Follow the Money

San Diego-based i Rock N Ride beat its goal of $20,000 with its Kickstarter campaign that closed on June 30, raising $22,314. The product is a portable, smartphone-integrated speaker that can be used while horseback riding.

Another successful Kickstarter happened this past week for Giventure— an effort launched by some UCSD students to help people find places to volunteer. Giventure raised $13,131, beating its $12,000 goal. The app allows you to find local volunteer opportunities that match your skills and interests.

UCSD Innovation Coming Downtown

Acknowledging the innovation hub growing downtown, the Downtown Partnership and UCSD Extension have launched a new two-year effort to foster collaboration between the research cluster on the Mesa and the innovation happening downtown. “With more than 110 startups and counting, we know downtown is innovation’s next frontier,” said Downtown Partnership CEO Kris Michell, according to the Union-Tribune. “To support the existing cluster, it’s critical we connect the known-how of UC San Diego and the Torrey Pines Mesa to help grow downtown’s emerging startup ecosystem.”

Big Growth at Veyo

It has been a big couple of months for downtown-based Veyo. After rapid growth— now at nearly 250 employees—they moved into their new digs in Symphony Towers. Veyo is a non-emergency medical transportation company that has combined the technology of today’s successful ride-share companies with the specific medical needs of non-emergency patients. According to the company, “In only six months, Veyo has completed over one million trips with its next-generation model, currently averaging ten thousand trips per day. The company provides seamless transportation management services in five states to over one and a half million Medicaid and Medicare members, and is expanding nationwide. Veyo has generated over $100 million in total sales to-date.”

Michigan wants a CONNECT

In a recent report by TEConomy for the state of Michigan’s 21st Century Jobs Trust Fund, a series of recommendations were made to keep Michigan in a competitive posture. The first on the list: “Develop an executive connect program patterned after one launched in 1985 in San Diego that connects would-be entrepreneurs with resources such as technology, coaching capital, management, partners and support services.” This is a shoutout to our own CONNECT which was created in 1985 as one of the nation’s first startup accelerators.

In the Spirit of July 4th

The Union-Tribune tells the story of military veterans becoming active in startup companies. The article focuses in on one former Navy Seal now working at a robotics startup in Silicon Valley.

Be There or Be…

• One Million Cups at The Vine
  July 6 at 9 a.m.
  Featured company: Piegon – an alternative to existing automated metering infrastructures for water
• SiliconBeach Tech Mixer
  August 4 at 6 p.m., Hotel Indigo Level 9 Rooftop

Tags: Blogs, Downtown Buzz