Daily Business Report: Sept. 14, 2023
Six female founders selected to pitch at
10th annual Women’s Venture Summit
Six female founders who have created innovative products ranging from energy bars that help to optimize hormones to a reusable period cup that inserts like a tampon, will soon have their chance to pitch for seed money and support during the Women’s Fast Pitch finals.
The competition will take place on Day 2 of the 10th annual Women’s Venture Summit, a conference aimed at helping female founders gain access to capital. The two-day event is happening on Sept. 28-29, 2023, at the Cooley LLP and Joya Conference Center at 10265 Science Center Drive in San Diego.
The 2023 Women’s Fast Pitch finalists are:
Northeast: Elina Furman of Kahlmi, Stamford, CT
Southeast: Debbie Dickinson of Thermaband, Miami, Fl
Midwest: Corinne Vargas of SMARTCharts, Chicago, IL
Northwest: Joelle Tudor of CathConnect, Seattle, WA
Southwest: Julie Gordon White of MenoWell Menopause Energy+Protein Bars, Berkeley, CA
Wildcard: Cincy Belardo of Sunny, Indianapolis IN
Tickets are available.
Photos: Six women founders: top, from left: Elina Furman, Debbie Dickinson, Corinne Vargas; bottom, from left: Joelle Tudor, Julie Gordon White, Cindy Belardo.
Last-minute deal: Wage hike for fast food
workers, no ballot measure in 2024
CalMatters
A two-year battle between labor groups and fast food giants is culminating in a last-minute deal announced Tuesday that would give workers a $20 minimum wage starting next April if businesses agree to nix their November 2024 ballot measure to undo a landmark law regulating the industry.
The agreement, detailed in changes to Assembly Bill 1228, averts what would have been a costly campaign for both sides. And they each get a major concession: It ensures at least a modest raise for workers, while the industry gets lawmakers to back off on a controversial proposal to hold fast food corporations legally responsible for labor violations in their franchise locations.
The 2022 law would have established a state-run council with worker and business representatives to write rules regulating wages and working conditions in fast food restaurants — an industry labor organizers have long struggled to unionize. The council would have had the power to raise the fast food minimum wage to as much as $22 an hour. The statewide minimum wage rises to $16 on Jan. 1.
Lufthansa expands nonstop service to Germany
Lufthansa Airlines announced it will increase its nonstop service between San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Munich, Germany via Franz Josef Strauss International Airport (MUC) by 70 percent beginning in April 2024.
Lufthansa currently serves SAN-MUC three times a week. It will expand to five days per week in April 2024, and transition to daily service in June 2024.
The route will be served by Lufthansa’s 293-seat Airbus A350-900, known in the industry as one of the most modern and fuel-efficient long-haul aircraft in the world. Lufthansa previously offered nonstop flights to Frankfurt, Germany until service was suspended in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Navy relinquishes lease on 3.4 acres of
prized Downtown land for Port to develop
The Port of San Diego’s board of commissioners Tuesday agreed with the U.S. Navy to end a lengthy lease early on a Downtown San Diego waterfront property, freeing the site up for development. The Navy signed a 100-year lease at 1220 Pacific Highway with the city of San Diego on Aug. 9, 1949. The Port of San Diego then inherited the lease when it was formed in 1962. Tuesday’s actions breaks the lease decades early.
The 3.4-acre site of four parcels opposite the B Street Pier consists of parking lots and office buildings. It is surrounded by high-end hotels and the port-owned Lane Field Park.
Fresh Start Surgical Gifts partners with OPSAM Health
to provide free community health care in San Diego
Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of children and their families through reconstructive surgery and related health care services, announced its latest partnership with Operation Samahan (OPSAM) Health. This partnership marks a significant milestone in Fresh Start’s mission to empower children and families in the San Diego area by providing them with life-changing, no-cost surgical care. The screening clinic will be held at the Granger School Site Clinic: 2101 Granger Ave., Suite 101, National City.
Fresh Start Surgical Gifts and OPSAM Health have combined their expertise and resources to launch a clinic that offers free surgeries and related medical services for children in need.
At the core of this collaboration is a commitment to providing life-changing and lifesaving medical care to even more children in the San Diego community and around the world. The two organizations will host their first screening clinic, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Sept 20 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Palomar Health partners with TrueCare and Vista
Community Clinic to serve obstetric patients
Palomar Health, the leading healthcare provider in the region, has partnered with TrueCare and Vista Community Clinic (VCC), two prominent community-based health care organizations, to streamline the referral process for obstetric (OB) patients. This collaboration aims to improve access to high-quality care for women and expecting mothers, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.
The partnership between TrueCare and Palomar Health involves a seamless referral process that allows TrueCare physicians to refer OB patients to Palomar Health for specialized care. This ensures that patients, regardless of their background, receive comprehensive and coordinated services throughout their pregnancy journey, from prenatal care to delivery and postpartum support.
David Malcolm accepted into Fast Company Executive Board
David Malcolm, president of Cal West Apartments, has been accepted to join the esteemed Fast Company Executive Board. The group of professionals comprises company founders and senior executives. Malcolm was selected to join the board based on his experience and proven expertise in real estate. As a member, Malcolm joins industry-leading peers in technology, marketing, advertising, social impact, media, entertainmentk corporate leadership, creative design, nonprofits, and social responsibility.
Carlsbad’s Smartville Inc. repurposing Nissan LEAF EV batteries
Carlsbad-based startup Smartville Inc. is repurposing Nissan LEAF EV batteries in a system that will help power Nissan North America’s headquarters. Many EV batteries are retiring from their drivable lives and still have plenty of charge for stationary storage. Smartville is extending their lives by creating a circular economy in its Smartville 360 battery energy storage system. The company launched the Smartville 360 at RE+ in Las Vegas Sept. 11-14.
Teradata launches ask.ai natural language interface
Teradata announced ask.ai, a new generative AI capability for VantageCloud Lake. The natural language interface is designed to allow anyone with approved access to ask questions of their company’s data and receive instant responses from VantageCloud Lake, the most complete cloud analytics and data platform for AI. By reducing the need for complex coding and querying, ask.ai can dramatically increase productivity, speed and efficiency for technical users and expands analytic use to non-technical roles.
DirectMed announces partnership and investment in Technical Prospects
DirectMed Parts & Service, a leading medical imaging parts, systems, and service company, announced that it has acquired Technical Prospects LLC , a leading provider of parts, training, and support for medical imaging equipment. Founded by former Siemens engineer Robert Probst, the company has operated from its facility in Appleton, WI serving customers across the U.S. and internationally for nearly 30 years.
Autobahn Therapeutices announces
progress with lead clinical candidate
Autobahn Therapeutics, a biotechnology company leveraging its brain-targeting chemistry platform, validated biology and biomarker-driven strategies to develop restorative treatments for people affected by central nervous system disorders, announced progress with its lead clinical candidate, ABX-002 and early pipeline advancements. The company further strengthened its senior leadership team with the promotion of Gudarz Davar, M.D., to executive vice president, head of research and development.
Aaron Cooney is new Gulls announcer
The San Diego Gulls announced that the American Hockey League club has named Aaron Cooney television and radio play-by-play announcer. Cooney becomes the voice of the Gulls for all preseason, regular season and postseason games televised on AHL TV, Fox 5 San Diego, and the Gulls Audio Network, the organization’s 24/7 audio streaming network.
Cooney returns to the Gulls after spending the 2022-23 season with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.
Olli introduces the first ‘Salami Hall of Fame’
To encourage more San Diego residents to enjoy salami, Olli is introducing the first-ever “Salami Hall of Fame,” which digitally honors Mona Lisa Italian Foods, at 2061 India St., a family-owned restaurant and deli serving authentic pizza, pasta, and provisions for generations to San Diego locals and businesses. This recognition places Mona Lisa Italian Foods among the five iconic restaurants, delis, and retailers across the United States that are elevating the status of salami through creative menu items and retail offerings.
Comic-Con Museum announces fall lineup of exhibits
Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park has announced its fall lineup of exhibits, debuting Oct. 4, including main exhibit “Popnology” produced by Stage 9 Exhibits, “Colleen Doran Illustrates Neil Gaiman,” and “From Big Dots to the Digital Universe: The Evolution of Comic Book Color,” featuring art by renowned comic book colorist Steve Oliff. The new exhibits will open Oct. 4. In less than two years, Comic-Con Museum has already presented exhibits and events featuring some of the most recognizable names in the popular arts.
California State Parks launches enhanced PORTS Programs
California State Parks announced the launch of the enhanced PORTS: Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students website, now available at ports.parks.ca.gov. The PORTS program has undergone a transformation, providing educators and students with an even more engaging and immersive online learning experience. California educators are invited to sign up for free PORTS Programs on the new website. By participating, teachers gain access to an immersive learning environment.
Hunger-relief grant awarded
Feeding San Diego, a partner food bank of Feeding America, has received a Food Security Equity Impact grant from Feeding America alongside local community-based organization San Diego Food System Alliance. Together, the two nonprofits will use the funds to work alongside one another to continue to address the root causes of hunger and food insecurity in San Diego County. For more information about the Food Security Equity Impact Fund, visit feedingamerica.org/equityimpact.
