators, Web3 EdTech offers the opportunity to create a more personalized learning experience for their students. They can customize the platform with interactive activities, simulations, and assessments catering to each student’s needs. Here are some more benefits that come along with it:

Increased Security

Blockchain technology makes data more secure and prevents tampering or manipulation. This ensures that only the most accurate information is being presented to students.

Improved Accessibility

Web3 EdTech makes educational materials easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection, no matter where they are in the world. This makes it easier for students to access the latest materials and resources.

Personalization

Web3 EdTech provides a personalized learning experience for each student. This means that the content can be tailored according to their individual needs, helping them learn more effectively.

Decentralization

Web3 EdTech allows for a decentralized system where data is shared directly between the user and the educational institutions without any third-party interference. This ensures that your data is secure and remains private. Additionally, it allows for a more streamlined experience when interacting with educational materials.

What is Metaschool?

Metaschool is an innovative approach to education that uses Web3 technology to create a more customized, personalized learning experience. It is designed to meet the individual needs of each student while providing them with the support and guidance they need to reach their educational goals.

Metaschools use web-based technologies such as virtual classrooms, online lectures, interactive learning sessions, and a variety of other tools to create an environment that is both flexible and engaging. It uses cutting-edge technology to create individualized lessons that respond to each student’s unique needs. This means no two lessons are the same — each one is tailored to the student’s progress and preferences.

Metaschool also integrates with a range of other EdTech tools, such as learning management systems (LMS) and adaptive learning software, so that teachers can monitor their student’s progress in real-time. Through the use of these technologies, students can access educational materials and courses from anywhere in the world at any time. Additionally, they can learn at their own pace without worrying about traditional school schedules or deadlines.

Metaschools also provide students with the opportunity to collaborate and interact with peers from different backgrounds, cultures, and even countries! By creating a safe learning environment, Metaschools allow students to explore their interests without fear of judgment or ridicule.

Finally, Metaschools use data-driven approaches to help teachers identify areas where individual students can improve and adjust their instructional strategies accordingly. This helps ensure that each student receives the best possible education and can maximize their potential.

Is Metaschool the future?

The Web3 EdTech platform offers an immersive, personalized digital learning experience that will improve how students learn and instructors teach. With this technology, educational institutions can prepare themselves for the future and ensure their students can access the best possible learning experience.

Web3 EdTech is slowly revolutionizing education and making it more secure, accessible, and personalized. Although many educators still prefer traditional methods of instruction, it may be about time to embrace this technology and its potential to change the world of education forever.

VC CHATS: Inside The Minds of Investors – Virtual Pitching 101

Due to recent events, startups & investors have had to change the way they connected with one another. With that change came a large amount of misconceptions and fears presented within the startup ecosystem.

We have collaborated with Grit Daily to provide you with insight from two powerful venture capitalists about:

  • How things have changed for investors in the era of COVID
  • How founders should reconsider their business offerings
  • How they should make their biz plans & forecasts more realistic
  • The art of nailing a “pitch-by-zoom”
  • and so many other hot button topics

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Loralyn Mears, Writer – Grit daily, Moderator
Loralyn Mears is a freelance columnist at Grit Daily covering coaching, tech startups, women-in-tech, events, and investors along with wine-food pairings. She spent over a decade playing with mosquito DNA, got her PhD, decided she would rather market science than be at the bench and has never looked back. Along the way, she’s wined and dined her way around the globe. She’s authored two books, including the 2018 Gold Medal Indie Book award-winning, One Sip At a Time: a Memoir. Check out her Women-in-Tech LIKE A BOSS podcast which features fascinating guests with snappy insights. Today she runs “Toasted Marshmellow” and helps companies with their go-to-market strategy whenever she’s not cooking for her teenage step kids who are *always* hungry.
Gina Tedesco, Managing member – Amala Ventures, Guest speaker
Currently, Ms. Tedesco is managing member of Amala Ventures, a venture firm investing in early stage companies with diverse teams and innovative and disruptive technology in the USA and Brazil. Ms. Tedesco is a member of Golden Seeds and member and board member of Jumpstart NJ Angel Network.
Mario Casabona, Founder and Managing Director – Casabona Ventures, – Guest speaker
Mario is an entrepreneur and active angel investor. In 2006, he founded the micro-VC firm Casabona Ventures, investing in over 25 early stage companies. Investments are currently focused on seed stage companies and the Internet of Things (IoT) .

Communicating to Funders: Data + Stories in Virtual Times

Due to recent events, not-for-profits everywhere have had to make slight to radical shifts in programming. To ensure safety among their staff and communities served, those with immediate resources made the call to transition toward virtual programming.

For some it came with few adjustments, for others it was a forced necessity that they were not prepared for. Through the lens of nonprofit leaders, funders, and a digital learning and evaluation expert,

We will explore:

How to center the populations served and front line staff in all decision-making processes (micro)

Use data to drive meaningful collection of new stories or narratives (within virtual environments). (meso)

Best ways one can manage new expectations with funders to work collaboratively. (macro)

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Amanda Ebokosia, MA – Founder, CEO at The Gem Project, Inc., Moderator
Honored by The White House and named by Forbes as a Millennial on a Mission, Amanda A. Ebokosia is Founder & CEO of The Gem Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that works to improve high school and college student engagement and on-time graduation through service-learning initiatives, which take on a social justice approach. Since inception, The Gem Project has directly impacted the lives of 2000 youth and young adults.
Elizabeth Bishop, PhD – Director of Curriculum and Outcomes Evaluation at Global Kids; Assistant Director of Strategy, CUNY SPS Youth Studies – Moderator
Dr. Elizabeth Bishop is an educator, researcher, and youth advocate. She serves as Assistant Director of Strategy for the CUNY SPS Youth Studies program where she teaches on the faculty and also serves as Director of Curriculum and Outcomes Evaluation at Global Kids. Previously, Bishop taught on the faculty at Ithaca College, served as Deputy Director at the Center for Institutional and Social Change at Columbia Law School and as Assistant Director of the Peace Corps Fellows Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Originally from Newtown, Connecticut, Bishop began her career as a classroom teacher in the Bronx and has served in leadership positions across NYC public schools and youth development organizations.
Amanda Espaillat, Gem Project High School Fellow – Panelist
Amanda Espaillat is a current sophomore high school student, residing in Newark, New Jersey. Espaillat has been a Gem Project fellow for the past year working on several student-led initiatives, which include revising and drafting a policy brief on improving relationships between students and teachers, voter engagement.
Monica Hall, MPA – Program Associate, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – Panelist
Monica Hall serves as Program Associate at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Her work supports RWJF’s focus on developing networks of leaders from every sector who share a vision of what shapes health, and who join together to effect change. She views her work as “supporting tomorrow’s leaders and helping to extend their influence and impact in building a Culture of Health.”
Hawwa Muhammad, MPA – Founder & CEO, Pink Trumpet – Panelist
Hawwa is a social entrepreneur with a passion for helping others bridge creative ideas with sustainable strategies to achieve positive social impact. She is Founder of Pink Trumpet, a business related to helping nonprofits and businesses effectively design, communicate, and amplify their social impact strategies.
Jennifer Negron, MPA – Program Officer, The Pinkerton Foundation – Panelist
Jenny has a unique perspective on the value of Pinkerton grants. In 1998, three days after graduating from New York’s high school for pregnant and parenting teens and six weeks after the birth of her son Joel, she went to work as an “Explainer” in the Science Career Ladder program at the New York Hall of Science–a longtime Pinkerton grantee. While there, she completed her B.A. at Queens College and went on to earn a Master’s in Public Administration at Baruch College. She eventually rose to lead the 100 high school and college Explainers who guide thousands of visitors through the Hall of Science each year.
Shadae McDaniel, MSW – City Leader, All Stars Project – Newark, NJ – Panelist
Shadae McDaniel is City Leader of the All Stars Project (ASP) of Newark. She oversees all of New Jersey All Stars’ free performance-based, after-school youth development programs, including the All Stars Talent Show Network, the Development School for Youth and the All Star’s award-winning Operation Conversation: Cops & Kids. McDaniel directs the ASP’s non-profit partnerships and community-building activities in New Jersey and is also a member of ASP’s national senior leadership team, which is currently working on an extensive reorganization to advance it programs to thrive on a virtual stage.

Natasha Dyer, MPA, SHRM-CP – Deputy Director, Newark Trust for Education – Panelist
Natasha Dyer is Deputy Director of Newark Trust for Education. Prior to joining the Trust, Natasha served as Office Manager for the Vice President and Assistant Vice President of Arts Education at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. There she developed a deeper understanding and attraction to the educational landscape of her hometown—Newark, NJ. With a commitment to the development of her city, Natasha has devoted significant time to civic engagement and immersion in the arts community of Newark.

AI, Business, and Its Impact on Human Currency

EqualSpace AI

 An Op-Ed Piece by Keishawn

I, Robot, Detroit: Become Human and Wall-E all taught us the frail balance between man and machine. Although, looking back, technology such as: the print and press, pulley and the wheel portrayed the gaping margin of ability which separates us. Staring these comparisons in the face, mankind still finds ways to incorporate our gift from the universe into our everyday lives, our most present example being the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in business.

Defined as the ability for a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior, the roles given to them have been quite remedial in a sense. To name a few, personalization, filtering, and certain customer service tasks have been popular among most. But what does it this mean to us, why should we care if businesses use AI? Well for starters it could be the end of your current job, or the start of your new career.

Imagine never having to clean your house again. Dust no longer lingers on the floor. Dishes always sparkling and your laundry (oh boy the laundry) the absence of stains replaced by crisp folds. What would you do with your spare time? How would your life change if one of your most remedial tasks simply vanished?

In business, the practicality of AI is almost comparable to the internet itself. Many business owners, whether small or sizable, find a lot more possibilities within the workplace when their most menial tasks are automated. The feeling is indescribable when answering calls turns into investing or categorizing files transforms into brainstorming, even filtering content turns into innovating. AI can even put business owners in a positive financial position. The average business spends around 10%-40% of their gross income on paying employees. Realistically speaking, the AI doesn’t need to eat, sleep or take vacation days; however, is the 40% profit boost really worth it?

Endless job searches, cut throat interviews, and the unrivaled determination of others in the workplace. Ever since our first job we’ve done nothing but compete. Countless hours spent stressing over how to answer self-incriminating questions and how to maintain the job you’ve loosely managed to secure. The stress of competition never left or revealed the slightest bit of leeway. Accompanied by the dreaded feeling of “Lazy Morning” in which you’d do anything to save you from leaving the comfort of your bed.

Who knew we were competing with ourselves!

All things considered, what are the chances of getting our name tag on a cubicle when there’s opposition that never sleeps, eats, or even flinches at reoccurring late nights. If we as a species can’t out work a print and press? How do we begin to oppose Siri and Cortana? Luckily, for every dark, there’s a light and for every machine there’s a technician.

Since these machines take on so many tasks at once, non-stop, they almost have little choice but to demand an overseer due to unforeseen discrepancies and flaws. Messiah’s such as IT professionals and System Admins give all of us hope that we are still worth something in the eyes of an electronic future. AIs may even prove beneficial, in the end, to entry level employees because it forces us to gain new and relevant set of skills we can use for the betterment of our own futures; while also making the future of our customers even brighter.

EqualSpace AI

As a regular consumer of Amazon, T-Mobile and Coldstone, I believe I wield a certain appreciation for an organized workplace that works quickly with little friction. I, personally, fear late night troubleshooting or ice cream cravings because people tend to have lives that the need to get back to towards the end of the day. In the near future, AIs may make that after hours scoop of ecstacy possible. However, under all the convenience of instant gratification, humans are naturally social animals and a comforting voice behind our phone screens may be all we need after a stressfully competitive day. This AI thing may be a bit uncomfortable or it could the start of something amazing, I’m not sure. What I do know is, however it ends up let’s just hope our frail balance is kept.

I, Robot taught me all too well.

Content Continues to Reign Supreme: Lessons and Reflections from the E3 Gaming Expo

E3 Gaming Expo

Earlier this month, the ever so anticipated gaming expo, labeled E3, took place in Los Angeles, California. Top companies in the industry came together to host this event for the gaming community and announce upcoming products, projects and services still in development. Opportunities for marketing and funding for these businesses are plentiful; however success not guaranteed for all with regard to recruiting new and veteran gamers.

In an ever changing and exponentially growing field, the amount of approaches toward their target audience is basically infinite for any given company. For example, Bethesda and Sony both left E3 with a variety of different outcomes, primarily due to contrasts in their presentations. Bethesda took a quality product approach, while Sony, a suspense intensive approach.

Microsoft E3 Gaming Expo
photo credit: Windows Central

In the aftermath, both yielded polar opposite; yet, beneficial results. Ironically, Sony’s conference was underwhelming. Despite the history and contribution to the gaming community, their portion of E3  left more to be desired. They led each upcoming game trailer with a live culture associated instrumental conceived a mist of silence that fell heavily amongst the crowd. The attempt to build suspense through audio was an amazing idea with profound musical choices that told a captivating story.However, no one was ready for what came next.

The games that were shown were somewhat repetitive or just not good. Elements that did garner a rise from the crowd was specific to a portion of the gaming community who have already pledged their allegiance to preceding storylines. An ideal example would be the difference in the reaction to The Last of Us 2 and Death Stranding. Although, Sony understood the power of suspense and harnessed it well, they left out the actual content people wanted to be excited for in the first place.

Fallout 76 Station. photo credit: Josh Miller for CNET

On the other end of E3, in its earlier stages, Bethesda took the stage only armed with confidence and quality and left with much more of using suspense as a vessel for their games. Bethesda took it upon themselves to bluntly showcase what they were working on and the crowd had absolutely no problem with it. They developed content fans have been actually wanting for years such as: The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 76. This display of “gamer loyalty” provided Bethesda with a fanbase wielding the devotion of true Spartans. By focusing on the content and allowing the suspense to manifest on its own, Bethesda gave their audience little time to wither with fresh and genuine responses. Feedback to a service based business is one of the most important “currencies” one could ever receive.

However, reflecting back on this event, we can ascertain feedback is not only a reassuring war cry but also, in some cases, humiliating silent stares. With regard to business metrics, we can determine the value in our next presentations and ask ourselves, “is this pointless suspense or exciting content,” to not only accept the feedback we need but also the type we desire.

=SPACE Announces Newark Tech Week 2017

=SPACE Announces Newark Tech Week 2017

Festivities will kick-off at The Second Annual Newark Tech Summit, in recognition of Newark’s emerging tech scene

Newark, NJ (September, 25 2017)– =SPACE, Newark’s premier co-working space and incubator, today announced official dates for Newark Tech Week, a weeklong city-wide celebration of technology and innovation, which will take place October 18 through October 22. The week will launch simultaneously with The Second Annual Newark Tech Summit at 2 Gateway Center, C&K Properties’ Class A office building, in the heart of downtown Newark.

Newark Tech Week is a true collaboration of The City of Newark, local startups, entrepreneurs, universities and incubators, meant to promote connectivity and showcase its evolution into a dynamic tech hub, as part of Newark’s greater technology renaissance.

“As home to several successful startups across varying industries and disciplines, Newark’s technology community has experienced a rapid surge of growth,” stated Medina, =SPACE CEO and Newark Tech Week co-founder. “Our overall mission is to unite those companies both during Newark Tech Week and on a long-term basis.”

“It’s no secret that Newark is quickly becoming one of the largest business destinations in the region,” added Kevin Collins, managing director at C&K Properties. “We are honored to contribute to the ongoing revitalization of Newark’s technology community by providing best-in-class working environments that are conducive to creating best-in-class technologies and innovations for generations to come.”

Newark Tech Week will feature a select number of events, comprised of engaging demonstrations and panels. Events at this year’s Newark Tech Week, include:

  •      10/18: 2nd Annual Tech Summit, 2 Gateway Center
  •      10/19: NJIT: AI Robotics Showcase, NJIT, Campus Center Atrium
  •      10/19: Ideation: The Fownders Experience, Fownders, 48 Norfolk Street
  •      10/19: Technic Basket: Technic Talk, =SPACE, 2 Gateway center
  •      10/20: Have You Met Newark, TBD
  •      10/20: Urban Cities Rise in Tech, =SPACE, 2 Gateway Center
  •      10/21: Claim It! Truck  Giveaway, 55 Park Pl
  •      10/21: Calixtech News 1st Annual Newark Gaming Expo, =SPACE, 2 Gateway Center
  •      TED & Talk at Burg, 55 Park Pl, Newark, NJ

 

For a full list of events and activities, please visit www.NewarkTechWeek.com. Tickets are available at www.eventbrite.com. Vendors interested in participating in the Newark Tech Summit should email NewarkTechSummit@BeckermanPR.com.

About =SPACE

=SPACE is a premium co-working space for intellectuals, techies and entrepreneurs. =SPACE provide resources for startups, coaching for tech companies and a wealth of intellectuals to share strategies and bounce off ideas. The next wave in enterprises will be born within =SPACE’s walls. Everyone should have the opportunity to work in a dynamic space filled with entrepreneurs pushing the bar, feeding off each other and being vibrant innovators. For more information about =SPACE, visit equalspace.co.

About C&K Properties

Founded in 1989, C&K specializes in office and retail real estate investments in the New York metro area. C&K uses its local market knowledge; diverse functional expertise across construction, leasing, planning, valuation, acquisition, finance and research; an intensive, hands-on brand of asset management and the direct capital commitment of its principals to assure superior investment results. C&K also offers the same level of hands-on asset management as a third-party service provider for the benefit of non-operating, institutional owners of, or holders of security interests in, high-quality, mid-to-large scale, urban properties. For more information about C&K Properties, visit www.candkproperties.com.

Urban Cities Rise in Tech Roundtable

Urban Cities Rise in Tech Roundtable

An active and unfiltered dialogue with leaders in urban cities about the realities of being huge growth factors for multicultural tech and yet being resource scarce. This close and personal experience will put attendees front and center with innovators of rebuilding cities in America. A moderator will guide them in a true discourse on the realities of the tech world, the obstacles that founders of color and women ventures face and their steps in building bridges and breaking ceilings. This is a hard look at the tech world with no apologies.