Daily Business Report — April 4, 2011
High-Tech Start-up Rate Slows in San Diego
San Diego’s start-up rate for tech companies dropped 13 percent and venture capital funding hit a seven-year low — down by more than 50 percent from pre-recession levels — according to CONNECT’s fourth quarter 2010 Innovation report
released on Friday. In the last quarter of last year, the report said, San Diego start-ups attracted only 1 percent of venture capital investment. “The rally in tech firm startups apparent in the previous quarters of 2010 appeared to have sputtered somewhat in the final quarter,” said Kelly Cunningham, economist and senior fellow at the National University System Institute for Policy Research. “Nevertheless the 84 start-ups during the fourth quarter were above the quarterly average observed over the past six years. As the U.S. economy is anticipated to slowly grow in 2011, tech start-ups in San Diego can be expected to increase so long as funding investment and growth opportunities are made apparent.”
Overall, almost 200 jobs were created by San Diego’s new tech companies in the fourth quarter of 2010 and more than 930 for the full year 2010, according to Cunningham. Throughout 2010, the software sector created 243 jobs, while the life sciences sector led the pack with 303 jobs. In the computer and electronics sector there was a substantial jump year-on-year to 150 jobs. The communications sector added almost 120 jobs and the environmental tech sector created 64 new jobs during the year. Overall, tech start-up employment was down 13 percent from 2009.
The tight VC market has heightened CONNECT’s efforts to make additional sources of capital available to early stage tech companies. “San Diego is one of the nation’s leading innovation hubs developing life saving therapies, cleantech solutions to our long term energy needs as well as advances in wireless communications technologies and cyber security,” said Steve Hoey, Innovation Report project leader and senior manager at CONNECT. “It is critical that we develop ways to make more capital available to early stage and growth companies.
Artist to Present Concept for Parking Facility Art Work
Artist Suikang Zhao will present his concept for art that will be integrated into the design of the America’s Cup Harbor parking facility on Shelter Island during an April 7 program in the Commodore Room at the Bay Club Hotel and Marina, 2131 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego. An open house will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. The parking facility will be a four-story building with room for 400 vehicles located on the east side of North Harbor Drive, across the street from the Point Loma Marina. The project is still in the design phase, but is anticipated to begin construction in fall 2011. Construction should take just under a year to complete. Zhao was selected through an open competition and awarded the agreement for design, fabrication and installation of public artwork for the parking facility. Zhao created the “Winds of Aphrodite” at the Kansas City Bartle Hall Convention Center and art works at the Marriott Library at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
Mission Bay Wildlife Habitat to be Developed
SeaWorld San Diego and the San Diego chapter of the Audubon Society have partnered to support wildlife along Mission Bay on April 4. Volunteers are creating more than 25,000 square feet of wildlife habitat along Mission Bay. The habitat will not only benefit local wildlife, but birds migrating through the San Diego flyway corridor. Sponsoring this habitat creation project with SeaWorld San Diego and the Audubon Society are the city of San Diego’s “The Greenery, ” Legacy Building Services Inc. and Agave Landform Inc. Wild Lilac, Island Bush Poppy, Cleveland Sage and Purple Needle Grass are examples of the plants that will be incorporated into the habitat area. Once created, SeaWorld will maintain the habitat. Educational signage and park benches are included in the project. SeaWorld is also making a $2,200 donation to the Audubon Society.
Architect to Speak at NewSchool of Architecture & Design
Neuorscientist and architect Eve Edelstein will deliver a lecture April 16 on “Architecture for the Interior Frontier: The Neuroscience of Design” at the NewSchool of Architecture & Design, 1249 F St. in Downtown San Diego. Friends of San Diego Architecture is the sponsor. The lecture is at 9:30 a.m. Edelstein is president of Innovative Design Science and is a visiting scholar at UCSD and a research fellow at the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture. A donation of $5 is suggested. Students are free. The event is open to the public. For more information, visit friendsofsdarch.com.
S.D. Medical Federal Credit Union Signs $2 Million Lease
The Saywitz Co., a privately held commercial real estate brokerage firm, has closed a 13-year, 4,638 square-foot office lease on behalf of San Diego Medical Federal Credit Union at 8889 Rio San Diego Drive in San Diego. The value of the lease is $2 million. Jeff Saywitz, senior vice president of The Saywitz Co., represented the tenant, and Richard Gonor of Jones Lang LaSalle represented the landlord, Griffin Properties.
Turner Construction Names Senior Project Manager
Lori Ann Stevens has joined the San Diego business unit of Turner Construction Co. as a senior project manager, responsible for managing projects within Turner’s special projects division and assisting with business development. Stevens has 12 years of experience in the industry and has taught master’s courses at San Diego State. Prior to joining Turner, Stevens served as the assistant vice president of Lowe Enterprises. She was responsible for the design and construction activities of the San Diego County Operations Center. Before that, she worked as a project manager, project engineer and field engineer with other San Diego construction firms. Steven holds a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and a master’s degree from San Diego State.
Christopher Roe Joins Allison & Partners
Christopher Roe has joined Allison & Partners’ San Diego office as general manager. Roe has more than 20 years of media relations, investor relations and corporate communications experience. He was formerly strategic director of business development, marketing and public relations with Hellmuth Obata + Kassabaum. Roe’s assignments have included leading the rebranding of Sprite and the National Basketball Association; launching Microsoft’s Outlook and Internet Explorer products globally; and leading the grand opening PR strategy for the Bellagio Hotel and Casino for MGM/Mirage, among others. Roe holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Washington.
Speakers Selected for Women in Business Symposium
Columnist and public speaker Rita Kahn and motivational humorist Judy Carter are keynote speakers for the 12th annual Women in Business Symposium on May 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This year’s theme is “Sharing the Power of ‘So What’s Next?!’” Kahn is a nationally- recognized columnist, TV hostess, Distinguished Toastmaster and professional speaker. Carter is one of America’s top motivational humorists, international speaker, author of the best-selling books “The Comedy Bible” and “Standup Comedy” and comedy workshop trainer. The symposium is produced by Sheila McDonnell. Admission is $95 if registered before May 13. Registration is at wibsymposium.com.
SCORE San Diego Small Business Workshops
• April 5 – Restaurant 101 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92009; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• April 7 – Financing Your Business – 9:30 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• April 8 – Import–Export – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• April 9– Introduction to Starting Your Own Business – 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92009; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• April 9 – Internet Marketing 201 – Build Your Business through Search Engine Optimization – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• April 9 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• April 12 – Legal Issues for Small Business – Contacts and Leases – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• April 13 – Internet Marketing 303 – Social Media for Small Businesses – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92009; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• April 14 – Effective Marketing – Identify and Target Your Customers – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• April 14 – Business Basics 101 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; No Charge – Please Pre-Register).
• April 16 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Winning Business Plan – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door).
• April 19 – Internet Marketing 304 – Cost-Effective Internet Marketing Tools – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• April 20 – Buying and Selling a Business – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• April 26 – Introduction to Starting Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• April 26 – Financial Statements – What They Mean, How to Use Them – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• April 27 – Financing Your Business – 9:30 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92009; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• April 27 – Good Governance for Nonprofits: Effective Board Performance – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at The San Diego Foundation in Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Road, #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).
• April 29 – Business Basics 101 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; No Charge – Please Pre-Register).
• April 29 – Tax Considerations for Small Business – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92009; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
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