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Construction at the U.S. headquarters of the HAX hard tech startup accelerator project in Newark is proceeding steadily. Run by SOSV, the program features a $50 million total investment by the Princeton-based venture capital firm – $25 million with a matching investment from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority – as well as plans to take 100 companies through HAX over the next five years.

Startups and entrepreneurs accepted into the program will receive $250,000 in investment capital in addition to hands-on collaboration, mentorship, access to a global founder community and more. Notably, the startups will have access to the Newark headquarters. The 35,000-square-foot-space at 707 Broad St. will feature all sorts of tools, workspaces and capabilities, such as chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering labs; 3D printing; manual metal fabrication; CNC machining; laser cutting; and others.

During construction some 25 HAX teams are already onsite working out of a temporary space – offering a sense of camaraderie as they go through their entrepreneurial journeys.

While no date is set, HAX officials told NJBIZ they are looking forward to a grand opening soon. Sean O’Sullivan, SOSV managing general partner, wrote in a blog earlier this month that the plan was for a March 2024 opening.

“Hand-in-glove with the HAX Newark team are engineering teams in Pune, India (also newly opened) and Shenzhen, China who help our founders with design engineering, prototyping, and sourcing,” O’Sullivan wrote in his update, citing the strengthening of the staff over the last few years, as well as the grant support from the NJEDA and one from New York’s Empire State Development on another project. “Our partners expect us to launch great companies, build workforces, and enhance the technology ecosystems on both sides of the Hudson. We think they made very good bets.”

NJBIZ caught up with Ji Ke, partner and CTO of HAX, to talk about the progress and what’s on the horizon. Ke said he is inspired by the developments he sees in real-time at HAX, as construction continues and the new teams arrive — each bringing something unique to the table.

Wanting to be impactful for the early-stage companies is what drives his HAX team each and every day. And that works both ways, Ke explained. He noted that the spirit of the project is inspiring founders to make the leap, as well – pointing to a team that recently arrived from the U.K., and how that reflected the amount of interest, support and belief in HAX.

“To take their prototype, say goodbye to their family and friends, and move all the way over to New Jersey – to Newark, to start the next chapter of their venture,” he said. “We are getting pretty good at inspiring people to come over to do this.”

Another major component of this part of the process is the building of partnerships, collaborations and community support. “I think the understanding of what we do – who we are – is not a problem,” he explained. “The stuff we’re trying to do – relationships we’re trying to make and collaboration we try to engage – is kind of new territories. It’s more of an operational stage – rather than, ‘hey, who are you?’”

Those efforts have included opening the space for local engagement to students and other community stakeholders.

“There’s a lot of engagement – both from us with the local ecosystem,” he explained, “and the local ecosystem coming over to utilize our space. So, it’s been a fantastic journey so far.”

The companies under the roof now are involved in three areas: climate tech – current examples range from more efficient ways to extract copper for the energy transition to more energy-efficient HVAC systems; health care – ranging from wearable sensors for monitoring to a portable dialysis machine; and industrial automation – ranging from a way to make 3D printed batteries to a new automated process to make garments.

As for areas of focus as 2024 takes shape, Ke said the first priority completing construction. “Getting people access to the equipment they need, the space they need, and the team they need – is necessary,” he said.

Next, according to Ke, is continuing to get the HAX teams access to the local ecosystem; and finally, looking for good teams to join the program.

“We are doing a good job already getting so many teams – internationally, and locally from the U.S. – getting them investments, getting them the support they need,” said Ke. “And we are always looking for more companies to be able to support.”

Ke echoed O’Sullivan’s sentiment about the relationship with the NJEDA on the project, describing the agency as extremely supportive — and noting the City of Newark’s support as well.

In a recent interview, NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan pointed to HAX as a critical part of a broader innovation story taking shape here in real-time in the Garden State.

“December was an extraordinary month for Gov. [Phil] Murphy – making two announcements back-to-back, one week apart. One was the Princeton [AI Hub] announcement. The other was Bell Labs recommitting to New Jersey, doubling down, and moving to New Brunswick,” Sullivan told NJBIZ. “Those two things – at the north and south end of the traditional Route 1 Innovation Corridor – and then keep going, and you’re in Newark where HAX and others are writing an extraordinary innovation story as well – I think really speaks to that inherent capability around innovation. Not just in AI, but broadly in technology and harnessing innovation for job creation purposes.”

“We are just excited to have so many companies, so many entrepreneurs – from all over the world joining us in New Jersey,” said Ke. “A lot of folks here have been very supportive of our initiatives.”

Ke stressed that early-stage hard tech is not easy – and that the entrepreneurs face a lot of challenges, which makes it critical for HAX to be there to support them. “What we are trying to create here is a community that supports them,” he said. “I believe if any of the founders, entrepreneurs have a problem, somebody under this roof probably already figured it out or had the experience – or knows somebody that has figured it out. And that is the kind of community we try to create.”

Ultimately, Ke hopes to create a culture of sharing within the walls of HAX and among its founders that, ultimately, spreads through the community.

Everything seems to be falling into place as this potentially transformational project here in the great Garden State takes shape and gears up for its grand opening.

“It’s going to be a very nice space,” said Ke.