On January 20, founders, engineers, creatives, and builders from New Jersey and New York will come together for an early-year happy hour that’s meant to reset energy and spark new connections. This isn’t framed as a formal tech event — it’s about meeting people face to face, exchanging ideas, and starting the year with momentum.
The night brings together several active NJ and NYC communities for three hours of easy conversation and networking. Expect a mix of people building startups, working in tech, exploring new roles, or simply looking to meet others who actually get things done. There’s no heavy programming, just room to talk and connect. A few extras are part of the evening as well, including a quirky mystery giveaway and two om. life wellness experiences for Meetup members only — a 60-minute Zero Gravity Floatation session valued at $114 and a 45-minute Fire & Ice Therapy session valued at $88 — along with the JCTM Success Pack, a curated bundle designed to help kick off the year with focus.
The event is meant for founders, engineers, and creatives, as well as people new to tech or new to Jersey City who want an easy way into the community. It’s also a good fit for anyone thinking about a job change, looking for collaborators, or trying to expand their network beyond online conversations.
Several partner groups are helping shape the night, including Generative AI Network, a global community of more than 150,000 startups, enterprises, investors, and futurists; Tranquilla AI, which builds compassionate digital assistants focused on empathy and personalization; and Rocket Mixer, known for curating founder-focused startup events. The event is produced by the Jersey City Tech Meetup, led by founder Ben Yurcisin, and hosted by Pet Shop.
Everything takes place in person at Pet Shop, 193 Newark Avenue in downtown Jersey City. The happy hour runs from 5pm to 8pm EST and lasts about three hours. General admission is free, making it an easy stop for anyone interested in tech, creativity, and building real connections to start the year.
