Stories for October 2019
Thursday, October 31
NuVasive Sees Stock Increase After Earnings Report
In third quarter earnings spine implant maker NuVasive recorded $290.8 million in revenue, a 7.2% year-over-year increase.
Seismic Poaches Google Exec as New Chief Marketing Officer
Michael Londgren, a former Google Cloud marketing executive, will serve as Seismic's new head of marketing.
Vertical Farming Company Leases Westcore Building
Company will grow leafy green vegetables indoors
Poway Industrial Building Sold For $2 million
Building will be new headquarters for ZTelco, a phone and internet service provider.
San Diego Architectural Students Compete In National Event
They are one of three teams in the final competition
App Aims to Rule the Waves of Action Sports
TECH: It Takes You Into the Contests, the Competition, the Players
While thousands of sports fans turn to ESPN or CBS Sports to keep tabs on the big game, fewer options exist for surfing, snowboarding or other action sports despite their popularity.
UC San Diego Health Adds Clinic in Eastlake
UC San Diego Heath has opened a clinic in Eastlake as part of a strategy to open more satellite sites.
Poway Industrial Building Sold For $4.4M
Building has 5,000 square feet of office space.
National City Apartment Complex Sold For $3.1M
Complex has 19 apartments.
Wednesday, October 30
ResMed Reports 16% Revenue Growth in Q1
In first quarter earnings ResMed posted $681.1 million in revenue, a 16% year-over-year increase.
Lyft Selects San Diego Nonprofits for Grants
According to a press release, Burn Institute, Mama’s Kitchen and Wounded Warriors Homes will all benefit from Lyft rides grant program to further their causes.
Prometheus and Takeda Targeting IBD With Precision Medicine
Prometheus Brings Diagnostics, Discovery and Data to the Table
Prometheus Biosciences could net up to $420 million in a recently announced pact with major pharmaceutical Takeda.
Co. Elevates Its Game To Better Serve Brewers’ Needs
5th Ingredient Hopes To Gain Exposure at Upcoming Quick Pitch
For 5th Ingredient founder Pulkit Agrawal, brewing is a science.
Skinny Gene Puts Community Activism Into Diabetes Fight
Project Graduated from City Sail, An Accelerator for Nonprofits
The Skinny Gene Project is a San Diego-based nonprofit working to prevent Type 2 Diabetes.
Viasat Taps Into Advertising Potential Of Aircraft Internet
Co. Continues to Install Its In-Flight Connectivity Service
Talk about a captive audience. Consider the people sitting on a commercial airline flight, whiling away the hours with the in-flight entertainment system.
Mostra Coffee Draws A Crowd as Well as Accolades
Company Plans on Releasing a Cold Brew and Opening Second Location
Chocoana, made of housemade banana milk and cold brew concentrate; this is just one of Mostra Coffee Inc.’s best-sellers.
Tuesday, October 29
Supply Chain Software Startup AgTools Sweeps Quick Pitch Competition
Irvine-based startup AgTools took home the $50,000 first place prize and the $10,000 audience choice prize at this year's Quick Pitch competition.
FDA Accepts Heron’s Resubmitted Drug Application
Earlier this month, Heron Therapeutics resubmitted an application to approve its postoperative pain anesthetic.
San Diego Angel Conference Returns After Awarding $535,000 in First Year
After its big debut last year, the San Diego Angel Conference will return again in March.
Condos’ Helipads Didn’t Fly With Regulators
PROPERTY: Required Removal Is Being Done Bucket By Bucket
Helicopter landing pads built for emergency evacuation from the twin towers of the 41-story Harbor Club on San Diego’s waterfront are being removed.
Intense Demand Remains in Q3 for Industrial Space
New Industrial Construction Was At One of Highest Levels
Demand for industrial space in San Diego was intense in the third quarter of 2019 with no sign that it will ease heading toward 2020.
10-Year Ride for Long-Endurance Aircraft
DEFENSE: Air Force Extends Northrop Grumman Contract
Northrop Grumman Corp. is in line for billions of dollars’ worth of work on its Global Hawk unmanned high-altitude spy aircraft program over the next 10 years.
San Diego Voted 3rd Best Winter Holiday Destination
According to a press release, the list was based 37 different cost and convenience metrics, not scenic beauty, although weather forecasts, safety and variety of activities were also considered.
Ansun Biopharma Raises $80 Million in Series B Round
BIOTECH: FDA Designations Show Need For Respiratory Drug
Ansun Biopharma is a San Diego biotech with a drug for respiratory infections caused by influenza and parainfluenza.
Monday, October 28
It Is Brains Over Brawn at CleverMade
RETAIL: Founders Find a $35M Market In Everyday Efficiencies
From collapsible crates and totes, coolers and laundry caddies to inflatable outdoor chairs and its recently introduced Parcel LockBox (more on that later), CleverMade carries over 30 innovative products.
Silvergate Capital Plans to Offer 4.3M Shares in IPO
Crypto-friendly bank Silvergate Capital said it plans to offer 4.3 million shares in its IPO, more than 3 million of which will be from selling shareholders.
Tandem, Abbott Partnership Brings Closed-Loop System
BIOTECH: Abbott Expected to Help Tandem Grow Internationally
Tandem Diabetes Care recently dropped a big partnership announcement.
SDBJ INSIDER: A Storybook Job
Talking about a diverse economy in San Diego: Who else has a Dr. Seuss Enterprises?
Park to Give SeaWorld an Attraction Without Distractions
TOURISM: Sesame Place Bets on Big Bird Making Big Splash in Chula Vista
SeaWorld San Diego will soon have one up on SeaWorld Orlando with the addition of the second-ever Sesame Place theme park.
Palatine Doesn’t Want Residents To Get Lost in the Crowd
PROPERTY: Bankers Hill Development Looks for Lasting Beauty, Not Trends
Affordable luxury with an artistic touch is the selling point for a $20 million condominium project going up in Bankers Hill.
Regenica Biosciences Aims to Disarm a Chemical Weapon
MEDICINE: Company’s Mission Is to Find Antidote to Nerve Agents
Regenica will compete as one of this year's Quick Pitch finalists.
Tentative Rejection of Merger Leaves Illumina With Big Hurdle to Clear
PacBio Acquisition Seen As Anti-Competitive By UK Regulator
A U.K. antitrust regulator has tentatively rejected Illumina’s $1.2 billion acquisition of Pacific Bioscience with a final decision slated for December.
SBP Receives $3.58M Grant for Opioid Treatment
SBP Receives $3.58M Grant for Opioid Treatment
A professor at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute received a $3.58 million grant to push forward a compound that has shown early promise in helping prevent opioid relapse or overdose.
TCA S.D. Makes 9 Local Investments From Annual Fund
Ten of 16 Investments Were In Life Sciences
Tech Coast Angels-San Diego’s new annual fund was a hit with local angel investors.
Don Buchman, Vice President and General Manager of Commercial Aviation at Viasat Inc.
Electronics Design Software Firm Has Worldwide Reach
There is a science to designing an electronic circuit.
Pacific Surfliner Is Expanding So-Cal Services
One-Way Tickets to L.A. Are $36 for Coach and $55 for Business Class
LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, which oversees the San Diego Surfliner service operation since 2015, is adding additional trips to and from the Southern California cities.
Co., Curry on Course to Bring Golf to Communities, College
NBA Player Supporting Golf Team For Howard University
Golf equipment manufacturer, Callaway Golf Co., and three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry, have partnered to bring the game of golf to underrepresented youth.
Altium Gets Bigger As Printed Circuit Boards Get Smaller
Electronics Design Software Firm Has Worldwide Reach
There is a science to designing an electronic circuit.
CUSTOM CONTENT: J.P. Morgan Chase is Advancing San Diego
Expanded Services Address the Workforce Skills Needed of Growing Industry Sectors
We live in a time when it is easy to feel that there is more that divides us than unites us.
CUSTOM CONTENT: JPMorgan Chase is Advancing San Diego
Expanded services address the workforce skills needed of growing industry sectors
We live in a time when it is easy to feel that there is more that divides us than unites us.
Sunday, October 27
Illumina Reports Solid Growth in Q3
Illumina reported $907 million in third quarter revenue, a 6% year-over-year increase that beat Wall Street expectations and marked an improvement over the prior quarter.
Race for Enzymatic DNA Synthesis Is On
BIOTECH: New Synthesizing Likely to Bring Major Changes
San Diego’s Molecular Assemblies has raised $12.2 million to commercialize a new way of producing DNA, in what could turbocharge work across life sciences.
San Diego Firm Refinances Project For $19.2M
Nexus Canyon Research Park is in Seattle area
Accion’s San Diego Branch Lands $300,000 to Support Diverse Business Owners
Accion received a $300,000 grant to support diverse small business owners in San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
La Jolla Taco Stand Voted Fourth Fast Casual Restaurant in U.S.
According to the Trip Advisor website, The Taco Stand prides itself in making handmade corn tortillas and guacamole and salsas made from scratch daily.
Co.’s Emerald Plaza Perch Connects It to Downtown Vibe
DESIGN: Ware Malcomb’s Design Touches Create Open, Inviting Office
Fresh off relocating its San Diego corporate headquarters to Sorrento Valley, Ware Malcomb design firm is expanding again.
Developers Find Phoenix a Good Place To Do Business
Population Is Growing And Area Is Attracting Technology Companies
Investors based in San Diego are increasingly putting their money into Phoenix, Arizona
Bank of Southern California Acquires CalWest
FINANCE: $32M Deal Is Bank’s Seventh Acquisition to Date
Bank of Southern California, a midsized bank based in San Diego, will acquire Rancho Santa Margarita-based CalWest Bancorp.
Co.’s Drive, $298M Keeps It on Course
TECH: TuSimple Advances Autonomous Trucking
Driving down Interstate 10 in Arizona, you might be able to spot one of TuSimple’s bright green, self-driving trucks.
Thursday, October 24
Cross Border Xpress Grows Passenger Traffic by 30%
According to a press release, in order to better accommodate the growing number of travelers crossing the bridge every day, CBX has plans to expand “key areas” within terminals.
Illumina’s $1.2 Billion Acquisition of Pacific Biosciences Tentatively Rejected
A U.K. antitrust regulator has tentatively rejected Illumina’s $1.2 billion acquisition of Pacific Bioscience with a final decision slated for December.
Qualcomm Ventures Launches $200M Fund for 5G
Qualcomm Ventures launched a new 5G Ecosystem Fund today.
Lakeside Apartment Complex Sold For $12.5M
Complex has 60 apartments
Poway Commercial Building Sold For $2.5M
Big O' Tires is the sole tenant
Commercial Condominium Sold For Nearly $2.4M
Orangetheory Fitness occupies the unit
Caliper Covers Give Drivers a Reason to Stop, Take Notice
RETAIL: Co. Has Licensing Deals, Expects 10% Growth in 2019
Before Mike Barland launched MGP Caliper Covers a little over a decade ago, there were two common practices for beautifying a car’s calipers.
Construction Co. Forecasts $164M in Contracts
BUILDING: Family Firm Tackles Many Education Projects
Barnhart-Reese Construction — the successor to the long-time San Diego development firm of Douglas E. Barnhart Inc. — has nabbed three new contracts with a total worth of more than $29.5 million.
Wednesday, October 23
Hoot Rides Pilot Program Kicks Off in Oceanside
The Hoot Rides Shuttle Service can be hailed through the Hoot app and will take riders along the beach, pier and Harbor.
$3.58M Grant to Advance Potential Opioid Treatment
A professor at Sanford Burnham Prebys received a $3.58 million grant to push forward a compound that has shown early promise in helping prevent opioid relapse or overdose.
Diabetes Prevention Startup Lands $100,000
The SKinny Gene Project, a diabetes prevention nonprofit, received a $100,000 impact loan from Mission Driven Finance.
Viscient Proposes Merger With Organovo
Cos. Are Good Fit As They Both Work In NASH Space
Viscient Biosciences has proposed a merger with Organovo, a biotech that recently said it would entertain acquisition offers after its implantable liver program didn’t pass clinical muster.
Bionano Genomics Plans $18M Stock Offering
San Diego’s Bionano Genomics plans to raise $18 million through a public stock offering, the company said Oct. 21.
Tracking Solutions Put Cos. in Control
TECH: Blue Sky Also Delivers Data to Support Various Missions
A map showing Africa appears on the large-screen television at Blue Sky Network in Mission Valley. It offers a unique perspective of the continent.
VC Investing Is Strong for Q3; Tech Makes Inroads
Trackforce, SmartDrive Lead the Way; Health Care Still Overall Winner
Tech companies led San Diego’s top venture capital rounds last quarter, bucking the region’s reputation as a biotech hub.
Tuesday, October 22
Mead Makers Rely on Their Creative Juices
BEVERAGE: Drink Fits in With Craft Culture, Return to Nature
For a few decades now, San Diego has been distinctively known as the craft beer capital of America.
Callaway Golf Partners with Basketball Player Stephen Curry
According to a press release, and as part of the initiative, Stephen Curry helped Howard University, a historically black university in Washington, D.C., launch its first-ever Division 1 Golf Program last month, set to debut in 2020.
SDBJ INSIDER: Times Are Changing And So Are Diapers
Sustainability is still in its infancy. This brings opportunities to think outside the box, even outside the disposable diaper box.
Changing Hydration from Guessing Game to a Science
BIOTECH: Device Applications Include Sports, Military
Debbie Chen can throw a punch. She began competing as an amateur Muay Thai fighter before she founded her hydration monitoring startup, Hydrostasis.
Connect All Graduates 13 Cos. From Its First Cohort
Access Trax Awarded $10,000, Plans to Make First Part-Time Hire
Connect All at the Jacobs Center’s first cohort of startups delivered their pitches recently.
Monday, October 21
Bank of Southern California to Buy OC-Based Bank for $32 Million
Bank of Southern California and CalWest Bancorp plan to close the deal in early 2020.
SeaWorld to Open Sesame Place Theme Park in San Diego
The Sesame Place theme park will mark the second location in the United States and the first on the west coast.
Executive Q&A: Todd Jackson, CEO Jackson Design
Todd Jackson, president and CEO of Jackson Design and Remodeling (JDR) entered the remodeling business at age 20.
Movie Theaters Can Be a Good Buy in Shaky Retail Market
Two Theaters Recently Sold in Region for $36.5M and $32.3M
Movie theaters are attracting investors to San Diego County looking for property that is immune from disruptions caused by e-commerce.
Business Women of the Year, Purchase Tickets before November 13
EVENTS: Luncheon Topics to Include Board Qualifications, Mentoring
Like many of us, Patti Roscoe has a story of observing San Diego as a tourist and coming the live here as a resident.
CUSTOM CONTENT: eMolecules Moves Into New Headquarters, New Chapter
On Friday, September 27th, eMolecules celebrated the grand opening of its new headquarters overlooking Torrey Pines State Beach and the Pacific Ocean.
Hospitals Must Spend Billions to Meet Mandates
FACILITIES: New Building Standards Take Effect in 2030
San Diego County’s hospitals and health care systems are planning to spend billions of dollars over the next decade to meet state seismic safety requirements.
Co.’s Barware Mixes Function And Style for Intoxicating Blend
Extensive Market Research Backs Co.’s Products; Plan Is to Scale Slowly
When Rachel Eva and her husband and business partner Shawn Michael noticed the rise in the craft cocktail scene a few years back.
Luna Looking to Draw Millennials As It Scales Up
Company Has Leaders In Place to Handle Accelerated Growth
San Diego-based Luna Grill Restaurants LLC, continues on a path of growth.
Navy’s IT Arm Awards $1.56B in Deals
NAVWAR Oversees Cybersecurity, Employs 5,200
Like planets around a star, businesses congregate around U.S. military facilities and acquisition commands.
Whiting-Turner Gets $85M Building Deal
SEAL Campus Construction Effort May Grow to $107M
The following are selected defense contracts awarded to San Diego County companies in September.
Plexium Takes In $28 Million in a Series A Round
Ability to Screen Millions Of Small Molecules Should Bolster Results
Long impeding drugmakers, entire classes of proteins have proven too difficult to target.
CUSTOM CONTENT: Top Technology Solutions
Expanded services address the needs of growing industry sectors
Since its founding in 1989, AIS has evolved quickly and frequently to keep up with the technological trends of the time.
Sunday, October 20
Ansun Raises $80M for Drug Aimed at Respiratory Infections
Ansun Biopharma – a San Diego biotech with a drug for respiratory infections caused by influenza and parainfluenza – has raised an $80 million series B round.
Coworking Scene Sound in San Diego
REAL ESTATE: Room for Growth Remains in Small Sector
Fallout from the apparent implosion of WeWork is unlikely to have much of an effect in San Diego County.
Uber Bike Lane Alert Product Now Available in San Diego
According to a press release, Uber's Bike Lane Alerts feature aims to “increase the awareness of people on bikes and scooters via the Uber app by sending notifications to riders when their drop off is on or near a bike lane,."
NuttZo Makes Revenue Based Funding Deal as It Plans Expansion
According to the company, the investment will be used to create new foods and expand its footprint.
Lack of Downtown Office Space Has Been Years in the Making
Vacancy Rates Are Low; Rents Reach Record Highs
San Diego is falling behind other metro areas when it comes to building new office space in central business districts.
Affordable Living to Be Part of Little Italy Site
PROPERTY: Luxury Tower to Be Paired With Senior Complex
Luxury apartment complexes are nothing new in downtown San Diego’s Little Italy.
Silvergate Names New CFO, and a New Director to Its Board
Crypto Currency Services Increased Its Customer Base
Silvergate Bank named a new chief financial officer Oct. 14.
Company Pays $2.23B for Sempra’s Business in Chile
ACQUISITION: Sale Part of Focus On North America
Sempra Energy has agreed to sell its power businesses in Chile to a Chinese company for $2.23 billion in cash.
Thursday, October 17
Plexium Takes in $28M Round
Long impeding drugmakers, entire classes of proteins have proven too difficult to target.
Northrop Grumman Partners with Local Colleges to Prime Talent Pipeline
Northrop Grumman will work with MiraCosta College and Palomar College to prepare students for careers in aerospace or defense.
San Diego and Oceanside Property Sold to MFL Properties For $4.2M
Two apartment buildings and a retail center sold
Markstein Beverage Co. to Close
Markstein Beverage Co.'s closure follows the acquisition of "key Markstein assets" in September by Anheuser-Busch InBev. The terms of that deal were undisclosed.
Cutwater Tequila Proudly Took the Long Way to Market
BEVERAGE: Ten Years In the Making, Co. Tapped Traditional Methods, Experts
San Diego-based Cutwater Spirits has revealed its latest creation: the brand’s first tequila offering.
The $51 Billion Military Asset
DEFENSE: San Diego’s Defense Role Brings a Giant Economic Impact
The Defense Department pumped an estimated $28.1 billion into the San Diego County economy.
Rosie Network, Stella Labs Awarded $50,000 From SBA
Growth Accelerator Fund Competition to Support Startups
Two San Diego business accelerators were each awarded $50,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition.
Wednesday, October 16
LifeCouple Keeps Couples Connected To The Relationship
Company to Charge for App, Plans to Also Develop A Job Health Feature
Sean Rones, a Carmel Valley-based entrepreneur, didn’t realize his relationship was out of balance until he found himself at the therapist’s office.
Building Has Designs on Driving Interaction, Collaboration
DESIGN: Central Atrium And Even Center’s Stairs Bring People Together
Making space where researchers could casually bump into each other and get a peek at each other working was a big part of the design of Center for Novel Therapeutics.
Carlsbad Apartment Complex Sold For $3M
Complex has 11 apartments
RQ Construction Gets $71M Barracks Project in Cuba
Work at Guantanamo Bay To Last Through 2022
The following are selected defense contracts awarded to San Diego County companies in September and October.
Public Can Warm Up To These Wearables
RETAIL: Heated Apparel Carried In Nearly 1,500 Stores
Tech Gear 5.7 Inc. has its Mobile Warming line of heated jackets, vests, base layers, socks and gloves.
SD Climate Delivers for Coffee Drinkers
Local Production Seen As Start of Sea Change For Organic Coffee Scene
San Diego-based Bird Rock Coffee Roasters signed a deal with Oceanside’s Mraz Family Farms to sell the first San Diego-grown coffee and sold out in just four days.
Avison Young Acquires McKinney
REAL ESTATE: Biotech Draws Avison’s First Buy In San Diego Market
The commercial real estate brokerage and property management firm of McKinney Advisory Group Inc. based in San Diego has been acquired by Avison Young headquartered in Toronto.
Tuesday, October 15
NASA, General Atomics Aeronautical To Fly UAS Over San Diego in 2020
Commercial Uses for Unmanned Aircraft Eyed
There comes a moment when military technology gets repurposed for civilian roles.
Glasses Focus on Style, Lifestyle
RETAIL: Pricing, Action Sports Connection Help Drive Sales
In its first year in business, Blenders Eyewear, founded in 2013, sold about one thousand pairs of sunglasses.
Qualcomm to Pay 62-Cent Dividend
Qualcomm will pay shareholders a quarterly dividend on Dec. 19.
Millenia Development Is Fulfilling Some Big Goals
PROPERTY: Site Expected To House 10,000; Retail and Office Plans Move Slower
Millenia — a Chula Vista development so big that it could be its own small city — is about two-thirds finished with construction already underway on the rest of it on the east side of Chula Vista.
Executive Q&A: Joe Panetta, CEO, Biocom
Joe Panetta has served as president and CEO of Biocom since 1999. Biocom is an association for life science companies and service providers.
SDBJ INSIDER: What’s Next For UCSD?
University of California San Diego’s economic impact for the state came in at $16.5 billion.
Soccer Team Owner Sees It as a Business And a Community Investment
Andrew Vassiliadis To Lead Club With Warren Smith
In mid-June, Sports Illustrated reported that retired professional soccer player Landon Donovan and his business partner, Warren Smith, were looking for local investment.
Monday, October 14
Fund Looks to Back Cos. That Try to Help
STARTUPS: Good Ideas To Get Technical Backing
A new venture fund founded by two tech executives looks to invest in startups that are using technology to better others’ lives. Greatscale Ventures was founded by Aaron Contorer.
Bankers Hill Office Building Sold For $8.7M
Building is leased to Real Page, Inc.
AttackIQ Makes First Overseas Expansion
AttackIQ will open two new offices in Australia.
Luna Grill Appoints Chief Brand Officer, New CFO
According to a press release, Rich Pinnella is Luna Grill's first ever chief brand officer and Bob Bartlett its chief financial officer.
Sourcify Connects Cos. to Overseas Manufacturing
STARTUP: Company Went Through EvoNexus And Y Combinator
In 2010, when 25-year-old Nathan Resnick lived in China as part of a high school foreign exchange program and after starting his own fashion e-commerce business.
It’s Tech vs. Tech: May the Most Innovative Win
Connect and SDVG To Co-Host Contest For First Time
San Diego-based Connect named 21 finalists for its Most Innovative New Product Awards.
Sunday, October 13
LRAD Posts Record Sales to Law Enforcement
The company attributed the increased sales to the performance of its acoustic hailing devices and the complimentary federal grant preparation services it offers departments looking to procure LRAD’s systems.
Made in San Diego, Deployed Worldwide
MANUFACTURING: Area Firms Fill Pentagon’s Varied Requirements
Much of San Diego’s sizable manufacturing capacity goes to support the Department of Defense.
Silvergate Bank Names New Chief Financial Officer
Silvergate Bank named Antonio Martino as the company's new chief financial officer.
All Women CRE Company Is Ready and Willing to Compete
REAL ESTATE: Skilled Executives Put Their Perspective on the Market
Carrie Bobb stood out when she became a commercial real estate broker in 2003 in a field dominated by men.
Office Space Demand Expected to Continue Strong Into 2020
Scripps Ranch and UTC See Strong Growth In the Third Quarter
Demand for office space in San Diego County was as strong as ever in the third quarter of the year, according to at least two commercial brokerage firms.
Apartment Tower’s Efforts Praised While Otherwise It Is Panned
Orchids, Onions Awards Put The Good, the Bad and the Different in the Spotlight
East Village’s bold Shift apartment tower was meant to get noticed, according to its developer and designer, and it sure got that from the San Diego Architectural Foundation.
Sanford Gives $350 Million to National University
EDUCATION: School To Become Sanford National University
Banker and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford continued his generous support of National University.
Co. Cuts Jobs, Sees Stock Plummet Following Weak Results
Brain Cancer Combo Didn’t Outperform Chemo
Tocagen is set to slash its workforce by 65% after its brain cancer therapy flopped in a late-stage clinical trial.
Friday, October 11
Hillcrest Apartment Complex Sold For $12.6M
Apartments are for senios
Sunroad Plaza Sold for $19.9M
Office campus was 82 percent leased
CapRock Partners Buys Otay Mesa Industrial Building
Renovations planned
Thursday, October 10
Access Trax Wins $10,000 at Connect All Pitch Competition
AccessTrax won $10,000 at a pitch competition for graduates of Connect All.
619 Spirits Gets USA TODAY’s Best Craft Vodka Distillery Nod
619 Spirits, with a 4,200 square foot distillery and tasting room located in North Park, was founded by San Diego local Nick Apostolopoulos in 2012.
First San Diego-Grown Coffee Sells Out at Bird Rock Coffee Roasters
According to a press release, this marked the first time a Geisha coffee varietal “has been grown and harvested on San Diego soil and made available online and to local consumers.”
Crafter’s Box Uses Quality to Create Its Opening in the Market
SUBSCRIPTION: Company Now Sells Materials, Working on Collaboration
Cozy knit pillows, stamped leather journals and delicate hand-painted cards are listed as workshops for The Crafter’s Box.
Co.’s Sports Platform Has Solid Selling Points
SPORTS: High School Coverage Uses Ads, B2B to Raise Revenue
ScoreStream, a crowd-sourced platform for high school sports scores, photos, videos and fan chat, is continuing its growth trajectory.
Salvation Army Moves To Otay Mesa
PROPERTY: Two Buildings Being Built in More Affordable Region
When The Salvation Army decided to relocate its downtown San Diego operations.
Union Kitchen & Tap Launches Food Truck
According to a press release, Union Kitchen & Tap, with locations in Encinitas and Gaslamp, recently hit the streets of San Diego with its Union Kitchen & Catering Food Truck.
AI Startup Yembo Lands Partnership with Moving Company
Virginia-based moving company JK Moving Services will use Yembo's software to survey items in advance of a move.
Wednesday, October 9
Kitchens Changes Lives Through Culinary Career Paths
FOOD: Nonprofit Trains Workers While Feeding Those in Need
Since its founding in 2014, Kitchens for Good, a nonprofit that tackles issues of food waste, poverty and hunger, has helped more than 300 individuals.
San Marcos Shopping Center Sold for Nearly $19.3M
Center was 92 percent leased
East Village Apartments Will Have Some Good Neighbors
PROPERTY: 34-Story Tower Will Be Next to Historic Home, UC San Diego’s New Complex
An East Village apartment tower that will incorporate a historic home and share a city block with the new downtown campus of the University of California San Diego is nearing completion.
Lincoln Park Apartments Sold For $4.2M
Complex has 20 apartments
North Park Apartment Building Sold For $3.2M
Building was renovated in 2018
Exec Q&A: Andrew Lukowiak, CEO, Millennium Health
Andrew Lukowiak is CEO of Millennium Health, an accredited specialty laboratory with over a decade of experience in medication monitoring and drug testing services.
Two New Affordable Apartment Projects Open in the County
HOUSING: Projects Deliver 85 Apartments For $39.7 Million
Two new affordable apartment projects have opened — one in downtown San Diego and one in Otay Mesa.
Tuesday, October 8
Sanford Gives $350M to National University
Banker and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford continued his generous support of National University with the announcement of $350 million gift to the university, which places it among the top 15 largest donations to a higher education institution.
Cutwater Spirits Releases First Tequila
According to a press release, Cutwater Spirits’ master distiller, Yuseff Cherney, has been working on the tequila, called Rayador Tequila Blanco and made of 100% blue Mexican agave, for the last decade.
Connect Names Finalists for Most Innovative Products Awards
21 companies will compete for the title of "Most Innovative" in December.
San Diego Aims to Be Player in Gaming
TECH: Warner’s New Facility Will Focus on Mobile Games
San Diego’s gaming community gained a new addition last month, after Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced it would open a new studio in Carlsbad.
Entrepreneurs Must Know the Twists, Turns Of E-Commerce Course
From Marketing To Manufacturing, Startups Need Plan
According to a report released in July by Business Insider, San Diego — specifically the Carlsbad area — is the 11th top city in the nation for startups.
Monday, October 7
Prometheus Spinoff Seeks Regulatory Approval for Diagnostic Device
ProciseDx, a spinoff of Prometheus Laboratories, is working on securing regulatory approval for its diagnostic tech in the U.S. and the E.U.
$2 Billion and Big Change
DEVELOPMENT: Work-Life Balance to Arrive in Mission Valley
A massive $2 billion redevelopment project that will reshape a big chunk of Mission Valley along the San Diego River is nearing a critical stage with preparation of an environment impact statement coming in January.
Coworking Model Finds Success in Salon Business
SERVICE: Company Sees $100 Million Revenue; Spaces Leased Month to Month
Phenix Inc., also known as Phenix Salon Suites, has 11 locations in San Diego, 69 throughout the state of California and more than 250 nationwide.
Citadel Defense Sells Anti-Drone Tech to Border Agency
Electronics Force Quadcopters To Land; Deal Exceeds $1M
Frequently, federal contracts valued at less than $7 million go unreported. The following are several contract announcements from government vendors.
McKinney Advisory Group Acquired by Avison Young
Company was founded in 2010
Sunday, October 6
General Atomics Gets $42M Contract for Hypersonics Work
Projectiles Engineered to Move at Mach 5, or Faster
The following are selected defense contracts awarded to San Diego County companies in September.
RV Resort and Bicycle Path to Get Bay-Front Plan Started
DEVELOPMENT: RV Park Is Expected to Be Completed in Summer 2020
Two key pieces of a $1.1 billion resort hotel and convention center project on Chula Vista’s bay front are about the get under way.
RF Industries Reports Net Income of $1M During Third Quarter
Acquisition of C Enterprises Increases Revenue Picture
RF Industries reported net income of $1.0 million, or 11 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $15.5 million during its third quarter.
Illumina, PacificBio Extend Acquisition
San Diego Company to Provide Cash Payments in the Meantime
The deadline for Illumina Inc. to acquire Pacific Biosciences has been extended as a U.K. regulator continues to review the $1.2 billion deal.
Eateries Welcome Fido For Fun and Profit
DINING: Slice of the Pet Spending Pie Can Pay Off
According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans are spending more on pets than ever before.
SDBJ INSIDER: Companies Envision Role For Smart Glasses
Mitchell International, a provider of technology, information solutions to property and casualty claims and collision repair industries, announced it has developed a proof of concept for smart glasses.
Swinerton Employees Build Up Benefits as They Transform Skyline
SDBJ Best Places to Work: Mega Employer Category (2,000+ U.S. EMPLOYEES)
A well-traveled barbecue smoker trailer is a key piece of equipment in the Swinerton Inc. inventory.
C&S Cos. Brings Staff Together for Personal Development, Softball
SDBJ Best Places to Work: Large Employer Category (250 - 1,999 U.S. EMPLOYEES)
For a large, national engineering firm, C&S Cos. still finds ways to keep employees connected.
Hughes Marino Values Excellence, Personal Growth, a Sense of Fun
SDBJ Best Places to Work: Medium Employer Category (50 - 249 U.S. EMPLOYEES)
Enjoy the journey. That’s one of the core values of Hughes Marino, a commercial real estate brokerage based in downtown San Diego that’s led by Jason and Shay Hughes.
Cultura Develops a Unique Sense of Place In its Own Workspace
SDBJ Best Places to Work: Small Employer Category (15 - 49 U.S. EMPLOYEES)
Cultura is not just a furniture dealership. According to the company, it is a partner in creating places where people love to work, live, learn and play.
Kyriba Hires Former E&Y Executive
Treasury Management Software in Demand
San Diego-based software company Kyriba brought in a former partner with Ernst & Young as the company’s new chief client officer.
Ten Finalists Ready to Deliver Their Pitches
$75,000 Up for Grabs; Investors Also to Be in Attendance
Tech Coast Angels picked 10 finalists for its John G. Watson Quick Pitch Competition. The annual event brings together promising San Diego startups to compete.
Retailer Gets Used Equipment Back in the Game
Used Goods Are 75% Of Business; Is Planning an E-Commerce Store
In 2016, Colorado-based sporting goods retailer Sports Authority declared bankruptcy and shut its La Mesa location.
Sempra Energy to Sell Peru Business for $3.59B
ENERGY: Chinese Buyer Takes First Step To Import U.S. LNG
Sempra Energy is weighing options for the $3.59 billion in cash it expects to receive through the sale of its interest in a South American electric utility.
Carlsbad-Based Zingle Acquired for $42 Million
SOFTWARE: Zingle to Keep Office and Employees; Will Merge with Medallia
Zingle, a Carlsbad-based company that lets users “text” businesses, was acquired on Sept. 24 for $42 million.
Thursday, October 3
MG Properties Acquires Las Vegas Apartments For Nearly $36.6M
Complex has 184 apartments
JBK Wants to Sell You On Other Cos.’ Brands
HEATLH: Lab Behind Many Brands’ Skincare Products
JBK Wellness Labs’ customers’ brands are carried in high-end retailers and mainstream locations.
Cities Getting Smarter About Making Use of Technology
TECH: Sharing Data Is a Challenge; Traffic Solutions Being Sought
In the last two years, the city of San Diego has installed 4,200 smart streetlights downtown, equipped with cameras, sensors and microphones.
InvestCloud Opens Carlsbad Office
According to a press release, the Carlsbad office, the company's eighth global location and third in California, will “provide its full suite of services to InvestCloud clients, as well as focus on driving further development on its trading, accounting and middle-office workflow solutions.
CommonGrounds Raises $40M After $100M Series A
STARTUPS: Company Sees Unaddressed Opportunities in the Market
CommonGrounds Workplace, a Carlsbad-based coworking company, raised an additional $40 million in funding after closing a $100 million series A round in January.
Leadership Changes At Akcea Therapeutics Include New CEO
Ionis to Deepen Its Commitment to the Company
Akcea Therapeutics on Sept. 23 announced the departures of CEO Paula Soteropoulos, President Sarah Boyce and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Goldberg.
Land for Emergency Vehicle Operations Center Sells for $28.1M
Training Now Being Done At SDCCU Stadium and Outside of the County
Starting a year from now, police cars and other emergency vehicles will be zipping around a new driver training track in Otay Mesa.
Wednesday, October 2
The Rosie Network, Stella Labs Win SBA Accelerator Competition
Two San Diego accelerator programs will each get $50,000 from the Small Business Administration.
Bank Finds Ideal Location for Innovation Lab: San Diego
FINANCE: Market’s Low Advertising Costs, Branch Density Are Pluses
At first glance, San Diego would appear to be an unlikely site to serve as a test market for new product and service concepts in both commercial and consumer banking.
Local Life Science Opportunities Draw Nuveen
Co. Sees Favorable Demographics And Chance to Diversify
The allure of UTC’s connections to the life science industry is drawing some big name investors from outside San Diego County.
Recession Fears Fail to Dent the Industrial Market
Life Science Sector, Last Mile Delivery Still Seeking Space
Demand for industrial space is so strong that even an expected recession is unlikely to throw it into negative numbers.
Fallbrook Apartments Sold For $4.8M
Complex has 28 apartments and one single family home
New Law Brings Big Challenges for Startups
LEGAL: Cos. Will Need to Examine Hiring Practices
In the early 1900s, the word “gig” appeared in jazz clubs, referring to a live music performance.
Tuesday, October 1
AIS Technology Services Acquires Local IT Firm
AIS Technology Services merged with Fortitude Technology, another San Diego-based IT company.
United Soccer League San Diego Appoints New Chairman
“San Diego is home for me, and both this club and I are here to stay,” said Vassiliadis via a statement.
Co.’s Data Analytics Might Find If You’ve Been Fibbing on Taxes
Machine Learning Helps Find Clues on Property Improvements
San Diego investor Neil Senturia launched a new startup to help governments detect unpaid property taxes.
Some Biotech Cos. Find Advantages They Need in S.D.
Talent Pool and Area’s Research Institutions Cited By Cos. Moving
DelMar Pharmaceuticals recently joined a short list of biotechs that moved to the region this year.
California Economic Index Down Slightly
'The four negative sub-indexes for the month were housing starts, industrial electricity demand, the Dow Jones Technology Index and hotel occupancy.'
NTN Buzztime Changes Leadership In Office, Boardroom
Interim CEO Named; Co. Mulls Strategic Alternatives
NTN Buzztime Inc. is in search of a new CEO after Ram Krishnan stepped down from the post on Sept. 17.
Oceanside Lot Sold For $4.5M
Property will be developed as retail center
Company’s History Helps in Competitive Organics Market
RETAIL: Customer Loyalty and Small Co. Image Are Respected
San Diego-based Organics Unlimited Inc. is a major player in the produce game.
Law Firm Embraces Branding Opportunity
PROPERTY: From Inside to Out, Changes Make Statement
How does a long-established law firm get its name out to the public?
SAN First in Nation to Offer Ocean-Friendly Food Option
Einstein Bros. Bagels, operated by Mission Yogurt, Inc., is the first Ocean Friendly restaurant at the airport and one of many eateries that have pledged to reduce their waste and boost environmental awareness about the rise of “garbage cluttering Earth’s waterways,” reads the release.
Active Efforts Made to Recruit Women in CRE
WORKFORCE: Retention Needs to Be Emphasized; Women Leaders Needed
Misty Moore was a rarity when she became a commercial real estate broker nearly 22 years ago.
Kyriba Hires EY Exec as Chief Client Officer
Kyriba hired Paul Bramwell, a former Ernst & Young exec, as the company's new chief client officer.
