Follow the Money

San Diego-based ed-tech startup ThoughtSTEM has been awarded $750,000 from the National Science Foundation to teach coding principles through Minecraft. Edweek.org has the details and says the effort is to get kids interested in computer science.

Mexitreats

Local startup Mexitreat is catering to the Latino market in Southern California by bringing them the spicy, citrusy, salty Mexican treats that many who have lived in Mexico miss when they move away. Breitbart reports that the company offers a few different subscription options that bring snacks like “pulparindos, mazapanes, rebanaditas, dulce de guayaba, tamarindo, dulce de leche, jamoncillos, and borrachitos” to its customers.

Razer’s Geographic Exit

While the news is often filled with companies touting their move from Silicon Valley to San Diego, KPBS delved into the story of one of San Diego’s largest tech companies deciding to leave San Diego for Orange County last year. The company, Razer, makes high-end computer accessories mainly targeted at gamers.

MindTouch Expands Downtown

MindTouch, which provides online customer support and engagement software for companies, has just expanded its downtown presence. Times of San Diego reports that they started in a small office downtown with four people in 2005 and they now have 100 employees on the 15th floor of 101 West Broadway.

The Nervana Sale and the Oil Industry

OilPrice.com takes a look at how AI and deep machine learning is innovating the oil and gas industry. It takes a look at the Nervana sale to Intel and how that will have an impact.

Pivots and Opportunities

Two incubator/accelerator programs have application deadlines coming up:

• Canopy San Diego’s Fall 2016 Cohort deadline is August 30.
•  Downtown incubator EvoNexus applications are due by August 31.

Be There or Be…

• San Diego Venture Summit
  September 8, 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Hilton Bayfront
  Hosted by the San Diego Venture Group, the Summit attracts numerous VCs to San Diego.
• Bootcamp: Become a Service Design Sprint Master
  September 19
  rethinkCAFÉ in collaboration with the London Design Festival is hosting the Service Design Sprints’ first West Coast Sprint Master’s bootcamp round.

Tags: Blogs, Downtown Buzz