Daily Business Report: Friday, Feb. 3, 2023
‘Cradles of the Reich’ author to give
free talk at San Carlos Library on Feb. 24
Del Cerro author Jennifer Coburn will give a free talk at the San Carlos Library (7265 Jackson Drive) on Friday, Feb. 24, 2 p.m. Coburn is the author of “Cradles of the Reich,” which looks at a topic not often delved into when it comes to fiction: the Lebensborn project, a Nazi-breeding initiative to raise the birth rate of “racially pure” Aryan children.
Top photo: Author Jennifer Coburn and the cover for her book, “Cradles of the Reich.”
San Diego Angel Conference opens 2023
Angel Fund to accredited investors
One of the largest angel investment conferences in the country,the San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC) at University of San Diego, is opening its 2023 angel fund to accredited investors nationwide. The low investment threshold of $7,000 and $5,500 for additional units is ideal for first-time angel investors who gain knowledge on how to evaluate investment-worthy startups and conduct due diligence. Experienced angel investors expand their network and gain access to robust deal flow through a series of optional investor education workshops and events
The University of San Diego Knauss School of Business Free Enterprise Institute program helps to drive deal flow and mentor and support startups, with over $4.1 million awarded directly over four years. Investors gain a valuable network and benefit from knowledge shared among the group as they participate in fund decision-making.
General Atomics offers two Reaper drones
to Ukraine for $1to help end war
By Chris Jennewein | Times of San Diego
San Diego drone maker General Atomics has offered to sell two MQ-9 Reaper drones
to Ukraine for one dollar “help bring a rapid closure to this conflict.” The deal was first reported Tuesday by the Wall Street Journal, and confirmed Thursday in a statement from Linden Blue, the company’s CEO.
“We offered to transfer two of our own, company-owned training aircraft, plus the ground control station and other hardware required to operate them, for the symbolic price of $1, and reiterated our offer to train the first cadre of pilots and maintainers at our expense,” Blue said.
County’s pilot program for older adults offers rental subsidy
The County of San Diego Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities is launching a pilot program to provide 222 seniors at risk of experiencing homelessness a rental subsidy. This program was approved by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors last September. Eligible adults over 55 years old would be provided $500 a month for 18 months to help them stabilize. Assistance payments are anticipated to begin this spring.
San Diego’s 55 years or older population is expected to balloon to more than 1.1 million people by 2030.
To apply for this rental subsidy, email your full name and contact information to HSEC-OHS.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov or call 619-980-4168. Application assistance and translation services will be provided.
General Atomics selected by DARPA
to support Liberty Lifter program
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) was awarded a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the development of an aircraft capable of sustained seaborne strategic and tactical lift. The U.S. Defense Department announced on Nov. 25, 2022, that the $8 million contract award is in support of DARPA’s Liberty Lifter program.
The program’s focus is on designing, building, and testing a seaplane that can operate efficiently at less than 100 feet above the ground, hold flight altitudes of up to 10,000 feet mean sea level and transport huge payloads at speeds faster than current sea lift platforms, while shifting the paradigm of strategic lift to a cost per ton instead of cost per pound approach.
The award covers the next six months as the base effort, and if the option is exercised, GA-ASI will spend the following 12 months maturing and completing the design and preparing for manufacturing with the award potentially growing to a total of $29 million.
San Diego awarded $680,000 in federal funds
for ‘Safe Streets and Roads for All’ program
SAN DIEGO — The City of San Diego was selected by the United States Department of Transportation for a competitive discretionary grant to fulfill the Biden-Harris Administration’s mission to create safe streets for all Americans. Created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program supports regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through competitive grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The $680,000 investment will help the city add a Comprehensive Speed Management Plan, Historically Disadvantaged Community Quick Build Program, and Slow Streets Program to the City’s existing Vision Zero Strategy.
Drata launches Audit Hub
for enhanced auditor collaboration
SAN DIEGO – Drata, a continuous security and compliance automation platform, has launched Audit Hub, a new tool to amplify customer-auditor collaboration and real-time audit correspondence. Integrating feedback directly from its Auditor Alliance, Drata designed Audit Hub to centralize key communication and audit needs in its own platform to further simplify audit readiness and streamline the continuous compliance journey.
Cardiff Oncology appoints new chief medical officer
SAN DIEGO — Cardiff Oncology Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging PLK1 inhibition, a well-validated oncology drug target, to develop novel therapies across a range of cancers, announced that it has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Fairooz Kabbinavar, M.D., as chief medical office. Kabbinavar will oversee the clinical development program for the company’s investigational drug onvansertib and will report directly to Chief Executive Office Mark Erlander. Kabbinavar has more than 30 years of experience that bridges both the academic and biotech/pharmaceutical sectors.
ProSciento appoints new chief financial officer
SAN DIEGO — ProSciento Inc., a leading specialty clinical research organization exclusively focused on metabolic diseases, announced the appointment of David Sockolof to the role of chief financial officer. Sockolof joins ProSciento with an extensive track record in leading finance and business operations at global clinical research companies, including leadership roles at Labcorp Drug Development and PRA Health Sciences.Sockolof’s career in global finance and operations spans more than 20 years .
State awards $31 million to LOSSON agency
to enhance Pacific Surfliner Service
ORANGE, Calif. — The Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, which manages the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service, was awarded $31 million to fund a package of projects that will expand and improve passenger rail service in Southern California, the California State Transportation Agency announced. The funding is part of the 2023 Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), which will provide a total of $2.5 billion to projects across California that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving rail and transit services.
Mirati Therapeutics to participate
in two health care conferences
SAN DIEGO – Mirati Therapeutics Inc.,a targeted oncology company, will participate in two upcoming health care conferences. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 7:45 a.m. at the Guggenheim Healthcare Talks: Oncology Day Conference. Laurie Stelzer, CFO, and Alan Sandler, CMO,
will represent the company in a fireside chat at the conference. Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m., at the SVB Securities Global Biopharma Conference 2023. Stelzer and Ben Hickey, chief commercial officer, will represent the company.
Invivoscribe appoints Masato Sasaki as
general manager of LabPMM, GK in Japan
SAN DIEGO — Invivoscribe announces the appointment of Masato Sasaki as general manager of LabPMM GK, its reference laboratory in Japan. Sasaki brings a wealth of scientific experience with him as he served at Illumina K.K. (Japan) as a leader on their clinical next-generation sequencing (NGS) team, and at both Illumina K.K. and Qiagen K.K. where he introduced companion diagnostic products in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners. He also brings a deep understanding of Japanese culture, customs, and business practices, essential for growing Invivoscribe’s business in Japan and APAC region.
Dogs should be screened for cancer beginning
at age 7, as early as age 4 for certain breeds
SAN DIEGO – PetDx, the Liquid Biopsy Company for Pets, published a study describing the optimal age to begin cancer screening for dogs in PLOS ONE, a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal from the Public Library of Science. The authors examined data from over 3,000 dogs with cancer to determine the typical age at which dogs of various breeds and weights developed the disease. Their findings support a general recommendation to start screening all dogs for cancer at the age of 7, and starting as early as age 4 for certain breeds, in order to increase the chance of early detection and treatment.
EDF Renewables signs agreement with Thermo
Fisher Scientific for Millers Branch Solar Project
SAN DIEGO – EDF Renewables North America announced the execution of a 20-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science. The VPPA covers the full output of the 200-megawatt ac/256 MWdc Millers Branch Solar Project, which is located in Texas and slated for commercial operation in December 2025. With the addition of Miller’s Branch to Thermo Fisher’s renewable energy procurement portfolio, the company has purchased enough renewable energy to match 100 percent of its current annual electricity consumption in the U.S. by 2026.
Claim your payroll tax refund up
to $26,000 per employee
SAN DIEGO – The Employment Retention Tax Credit (ERC) program can provide companies with up to $26,000 per employee in tax credits. Qualifying organizations either had to shut down fully during the COVID-19 pandemic and/or had their normal business operations negatively impacted by various public health orders. Congressional action recently expanded eligibility and provided opportunities for companies that may have previously qualified for PPP relief. Learn more about ERC
Businesses may be eligible for up to $85 million
in California Competes tax credits
SAN DIEGO — If your business is looking to grow over the next five years or is at risk of leaving California, you may be eligible for up to $85 million in tax credits from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Join the hundreds of San Diego companies that have benefitted from the program. The next application window is March 6-20, 2023. Learn more about California Competes
