The NJECC Annual Conference, Empowering Innovators: Inclusive Pathways to Commercialization, is a statewide commercialization conference which occurred on October 25th, 2023 at NJIT's Campus Center in Newark, NJ. The conference aims to create sustainable connections between various innovation ecosystem participants, targeting a diverse group of inventors and commercialization gatekeepers: investors, service providers, and tech transfer & venture development staff. The conference included educational panel discussions for both new and experienced innovators addressing commercialization options and pathways, as well as keynote presentations from successful academic innovators. A showcase and networking session provided opportunities to develop connections among gatekeeper and inventor participants.