UNINJA began when Mike Saxon was introduced to Laptop Upcycle in Montclair, NJ. Laptop Upcycle refurbishes donated laptops and distributes them to students in need. They were eager to see their model expand to other communities, and Mike saw a need locally. With the help of Alex Birch, Matt Walker, and Brian Duggan, as well as the support of Temple Emanu-el of Westfield, NJ, the UNion Innovation NJ Alliance (UNINIJA) was established during the summer of 2020.