Here at Hatch, we’ve been following local startups Aira and Hera Labs for some time.

Aira developed technology that connects people who are blind or visually impaired with assistants who serve as real-time visual interpreters. Hera Labs helps female entrepreneurs launch or expand their businesses.

There’s another name that has been popping up on our radar—Braykion. Its founders, engineer Ryan Ruehl and Dr. Jon Wilensky sought a way to stop the spread of infectious diseases in hospital settings. What they came up with was a wearable device that monitors and records when healthcare workers wash their hands and reminds them when it’s time to wash up again.

What do these companies have in common? They’re among the 150 companies founded by UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management students or alumni since the first MBA class graduated in 2006.

“The Rady School’s approach is to support startups from ideation and development to the successful launch and growth of a company,” Rady Dean Robert Sullivan said.

According to Rady, 70 percent of those 150 companies are still operating in San Diego. They span industries including biotech, consulting, consumer products, healthcare, medical devices, and technology. In the first half of 2017, Rady-related startups raised over $75 million in financing.

Rady attributes that success to courses that take students through each phase of a startup, and accelerator programs that provide mentorship and resources for early-stage companies.

Sullivan said that 15 percent of Rady MBA graduates are operating a successful startup company. “That is a strong testament to the effectiveness of our MBA program and accelerators.”