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Pocstock

Based in Newark, Pocstock is a media technology company dedicated to increasing authentic representation of people of color in advertising, marketing and digital media. The company got its start in 2019 when entrepreneurs Steven Jones and DeSean Brown partnered with photographer Tamara Fleming to address a big gap in the stock photography industry: a lack of high-quality, culturally authentic images representing diverse communities.

Pocstock operates a global platform that provides businesses, brands, and creative agencies with diverse stock photos, videos and illustrations designed to reflect the real lives, cultures, and experiences of people of color. Its curated library includes hundreds of thousands of assets contributed by a worldwide network of photographers and creators across more than 60 countries.

Beyond content licensing, the company also partners with clients to develop inclusive marketing campaigns, custom content and diversity strategies. Since its launch, Pocstock has raised $1.6 million in funding. It is also expanding its platform into artificial intelligence, including through a partnership with Fanbase, to ensure the emerging technology reflects a broader and more inclusive world.

Of the three-year collaboration, Jones said, “AI is changing how our ideas are made and shared, and we want to make sure our community has a real place in the AI economy. Not just as consumers, but as producers.”

Rang Technologies Inc.

Located in Piscataway, Rang Technologies is a minority-owned firm that works with businesses to modernize technology and build the highly skilled teams needed to support digital transformation.

Co-founded in 2005 by Dilip Patel and Jigar Patel, the company aims to help businesses better navigate the fast-changing world of technology and data. As part of its work, Rang provides IT consulting in areas such as data analytics, cloud computing, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, while also supplying specialized tech talent to businesses that need engineers, data scientists, and other digital experts.

Over the years, Rang has built a reputation as one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing technology services firms, helping businesses modernize operations and adapt to a more data-driven economy. It has landed on Inc. 5000’s list of fastest-growing privately held companies six times.

Beyond its technology work, Rang Technologies is committed to giving back. It regularly supports community initiatives and promotes opportunities for women in tech and honors veterans, while fostering an inclusive culture where people from diverse backgrounds can build careers and contribute to the company’s continued growth.

Scotch Porter

A Black-owned men’s grooming and self-care brand, Scotch Porter was founded in 2025 after Newark barber shop owner Calvin Quallis noticed a lack of products tailored for men with textured hair and dry skin. Motivated to create natural, high-quality solutions, Quallis began experimenting with ingredients in his kitchen, developing natural formulas with ingredients like shea butter, aloe and kale protein to solve his clients’ dry, damaged beards and hair.

That paved the way to a product lineup that includes beard care (washes, oils, and balms), hair care (shampoos and conditioners), skincare (face washes, moisturizers, and scrubs), body care (lotions and scrubs), fragrances and wellness items.

Under his leadership, the brand has expanded into major retailers, including Target, Walmart, CVS and Amazon. Scotch Porter has also secured venture funding to support growth and product innovation.

In addition to expanding its product count and entering new categories, Scotch Porter launched an impact fund as part of its mission to supplying men in underserved communities with the tools needed to transform their lives. Since 2022, the fund has directed up 2% of online U.S. sales to programs supporting education, career growth, recidivism reduction and economic empowerment. Overall, $331,980 in donations have been made to impact 77,025 lives.

SHI International Corp.

Somerset-based SHI is one of the world’s largest technology solutions providers, delivering IT infrastructure, software licensing, cloud services and cybersecurity solutions to more than 15,000 corporate, public sector and academic customers worldwide. Founded in 1989 and led by President and CEO Thai Lee, the company has grown from a small software reseller into a $16 billion global technology integrator with more than 7,000 employees and offices across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

SHI helps organizations modernize and manage complex technology environments spanning end-user computing, data centers, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity. In recent years, the company has expanded its capabilities through strategic acquisitions including orchestration-as-a-service vendor Moot Inc., attack surface management firm Vector0 and digital services provider Locuz.

The company has also increased its investment in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. In 2025, SHI opened its New Jersey-based AI & Cyber Labs, a facility designed to help customers develop, test and deploy AI and advanced technology solutions in a secure environment before bringing them to production.

Beyond technology, SHI maintains a strong community presence in New Jersey, holding the naming rights to Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium since 2019 and signing an extension in 2024 to continue the partnership with the venue.

Souder Law Group

Considered the fastest-growing urban law firm in New Jersey, Black- and woman-owned Souder Law Group has extensive experience in real estate/economic development, education, government affairs and litigation. It represents every type of business, both private and public, and includes a diverse mix of clients from Fortune 100 companies to emerging companies as well as individuals, multinationals and government entities.

As founder and managing partner, Calvin Souder established the firm with the vision of providing big-law quality legal services to minority communities in cities including Newark, Trenton and Camden. A proud Newark native, his commitment to the city continues to influence the mission of Souder Law Group.

In 2025, Souder Law Group helped secure approvals for 2,800-plus residential units, including over 670 affordable units; advanced more than $183 million in documented private investment; approved 10 high-rise towers; supported major PILOT redevelopments; and navigated more than 30 public hearings shaping Newark’s future.

Looking ahead, Souder Law Group expects to continue expanding its municipal representation, transactional work, and litigation practice, while deepening its involvement in complex redevelopment projects, PILOT agreements, and affordable housing initiatives.

Sovereign Consulting Inc.

Founded in 1999, Sovereign Consulting Inc. is an environmental consulting, remediation and construction firm headquartered in Robbinsville. The minority-owned small business provides environmental assessment, remediation, engineering, and water and wastewater construction services for municipal, state and private-sector clients across the United States.

Established by a team of engineers, scientists and construction managers who spent years collaborating on complex environmental challenges, Sovereign was built around a culture focused on technical expertise, teamwork and responsive client service. What began as a single office with 17 environmental professionals has grown into a national firm with more than 150 employees across 16 offices in 12 states, completing more than 6,500 projects.

The company is led by President and CEO Ravi Gupta, who oversees the firm’s continued expansion and strategic growth. Sovereign serves a diverse range of industries and government agencies, helping organizations navigate environmental regulations while addressing infrastructure, remediation and sustainability needs. The firm has also expanded its capabilities in water and wastewater construction, including treatment systems, PFAS remediation and facility upgrades.

In January 2026, Sovereign announced the opening of a new office in Denville, expanding its New Jersey footprint and strengthening its ability to support clients and projects across the region.

Stateside Affairs

Founded in 2015, Stateside Affairs is a Manasquan-headquartered, woman- and minority-owned government affairs and public relations firm specializing in strategic communications, advocacy and public engagement.

The firm works with clients across the public, private and nonprofit sectors, providing services that include government relations, crisis management, digital marketing, media relations and community outreach.

Stateside Affairs was founded by Cristina Pinzon, a communications strategist with more than 18 years of experience in media and government. Her background in both media and government allows the firm to navigate complex policy and communications challenges while helping clients effectively reach key audiences.

The company’s team includes former journalists, media specialists and government officials who bring decades of combined experience to developing campaigns that blend traditional public relations with digital strategy and advocacy.

Stateside Affairs has supported high-profile clients and initiatives, including work involving Queen Latifah, Emerge New Jersey and the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless. The firm has received multiple recognitions for its work, including a Gold Stevie Award in the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and several NJBIZ Reader Rankings honors.

Tacoria Mexican Street Kitchen

After starting out as a single shop in New Brunswick that opened 10 years ago to lines out the door, Tacoria Mexican Street Kitchen has expanded to a 13-location chain across New Jersey. Inspired by their travels to Mexico and California, a group of Rutgers University alumni established Tacoria with the goal of offering a fresh, flavorful dining experience close to home.

Along with customizable tacos, mission-style burritos, nachos, quesadillas and salads, the made-fresh-daily menu includes inventive small bites, like crispy flour tortillas drizzled in Nutella and lightly breaded fried avocados.

Despite the larger footprint and growing fandom, co-founder Chuck Patel recently told NJBIZ the brand has remained true to its mission of inspiring and improving communities via fun, fresh food and warm hospitality. As part of its mission to give back, Tacoria offers a standing 50% discount to all first responders every day. It has also donated over 100,000 tacos to local organizations over the past two years.

“We’re still just four guys that kind of love tacos, and we just have a much bigger team that helps us on a daily basis to execute,” he said.

Work Social

Launched 11 years ago in Jersey City by local entrepreneur Natasha Mohan, WorkSocial is a woman- and minority-owned coworking and shared office space provider.

Mohan – whose background includes office management, design and real estate – established WorkSocial to be a community-focused space that boosts productivity, creativity and connection among freelancers, startups, growing ventures and global enterprises.

The concept quickly gained traction by offering a combination of modern office amenities with a collaborative, supportive environment that many traditional offices lacked.

Recognizing the nationwide shift to hybrid work, WorkSocial has leveraged its operational model to open additional locations in other markets. Besides its Jersey City headquarters, the company has multiple sites in New York City and facilities in Los Angeles and London.

As a longtime Jersey City resident, Mohan believes that her company has a responsibility to support and give back to the local community. Along with sourcing lunch and snack offerings from local vendors, Mohan regularly donates food and needed supplies to the York Street Project, a nonprofit that runs innovative programs that shelter, feed, educate and promote the healing and independence of persons in need, especially women, children and their families.

Yu & Associates Inc.

Headquartered in Elmwood Park, YU & Associates Inc. is a minority-owned, award-winning, diversified consulting engineering firm. Its specialties include comprehensive services in site/civil engineering, planning, geotechnical investigation, environmental assessment and design for public and private-sector projects in transportation, land development, education and health care. Clients have included the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, Yankee Stadium, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Montclair State University, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and the U.S. federal government.

K. Peter Yu founded the firm in 1992 after nearly 20 years in the civil engineering industry, bringing a deep knowledge of civil, geotechnical and environmental engineering, including hazardous materials consulting.

In addition to being certified as a minority business enterprise, small business enterprise and disadvantaged business enterprise, YU & Associates is accredited by the International Accreditation Service as a Special Inspection Agency.

The firm has earned numerous industry accolades, including from Inc. 500 and Engineering-News Record. The founder has also received the New Jersey Immigrant Entrepreneur Award for his contribution to engineering and business leadership.

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