“Please Don’t Make Me Work in Sorrento Valley”

Alexander Bakst is a young techie who has a few ideas about how to keep him and other tech-minded recent graduates in San Diego. His main point in this Voice of San Diego piece is to make sure tech companies are locating in areas where millennials want to be. Hint: it isn’t Sorrento Valley.  

Football and Startups

In a Hail Mary of his own, Chargers owner Dean Spanos is making the case for a new football stadium in a piece in the Union-Tribune. In it, startup companies will find an interesting nugget—apparently the retail and office space contemplated as part of this new stadium is targeted at startup companies.  

San Diego is Once Again a Test Market

Two non-San Diego startups, PlateJoy and Instacart, are joining forces and San Diego gets the benefit. According to the Union-Tribune, the two companies are now partnering so that once you plan your meals on PlateJoy, you can instantly get the needed ingredients delivered from Instacart. Last week this paired-up offering became available here in San Diego.  

High Tech High Driving Education Nationally

A few years ago Ted Dintersmith, a long-time venture capitalist, sought out the best in education in the country. San Diego’s High Tech High model is one of the finds profiled in his documentary, Most Likely to Succeed. This film and the High Tech High model is now making waves all over the country. This week it got some attention in North Dakota.  

Pivots and Opportunities

• YCombinator is taking applications. The Mountain View-based funder and booster of startups is looking for applications for its winter class. You have to move to Mountain View for the three months of the program. We just hope you come back after it’s over! Applications are due October 4.
• G-Startup Worldwide Global Finals is accepting applications. It is an exclusive, invitation-only event, featuring some of the most innovative seed stage startups chosen from thousands of applications at G-Startup Worldwide competitions held in Tel Aviv, Beijing, Jakarta, Tokyo, Bangalore, Taipei, Sao Paulo, and Silicon Valley. These startups will pitch to well-known VC's for an additional $250,000 investment prize and a host of other prizes. Applications are due 9/1.

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.
• SDTECH & Startup Mixer
  September 8, 6 p.m., Renaissance Rooftop Lounge

Tags: Blogs, Downtown Buzz