Daily Business Report: Friday, April 22, 2022
Natilus expands to Brown Field as construction
begins on first Natilus autonomous cargo aircraft
Natilus, a U.S. company producing the world’s first purposefully-designed and manufactured autonomous aircraft for air freight transport, has announced its expansion to Brown Field to host engineering and manufacturing facilities for the Natilus family of aircraft.
The Brown Field facility includes a 12,000-square-foot hangar for prototype final assembly, structural testing, systems’ integration and secondary structural bonding. There is also a generous 8,000-foot runway for testing, with the ability to land large, oversized cargo aircraft. The 1,500 square feet of additional office space will supplement Natilus’ engineering offices in Downtown San Diego.
“As the design of the prototype aircraft nears completion, we are expanding the team and facilities to move into final assembly,” said Aleksey Matyushev, co-founder and CEO of Natilus. “Our tier one suppliers are excited about the new platform which will reduce carbon emissions, while increasing cargo volume. On continents, such as Africa and parts of Asia, with limited infrastructure, our new 3.8T autonomous aircraft will become an essential mode of rapid and safe transportation.”
Natilus has initial plans to design and manufacture a family of four aircraft. The first aircraft — the 3.8-ton payload short-haul feeder UAV — has begun manufacturing for first flight in 2023. Last month, Natilus signed a contract with Collins Aerospace for design, development, and integration of a specialized loading system. Natilus also has designs for a 60-ton payload medium/long range UAV; 100-ton payload long-range UAV and 130-ton long-range large cargo aircraft.
Earlier this year, Natilus announced purchase commitments of more than $6 billion for delivery of more than 440 aircraft in pre-orders, from major airlines and integrators, including Volatus Aerospace, Astral Aviation, Aurora International, Dymond and Flexport.
TOP PHOTO: Natilus rendering
San Diego median home price hits
aother record — $805,000
San Diego County buyers were unfazed by rising mortgage rates in March as the median home price hit a new high of $805,000. Home prices were up 18.7 percent in a year, said CoreLogic/DQNews on Wednesday. The new median record — a combination of new and resale condos, townhouses and single-family homes — surpasses the previous peak in February of $775,000.
Prices rose sharply across Southern California in March as analysts and local real estate agents said buyers rushed to get into properties before mortgage rates climbed higher. The average rate in March for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage was 4.17 percent, its highest in nearly three years, said Freddie Mac.
Andrea O’Hara to lead city’s new
Office of Child and Youth Success
Andrea O’Hara, an experienced leader in child and youth programs in the public school system and the nonprofit sector, has been hired as the first executive director for the newly created Office of Child and Youth Success.
Andrea O’Hara joins the City of San Diego following more than 12 years supporting child and youth programs.
After beginning her career as a senior budget analyst for the Neighborhood House Association, O’Hara joined the San Diego Unified School District in 2011 and was responsible for overseeing integral business processes as the district’s director of purchasing and contracting.
O’Hara will be tasked with launching new programs and initiatives to focus city resources on supporting youth in career development and training, accessing mental health resources, and other focused support for children and families. Identifying new partnerships and funding sources will be key in growing the impact of this new office in the coming years.
The Office of Child and Youth Success was established in Fiscal Year 2022, and Mayor Todd Gloria is has proposed allocating additional funds in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, which he released Friday and the City Council will consider later this spring.
SentinelOne partners with San Diego
pro tennis player Brandon Nakashima
SentinelOne, an autonomous cybersecurity platform company, announced its partnership with professional tennis athlete Brandon Nakashima. The 20-year-old, world-ranked San Diego native turned professional in 2019 and played in all four major Grand Slam tournaments last year.
“SentinelOne is experiencing exciting growth,” said Nakashima. “Beyond great business success, the brand is associated with precise accuracy and incredible speed – qualities I take immense pride in on the court.”
After reaching his first two Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour finals in 2021, Nakashima was ranked among the world’s top 100 players.
His standout year qualified him for the 2021 Next Generation ATP Finals —the year-end tournament for top-ranked singles players 21 years old and under.
Nakashima is the youngest American tennis player to reach multiple tour-level finals since Andy Roddick in 2001.
SDSU assistant professor named an
Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer
Yang Yang, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at San Diego State University, has been named one of 22 Sandra L. Bouckley Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineers for 2022 by SME, an association promoting the manufacturing industry.
The awardees were selected based on their diverse manufacturing backgrounds, technology advancements/improvements and state-of-the-art research.
The award namesake is 2017 SME President Sandra L. Bouckley, interim SME CEO and former vice president of manufacturing systems at GKN Driveline Americas.
“These young professionals have demonstrated their ability to design, develop and execute new, impactful technologies within academic institutions, research labs and across a variety of industries,” said Robert Willig, SME executive director and CEO.
Synergy Health Partners acquires
SoCal Anesthesia Solutions
Synergy Health Partners, a hospital services company, announced the acquisition of SoCal Anesthesia Solutions Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Founded three years ago by Dr. Jay Rindenau, a 25-year veteran of providing anesthesia management solutions to hospitals, SoCal Anesthesia Solutions has grown to be one of southern California’s most trusted anesthesiology providers. They currently serve four health care facilities and have earned a reputation for clinical excellence, transparency and fairness among their 30 anesthesia providers.
SoCal offers exceptional anesthesiologists and CRNAs, turnkey clinician management and scheduling efficiency, allowing hospitals to focus on their patient care mission. With Synergy’s operational support, the SoCal team will continue to serve existing hospital partners while expanding anesthesia programs across the United States.
Tanduay Distillers wins Double Gold
at San Diego Spirits Festival for rum
Especia Rum, the latest product from the Philippines’Tanduay Distillers Inc., has won a Double Gold at the San Diego Spirits Festival. The rum was only recently introduced and is made available in the United States early this year.
“We feel truly honored that our spiced rum has already won an award as it enters the U.S. market. We thank the San Diego Spirits Festival for this recognition. This only shows the kind of craftsmanship that goes in our Tropical Spiced Rum,” said Kyle Tan, executive vice president of Tanduay and head of its international distribution.
The San Diego Spirits Festival is “the major cocktail culinary extravaganza celebrated every summer on San Diego Bay. Apart from Especia, Tanduay Double Rum also won a gold medal for its design.
Planet Based Foods announces launch on Amazon.com
Planet Based Foods Global Inc., a San Diego-based sustainable food startup pioneering plant-based meat alternatives, announced the company’s launch on Amazon.com, the world’s largest retailer.
A curated selection of Planet Based Foods’ innovative hemp-formulated products are now available for purchase on the company’s Amazon store, including The Original Burger, Green Chili Southwest Burger, Breakfast Sausage Patty Hot, The Original Crumble, The Italian Sausage Crumble and Variety Pack. Individual items are priced at $29 including free shipping while the Variety Pack is listed for $69.
As part of its launch strategy, Planet Based Foods has partnered with Omni ePartners as its broker, a full-service Amazon agency that focuses on increasing product awareness and driving online marketplace sales. It will engage in the build and optimization of the company’s Amazon page, produce content and provide ongoing marketing support .
Padres to unveil Viasat Military Hall of Honor
before Sunday’s game against Dodgers
The San Diego Padres and Carlsbad-based Viasat will unveil the Viasat Military Hall of Honor this Sunday, April 24, as part of the latest update to the Power Alley located in the right field concourse.
The Padres are partnering with Viasat to honor former Padres and other Major League Baseball players around the league who served in the military and pay tribute to Armed Services’ veterans and those currently serving the U.S. military at home and around the world. An official unveiling event for the new area will take place Sunday before the Padres take on the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Military Hall of Honor, located in the Power Alley main concourse near section 133, will serve as an interactive space allowing fans to view information and different content on each honoree through two touchscreen televisions within the space. Fans will also be able to record and send personalized messages to active-duty military members and various military bases in a dedicated recording booth located within the Hall of Honor area.
GTCR forms partnership with Kelly
McCrann to form Avryo Healthcare
GTCR, a private equity firm in Chicago, has entered into a Leaders Strategy partnership with Kelly McCrann to form Avryo Health Services LLC in San Diego. Avryo Healthcare will seek to acquire companies and assets in the multi-site health care services industry as part of a strategy to build a market-leading company, with a focus on utilizing new technologies and operating strategies to enhance patient access and experiences.
GTCR, the firm that pioneered The Leaders Strategy — finding and partnering with management leaders in core domains to identify, acquire and build market-leading companies — will invest in Avryo Healthcare from its Strategic Growth Fund, a private equity fund with $2 billion of limited partner capital commitments. Mr. McCrann is serving as Executive Chairman of Avryo Healthcare and will make a substantial investment alongside GTCR.
McCrann is serving as executive chairman of Avryo Healthcare and will make a substantial investment alongside GTCR.
