News came recently that Newark-based 1Huddle, which was in the first cohort at the Newark Venture Partners accelerator in 2015, received an important investment from Chicago-based EMERGING Fund to scale in the restaurant sector. While the numbers haven’t been released, 1Huddle founder and CEO Sam Caucci called this investment significant because EMERGING Fund is a new fund that invests in early-stage concepts and innovative technology companies in the restaurant industry. Restaurant workforce development is a key vertical in which 1Huddle is having great success. 1Huddle made its mark by gamifying workforce development using science-backed, quick-burst mobile games. Workers literally play games on their phones to learn the material their employers need them to learn. This is working out well on the restaurant industry’s front lines, with the high turnover and constant need for retooling workers

1Huddle, a training and development platform based in Newark that uses quick-burst mobile games to quickly and effectively educate and upskill a workforce, has been approved as the first recipient of an up-to-$500,000 investment from the New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund. The Thursday announcement from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority board is the result of approval of an application submitted by EMERGING Fund Management LLC. “The NJIEF is unique to New Jersey because of its self-sustaining model, designed to create a continuous loop of investment and mentorship,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said. “The achievement of this first cycle of investment is something to celebrate, as it validates the program’s ability to fuel the next generation of innovative New Jersey businesses.”

1Huddle wins Beacon of Hope Award.