Donald R. Katz is the founder of Newark Venture Partners, an early-stage social impact investment fund and accelerator. See sector focus and contact routes.
Donald R. Katz is the founder of Newark Venture Partners, an early-stage social impact investment fund and accelerator based in Newark, New Jersey, while also serving as the founder and longtime CEO of Audible, Inc.. His investment thesis focuses on connecting Newark to the technology startup economy by backing early-stage tech companies that catalyze local economic development and job creation. Newark Venture Partners has deployed $26 million across 74 technology companies, employing roughly 500 people, though specific check sizes and lead/follow behavior are not publicly detailed. Notable portfolio companies include the 74 tech startups funded by the firm, with Audible itself serving as the global headquarters anchor for the Newark ecosystem rather than a direct portfolio investment. Katz’s distinctive point of view centers on embracing Newark’s comeback as a technology and innovation hub through strategic tech investment. He has publicly articulated this vision in interviews such as “From Don Katz, CEO of Audible: Embracing the Comeback of a Great American City through Tech,” emphasizing the role of ultra-bandwidth infrastructure in startup growth [1
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