The New Jersey Artificial Intelligence Hub, founded by partners Princeton University, the State of New Jersey, Microsoft and CoreWeave, said Dec. 15 it will launch an AI Accelerator, powered by the global innovation platform Plug and Play, early next year.
The AI Accelerator will link New Jersey’s AI startups and higher-ed-affiliated entrepreneurs with mentors, investors and industry partners, and attract other startups to the state.
Located at the Hub’s facility in West Windsor, the accelerator will take advantage of New Jersey’s strengths in health care, pharmaceuticals, smart infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, financial services, energy, materials, telecommunications and logistics. Plug and Play will run selected cohorts each year that support and help startups at various stages.
“The AI Accelerator is a major step toward cementing New Jersey as a global center for innovation,” said Liat Krawczyk, executive director of the NJ AI Hub. “Through this partnership with Plug and Play, we’ll unlock new technologies, forge powerful collaborations, and move AI breakthroughs from concept to real world impact.”
The Plug and Play partnership is the latest step forward in the NJ AI Hub’s development, following the recent announcement that the Hub will be one of two sites worldwide to host the Microsoft Discovery platform, an advanced agentic AI and cloud technology that attempts to help speed the pace of cutting-edge research and scientific discovery.
“Our team is committed to making New Jersey a global leader for AI. Due to its world-class research institutions, thriving talent base, and institutional support, all the pieces exist to bring this partnership to life,” said Saeed Amidi, founder and CEO of Plug and Play. “Michael Olmstead, Plug and Play’s CRO, is leading our expansion with the NJ AI Hub to build an ecosystem where the most promising AI founders can innovate, scale, and make a real-world impact.”
Plug and Play’s headquarters are in Sunnyvale, Calif., and the innovation platform has offices all over the United States including in Hoboken.
Amidi said the program will offer startups a suite of services dedicated to scaling AI ventures. This includes experienced mentorship, business model refinement, hands-on workshops, access to funding, and high-value introductions.
The AI Accelerator also leverages Plug and Play’s global reach, including its network of 100,000-plus startups, more than 550 corporate partners, and 60 innovation hubs in over 25 countries. This network will be instrumental in attracting the top global AI startups to New Jersey, providing their teams with opportunities for collaboration and business development.
“We are excited that the partnership with Plug and Play will enable the NJ AI Hub to catalyze AI innovation, including opportunities for faculty and students to turn their novel ideas into successful products and companies,” said Princeton Provost Jennifer Rexford.
“Plug and Play’s Accelerator Program will add to existing collaborations with Microsoft, CoreWeave, and Princeton University to expand resources for entrepreneurs, boost startup creation, and catalyze innovative technology development,” said New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan.
In addition to the AI Accelerator, the NJ AI Hub will house an entrepreneur’s co-working space, education and workforce development efforts, and community events such as workshops and AI policy discussions.
