Stories for September 2019
Monday, September 30
CUSTOM CONTENT: Poised to Thrive
As business challenges grow, hone operations and expect more from your banker
Businesses today are operating in an unprecedented economic environment.
CUSTOM CONTENT: Will Your Bank Be There For You When Times Get Tough?
Five questions to ask your prospective banker late in the economic cycle
Umpqua Bank's, Kris Ilkov, helps determine if your bank can serve as a long term partner.
CUSTOM CONTENT: Business Owners Heading for the Exit
Owners Selling Companies Need Comprehensive Exit Strategies
Owners selling Companies Need Comprehensive Exit Strategies.
Banks Becoming Technology Companies, Technology Companies Become Banks
FINANCE: Tools of the Trade and Customer Preferences Change
Clifford Cho has seen his share of businesses during his decade-plus years at Bank of America here in San Diego.
Rent Control Cools Market
REAL ESTATE: Apartment owners look elsewhere for investments.
REAL ESTATE: Apartment owners look elsewhere for investments.
Sunday, September 29
Tech Coast Angels Names Quick Pitch Finalists
Tech Coast Angels named 10 startups as the finalists for its annual Quick Pitch competition, which will take place on Oct. 29.
ECOR’s Recycling Plans Are Something That Cos. Can Build On
Process Creates Building Materials Out of Recycling
Before, San Diego used to send the majority of its recycling to China, where it would be spun up into raw materials that could be manufactured into goods.
RQ Construction To Build $58 Million Facility in Cuba
The following are selected defense contracts awarded to San Diego County companies in September.
Escondido Memory Care Home Sold For $12.3M
Complex was renovated in 2015. Photo courtesy of CoStar
Golden Hill Apartments Sell For $3.1M
Complex was built in 1988
Co.’s Antifungal Success May Help Other Efforts
MEDICINE: Drug May Help In Bone Marrow Transplants
Antibiotic-resistant infections grab headlines.
A Couple of Local Biotech Companies Make Key Financial Moves
Public Stock Offering Brings in $287.5M for Acadia Pharmaceuticals
San Diego biotech saw two major stock offerings and a loan agreement in the last week plus.
Airbnb Hosts in County Earn $112M in Summer
HOSPITALITY: San Diego Takes No. 2 Spot in State, Welcomes 482K Guests
San Diego County continues to be a popular Airbnb destination for travelers.
UCSD to Open School of Public Health
EDUCATION: It Will Aim for Greater Collaborative Efforts
UC San Diego has won approval for a school of public health that would connect its efforts in medicine, technology, data science and other fields.
SDBJ INSIDER: Danger Really Is Co.’s Business
In the ’70s, we didn’t have big data, but we had the big screen. Movies such as “Earthquake,” “The Poseidon Adventure” and “Towering Inferno” gave us pictures of disaster.
Friday, September 27
SAN Consolidating Global Entry Program
According to a press release, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection department notified the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority that the global entry enrollment center at San Diego International Airport will close on Sept. 30.
Thursday, September 26
Carlsbad Messaging App Zingle Acquired for $42M
Zingle was acquired by Medallia, a San Francisco-based software company.
Sorrento Mesa Industrial Building Sold For $10.4M
Renovations planned
Stos Partners Buys Carlsbad Office Building
Renovations planned
Cohn Restaurant Group to Operate The Patio Group Restaurants
According to a press release, the court-appointed receiver for American National Investments (ANI), founded by Champion-Cain and parent company to The Patio Group, appointed Cohn Restaurant Group operator of The Patio on Lamont, Surf Rider restaurants in La Mesa and Ocean Beach and Saska’s effective Sept. 30.
Miramar Office Building Sold For $4.5M
The Form was 51 percent occupied
MG Properties Buys Arizona Apartment Complex
Complex has 512 apartments
BAE Systems Gets $171 Million in Destroyer Repair Contracts
General Dynamics NASSCO Receives $21M in Work
At 950 feet long, the newest floating dry dock in the Port of San Diego is big enough to hold a pair of U.S. Navy destroyers.
Wednesday, September 25
DNA Printer and Tech for Improved Photosynthesis Score Funding Rounds
ZeaKal Raises $15M; SGI-DNA Takes in $25M
Two San Diego biotechs with head-turning technology recently picked up venture funding.
Founders Offer Advice on Scaling Business
LEADERSHIP: Female Leaders Discuss Taking Right Team on Right Path
The early days of a startup can be challenging, but when entrepreneurs begin scaling a business, they face even more decisions.
Affordable Engineering Services Wins $83M in Aircraft Work
DEFENSE: Maintenance and Repair Firm Sees ‘Breakout Year’
Affordable Engineering Services Inc., a Mission Valley business specializing in aircraft repair, picked up a significant contract win in late summer.
Overbuilt Elsewhere, Self-Storage Space In Demand Locally
Marcus & Millichap Reports Vacancy Decreases to 5.8%
All those people moving into the new apartment towers and condominium projects that keep springing up.
Harper Construction To Build Hangar Under $95.4M Deal
Will Work in Lemoore To Support Navy F-35
The following are selected defense contracts awarded to San Diego County companies or being performed in San Diego County in September.
Pursuing ‘Untapped Biology,’ Boundless Bio Receives $46.4 Million
BIOTECH: Company Tackling ecDNA’s Role in Cancer Cells
Boundless Bio Inc. emerged Sept. 19 with $46.4 million in funding and a claim to new territory: extrachromosomal DNA.
Steering Drivers to the Right Spot
Entering a parking garage, we reconnect with our primitive past. Our senses sharpen as we battle the terrain and our fellow drivers.
Tuesday, September 24
SPY Optic Acquired by Bolle Brands
Founded in 1994, SPY Optic is best known for its “cross” logo, and has built a reputation in the action sports segment.
Chula Vista Medical Center Sold For $10.8M
Building is flagship for California Retina Association
Sabre Springs Plaza Sold For $6.8M
Plaza was fully leased
San Diego Voted One of the Top Ten Coffee Cities in U.S.
On Wallet Hub's “2019 Best Coffee Cities in America” list, San Diego came in at No. 9.
Cloud Computing Levels the Playing Field for Small Businesses
TECHNOLOGY: Off-Premise Servers Offer New Capabilities, as Well
The widespread use of cloud computing is rapidly opening up business opportunities for small and medium-sized companies in San Diego.
Nine Female Led Startups Showed Innovation, Imagination
startups: Fintech Takes First; Others Include Healing, Sustainability and Travel
Nine female-led startups vied for the chance to win $5,000 at the Women’s Venture Summit Sept. 14.
KAABOO to Follow Millennials To East Village, Petco
ENTERTAINMENT: A Change of Ownership Is Other Big Move for Festival
KAABOO San Diego, formerly known as KAABOO Del Mar, will not only be moving from the Del Mar Fairgrounds to Petco Park starting in 2020.
Monday, September 23
NuZee Inc. to Expand its Board
According to a press release, NuZee’s board of directors will grow from one to five members.
Three Executives Out at Akcea Therapeutics
Akcea Therapeutics on Sept. 23 announced the departure of CEO Paula Soteropoulos, president Sarah Boyce and chief operating officer Jeff Goldberg.
Once All Business, 625 Broadway Reimagined
DEVELOPMENT: Hammer Ventures Taps Multifamily Market
Downtown San Diego’s very first high-rise building — the John D. Spreckels Building — has gotten a makeover to become luxury apartments.
GroGuru Ready To Increase Its Field Work
$2.9M Seed Round Helps Build Engineering, Sales Teams
As the end to the harvest season draws near, GroGuru CEO Patrick Henry sees an opportunity to plant the seeds for his San Diego agtech’s future growth.
Inseego Hires New CTO
The company named Dan Picker, a former Nokia exec, as its new CTO.
Carte Hotel Gives Design Firm a Calling Card
DESIGN: Partners Share Passion, Similar Design Aesthetic
In September, Little Italy opened the doors to its $89 million, 16-story luxury lifestyle Carte Hotel, a Curio Collection by Hilton property.
Tri-City, County Agree on Mental Health Funding
MEDICINE: New Reimbursement Mechanism May Serve as Model for Other Hospitals
A recent deal between Tri-City Medical Center and San Diego County could serve as a new model in funding mental health at hospitals, one potential solution to a strained psychiatric system.
Entrepreneur Discovers a Need for a Baggage Nanny
TRAVEL: Wrangling Luggage Is No Longer a Side Business for Crystal Browning
San Diego International Airport has launched a baggage pickup, storage and delivery service.
Executive Recruitment Firm Expands in BioLabs
Executive search firm Bench International has taken up residence in the San Diego incubator space run by BioLabs.
Sunday, September 22
Revolt Wine Co. Makes an Appeal to A New Generation
Business Pairs its Product With Music, Packages It in Kegs
Heather Hudson, founder and owner of Revolt Wine Co., is singlehandedly disrupting the San Diego wine industry.
Carlsbad's Chelsea Corp. Building Affordable Housing in Irvine
Complex will have 80 apartments
USA Today Names Barona Best Casino Outside Las Vegas
According to a Sept. 20 post on the USA Today site, Barona, located in Lakeside, took top honors over other resorts around the country, including Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, which came in at No. 3 on the list.
Escondido Industrial Building Sold For $4M
Building will be county headquarters for Promex Industries
Cloud Computing: What It Is and What It Is Not
TECHNOLOGY: Research Makes the Transition Easier, Cuts Down on Surprises
efore businesses make the switch to cloud computing, it’s important that they understand what the cloud can and can’t do for them.
Sherman Heights Apartments Sold For $3.2M
Complex has 16 apartments Photo courtesy of ACRE Investment Real Estate Services
Greycroft Leads $10M Investment In Biproxi
Online Offering Has Range Of Services for CRE Brokers
A San Diego-based online marketing company for commercial real estate brokers that functions similar to Zillow for residential real estate has received a $10 million cash infusion.
Would Recession Hit Homes in San Diego?
Report Ranks Market No. 4 In Terms of Risk
San Diego is a one of the metro areas in the nation that’s most at risk to have a downturn in the housing market in a future recession.
Vibration Plates Shake Up Yoga
VibeFlow Plans to Expand Its Footprint
There are plenty of traditional yoga studios in San Diego to choose from, but if you search for studios that use vibration plates as part of their practice...
Amplyx Adds to Pipeline, Unveils Clinical Trial Data
Data Committee Finds ‘High Level of Treatment Success’
Amplx Pharmaceuticals recently revealed promising data for a drug designed to treat life-threatening infections.
Tocagen to Conduct ‘Operational Review’ After Clinical Trial
Biotech’s Brain Cancer Treatment Posts Disappointing Results
In 2017, Tocagen raised $87 million in a public offering. Investors saw potential in the San Diego biotech’s combo treatment for recurrent brain cancer.
Funding Round Brings $90 Million to SmartDrive
Company Sees Itself in Leading Role for Telematics
San Diego-based telematics company SmartDrive Systems raised $90 million in financing on Sept. 12.
Series D Round Brings $120M to TuSimple
Company to Co-Develop a Self-Driving Truck With OEMs
TuSimple, a startup working on building autonomous trucks, raised $120 million more for its oversubscribed Series D funding round.
Qualcomm Makes $3.1B Acquisition
TECHNOLOGY: Buys Out TDK’s Share Of Joint Venture
Qualcomm Inc. acquired the remaining shares of RF360 Holdings Singapore Pte. Ltd. for $1.15 billion.
Sales Spur Building In Two Submarkets
DEVELOPMENT: Property In Downtown, Otay Mesa
Liberty National Corp. has acquired the final 30,000-square-foot parcel that it needs to build a mixed-use project at Park Boulevard and Broadway in East Village.
Rady School’s New Dean Takes Stock
EDUCATION: Ordóñez Sees Potential at Business School
Lisa Ordóñez joined UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management as its second-ever dean earlier this month.
Thursday, September 19
Malin Burnham Donates $2.3M to USD Real Estate Program
Gift is part of drive to raise $10 million
San Diego Investor Launches Real Estate Data Startup
Blackbird Ventures founder Neil Senturia launched a new startup.
Metacrine Secures $50M Loan and Security Deal
San Diego-based Metacrine has inked a loan and security agreement for up to $50 million with K2 HealthVentures.
Talmadge Apartments Sold For Nearly $4.9M
Some apartments were remodeled
SAN Earns Level 3+ Carbon Neutral Rating
According to a press release, SAN joins Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in reaching carbon neutral accreditation from the global agency that establishes carbon standards for airports worldwide.
Vista Industrial Building Sold For $2.4M
Building is leased to Arrow Pipeline
Day Parties Offer Nightclub Experience
HOSPITALITY: Events Bring Customers to Commercial Venues
Day parties are not a novelty.
Carlsbad Apartments Sold For $2.7M
Complex has 10 apartments
Pursuing ‘Untapped Biology,’ Boundless Bio Lands $46.4M Funding Round
Boundless Bio Inc. emerged Sept. 19 with $46.4 million in funding and a claim to new territory: extrachromosomal DNA
Wednesday, September 18
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Plans $250M Stock Offering
Acadia Pharmaceuticals is planning to raise $250 million through a public stock offering.
Drone Seen as an Advertising Vehicle
STARTUPS: PromoDrone Has Raised $50,000 in Funding
A flying ad — it’s a novelty that’s certain to catch people’s eyes. That’s the thinking behind PromoDrone.
Airbnb Hosts Earned Over $112M During Summer in San Diego
According to a press release, San Diego County was the second most visited location in California this summer, with Airbnb hosts earning a combined $112 million in supplemental income and welcoming approximately 482,400 guests from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
KAABOO Under New Ownership
According to a press release, Jason Felts, Virgin Fest founder and CEO, has acquired all of the KAABOO festival brand assets through the music festival arm of the Virgin brand.
Rancho Bernardo Industrial Building Sold For $9.5M
Building was vacant
Carlsbad Building Sold For $2.8M
Building is 70 percent office space
San Marcos Industrial Project Sold For $6.9M
Building combines warehouse space and offices
Tuesday, September 17
TuSimple Raises $120M More for Autonomous Trucks
TuSimple raised an additional $120 million, after raising a $95 million series D round in February.
Company Opens the Door to Easier Overseas Hiring
WORKFORCE: Laws, Benefits And Payroll Are Taken Care of
Most fast-growing startups will reach a point where they want to expand overseas, whether it’s to open a new sales office or hire a team of developers.
$161B Market Seen in ‘Functional Foods’
HEALTH: Consumer Focus on Nutrition Drives Demand
More and more, San Diego-based food companies are placing focus on including functional ingredients in their “better for you” offerings.
Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa Completes $21 Million Renovation
According to a press release, the renovation was managed by JLL’s Project and Development Services group on behalf of property owner Pebblebrook Hotel Trust.
Imperial Beach Apartments Sold For $3.9M
Complex has 16 apartments
DelMar Pharmaceuticals Relocates to San Diego
DelMar Pharmaceuticals has relocated from British Columbia to San Diego.
Golden Hill Apartments Sold For Nearly $2.2M
Building has nine apartments
Northrop Grumman Fire Scout Carries Mine Detector Aloft
Unmanned Helicopter Part Of Versatile Littoral Ship
The unmanned helicopter comes first. The Marines follow.
Monday, September 16
Qualcomm Acquires RF360 for $1.15B
Qualcomm acquired the remaining shares of RF360 for $1.15 billion.
CommonGrounds Raises $40 Million in Funding
CommonGrounds raised an additional $40 million, after raising $100 million in January.
Holland Partner Group Plans 37-Story Tower
development: Mixed-Use Project To Replace Courthouse
A 445-foot tall glass and steel tower combined with a smaller adjacent podium building will replace the former downtown San Diego County Courthouse under plans by a Washington state developer.
KAABOO Del Mar Festival to Move to Petco Park in 2020
According to a press release, the music, comedy art and culinary festival has reached a multi-year agreement with KAABOO, which will now be known as KAABOO San Diego.
Navy Department Unveils New Innovation Push
defense: Ties With Nontraditional Partners Sought in ‘Tech Bridge’
San Diego is one of the first places the Department of the Navy is going as it works to innovate faster.
Urban Plates Appoints New CMO
According to a press release, Greer previously worked as head of marketing for Xperience Restaurant Group/Real Mex Restaurants, as well as at Bloomin’ Brands for Outback Steakhouse, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and General Mills.
Point Loma Apartments Sold For $2.1M
Complex has seven apartments
In Digital Age, PR Firms Need to Do More Than Just Master the Message
From Videos to Influencers, Cos. Need Right Tools, Techniques and Talent to Serve Their Customers
Public relations firms in San Diego are scrambling to adapt to change as digital technology continues to alter the way consumers receive information.
Sunday, September 15
SGI-DNA Pulls in $25M Series A Round for DNA Printer
San Diego’s SGI-DNA, a spinout of Synthetic Genomics, has raised a $25 million series A round.
Company Has Instrument of Change for Dermatology
MEDICINE: DermTech’s Patch May Change Skin Cancer Diagnostics
Could that suspicious mole be cancerous? DermTech wants doctors to reach for a patch, not a scalpel.
Largest Industrial Development in Years Coming to Otay
PROPERTY: Site To Be Adjacent to Planned Port of Entry
Site work is wrapping up on the $40 million first phase of what will become the 311-acre Otay Crossings Commerce Center at the eastern edge of Otay Mesa.
National City Office Park Sold For Nearly $8.8M
Eight buildings sold in deal
San Diego EDC Initiative Seeks to Meet Need for Tech Talent
The San Diego EDC's Advancing San Diego initiative will help fund internships at local companies.
Otay Mesa Industrial Building Sold For $6.4M
Building is 44,830 square feet
San Diego International Airport Launches Baggage Nanny Service
Located at a staffed kiosk in Terminal 1 next to baggage claim turnstiles, Baggage Nanny is a first-of-its-kind on-demand concierge service, according to a press release.
SDBJ INSIDER: The Wait May Soon Be Over
Obalon Therapeutics Inc. announced Dr. Helmuth Billy as medical director for its first company-owned weight-loss treatment center.
Zillow Group’s Home Selling Service Makes Local Debut
S.D. Is Tech Firm’s 2nd California Market, Behind Riverside
People in San Diego looking to sell their homes quickly have a new option as of this month with the expansion of Zillow Offers into the market.
Turning Point Therapeutics Raises $202.5M in Follow-On Offering
BIOTECH: Cancer Drug Developer Plans To Build Its Pipeline
After raising $175.2 million in an initial public offering this spring, Turning Point Therapeutics has returned to the public market.
Raken Makes Some Key Additions to Executive Team
More Companies Using Construction Software, But Market Is Still Big
Raken has more than doubled its workforce since it raised a $10 million Series A round in June of 2018.
Chelsea Investment Corp. Aims for Affordability
MULTIFAMILY: $21.9M Complex to House Low-Income Seniors
Chelsea Investment Corp. has finished building a $21.9 million housing complex in Ramona for low income people 62 and older.
Two Local Cos. Are In Nex3’s La Jolla Accelerator Program
Digital Health Accelerator Drew 600 Applicants; Program Is Semi-Remote
Nex3 named its second cohort of digital health startups August 28. Seven companies were selected from a pool of more than 600 applicants, narrowed down to 100 semifinalists.
New Tealium Executive To Lead Software Company’s Go-to-Market Strategy
Startup Grows Team After Raising $55 Million
San Diego-based software company Tealium added a new member to its executive team.
Kearny Mesa Attracts LPC West For a 2nd Time
After Buying Cubic Land, Partnership Acquires A Distribution Center
Kearny Mesa is attracting increased attention from a Dallas-based investment firm.
Life Science Expands Its Footprint Beyond Traditional Areas
JLL Predicts That Labs May Grow From 19.2% To 22% of Office Space
Life science companies are increasingly looking at UTC, Sorrento Mesa and Sorrento Valley as go-to places for laboratory and office space.
Pentagon Gives New Boost to Viasat Military Radio Work
Contract Ceiling Raised By $100 Million in Multinational Deal
The following are selected defense contracts awarded to San Diego County companies in early September.
Hakkasan Group To Close Its Searsucker Del Mar
Eatery Is Closing After Six Years; It Faced Competition From One Paseo
According to a WARN filing by Hakkasan Group, which owns Searsucker Del Mar as well as a Searsucker location downtown and another in Las Vegas.
United Crews Benefit From New SAN Satellite Base
Flight Attendants Can Now Start Their Day at San Diego
United Airlines’ San Diego-based flight attendants will now have less commute hours.
Restaurant Group Finds It’s Time to Make Some Changes
One Site to Be Redone; New Eatery Set for Mission Hills
Trust Restaurant Group is a Hillcrest-headquartered company behind Mission Hills’ Fort Oak, Trust Restaurant in Hillcrest and Hundred Proof Cocktail Bar, located in University Heights,
Public Relations Firms Need a Complete Team to Compete
As Avenues of Connection Expand, Firms Must Navigate The New and the Old Ones
To succeed in the years ahead, public relations firms will need to navigate through an increasingly complex digital landscape.
Thursday, September 12
San Diego Telematics Company SmartDrive Raises $90 Million
The company raised $90 million in financing from TPG Sixth Street Partners
Fintech Software Is Helping Hand for Companies’ Finances
Following the Money and Financial Forecasting Are Trovata’s Strong Suits
After raising $5.5 million in seed funding, San Diego fintech company Trovata is building out its team.
Eateries Cement Community Connection Via Product Sales
DINING: Local Goods Get Promoted and, in the End, So Do the Restaurants
For years, restaurants have sold merchandise at their locations as a way to promote their brands.
Female Founders Will Get to Pitch at Upcoming Venture Summit
Female Founders Will Get to Pitch at Upcoming Venture Summit
Two female founders were selected as winners of the Women’s Fast Pitch event on August 28.
Tocagen’s Brain Cancer Therapy Fails Clinical Trial
Shares of Tocagen fell Sept. 12 after its brain cancer therapy failed a late-stage clinical trial.
American Wave Machines Signs Licensing Agreement with Brazil Co.
According to a press release, the project kicks off immediately and surfing is anticipated to commence November 2020
Qualcomm Gears Up For Appeals Process
TECH: Co. Says It Has Spent Nearly $60 Billion on R&D
Qualcomm Inc. will have a brief respite from a sweeping ruling finding the company violated antitrust law, thanks to a stay granted by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Lockheed Martin’s Aegis System Work Continues in Port
Lockheed Martin’s Aegis System Work Continues in Port
The following are selected defense contracts awarded to San Diego County companies or performed in San Diego County in August and September. The U.S. Department of Defense releases a digest of contract awards daily at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Wednesday, September 11
Turning Point Therapeutics Raises $202.5M in Follow-On Offering
The cancer drug developer on Sept. 10 raised $202.5 million in a follow-on offering. Turning Point sold 4.5 million shares of common stock at a price of $45 a share.
Kearny Mesa Industrial Buildings Sold For $30.3M
The Buildings are a soft drink distribution center.
Factory Farms Not On Crack Shack’s Chickens’ Bucket List
Eatery Makes Case for Free Range Chickens Being Better for Birds and Diners
While Popeyes, Chik-fil-A and Wendy’s battle it out for the best chicken sandwich throne, a local gourmet fried-chicken eatery has joined the conversation.
TaylorMade Golf’s Ashworth Brand Acquired
According to a press release, the terms of the deal were undisclosed.
San Marcos Industrial Building Sold For Nearly $9.3M
Building has 37 suites
Samsung SDS to Close 27-Person Office in Sorrento Valley
The office is expected to close in January of 2020.
Port of San Diego to Launch Cruise Season, Offer New Cruises
This season, the Port of San Diego will have 104 cruise calls scheduled, up from 92 in 2018/2019.
Dip in House Prices, May Draw More Buyers
July Single Family Home Sales Up 9.4% Locally From June
People who are in the business of selling and buying new homes and condominiums can take heart from a key index which reported that home prices in San Diego County dropped slightly.
Tuesday, September 10
Capping Off An Unusual Pact, GlaxoSmithKline Buys Sitari Pharmaceuticals
GlaxoSmithKline announced it will acquire San Diego’s Sitari Pharmaceuticals – a deal induced by an unusual pact.
General Atomics Aeronautical To Adapt Aircraft for Special Ops
Two Defense Contracts Could Easily Exceed $100M
The summer seems to be winding down well for the people at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
Telematics Startup Platform Science Gains Big New Customer
Platform Science will work with trucking giant Schneider National.
CB&T Opens New Escondido Branch
Bank continues its commitment to Escondido
Health Systems Try Ride-Sharing Solutions
MEDICINE: Getting Patients to Appointments or Home Is Goal
An increasingly common destination for Lyft and Uber drivers: San Diego hospitals.
Center Is S.D.’s ‘First Academic-Industry Drug Discovery Incubator’
UC San Diego Offering Space to Pharma Industry To Help Develop Drugs
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center is offering up space on its campus to the pharmaceutical industry in a bid to translate research into medicines for cancer patients.
An Appetite For Creativity
Basile Studio Pairs Various Genres To Create Original Dining Atmospheres
Morning Glory, Born & Raised, Raised by Wolves, Soda & Swine and Polite Provisions. The above-mentioned are not only some of San Diego’s hottest food and beverage spots.
Cidara’s Deal for Antifungal Drug Could Be Worth $568M+
Mundipharma’s Backing Will Extend Runway, Provide Well-Positioned Support
Clinical trial results have yielded a major payout for Cidara Therapeutics, a San Diego company developing an antifungal drug.
Nestle USA to Close National City Location
The site is projected to close by Dec. 31.
Monday, September 9
Acadia’s Stock Shoots Up After Late-Stage Results
Shares of Acadia Pharmaceuticals rocketed up 63% on Sept. 9 after its drug in a late-stage clinical trial achieved “robust statistical superiority” over a placebo for dementia-related psychosis.
UCSD’s $50M Outpost Seen as a Good Start
EDUCATION: East Village Site Brings Hope for Greater Presence
The shell of what will become the downtown campus of the University of California San Diego is nearing completion, but the promise of what the university’s urban outpost will mean is still taking shape.
Boutique Residence Is Place to Live It Up
PROPERTY: Amenities, Views and Location Are Tops
Just about every so-called luxury apartment development downtown boasts that it has stunning views.
Zeakal Closes $15M Funding Round
Zeakal raised $15 million in funding from Canopy Rivers, Finistere Ventures and Middleland Capital.
Oceanside Shopping Center Sold
Center was 98 percent leased
Mercato Teams With DoorDash for More Special Deliveries
Mercato to Keep Adding Grocers to Its Platform, Plans Subscription Service
Mercato, a San Diego-based delivery startup for independent grocers, is teaming up with DoorDash to help fulfill most of its orders.
Chain Assembles Leadership Team To Move Eateries Forward
From Marketing to IT, Plan Is For Big Changes
Three years after filing for bankruptcy and being acquired shortly after by a private equity firm, San Diego-based Garden Fresh Restaurants LLC continues to ramp up its C-suite.
San Diego Makes Top 10 Showing in Most Expensive Apartments
One Listing Service Says Overall Trend Is For Rents to Keep Rising
Apartment rents are on the rise again in San Diego County after slowing a bit over the past year, according to at least one report which ranked the county among the most expensive rental markets in the nation.
SEC Files Lawsuit Against Firm, CEO Over Alleged Fraud
Assets Frozen In Case; SEC Official Alleges ‘Egregious Fraud’
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit against a San Diego real estate investment firm for allegedly defrauding investors.
United Airlines Opens San Diego Satellite Base for Flight Attendants
According to a press release, the new model will be available at San Diego International Airport.
Sunday, September 8
Qualcomm Expands 5G Chips to Mid-Tier Phones
Qualcomm will be adding 5G features to its Snapdragon 7 Series and Snapdragon 6 Series chipsets.
Vuori Gets Boost With Recent $45 Million Investment
RETAIL: It Plans to Expand Store Footprint, Opens Carlsbad Office
Encinitas-based performance apparel brand, Vuori, has received a $45 million growth equity investment from Norwest Venture Partners, with offices in Silicon Valley, India and Israel.
One Medical Debuts San Diego Office, Two More Locations Slated to Open
One Medical – a provider of what it touts as tech-centric primary care – opened the first of its three San Diego locations.
SDBJ INSIDER: Setting Up Play Date With Pop Culture
Turtle Beach Corp., a gaming peripheral maker, isn’t just playing games. The Rancho Bernardo based business is making some marketing moves.
Westcore Properties Sold Industrial Park For $104M
Park is in Santa Fe Springs
Oceanside Apartment Brings $66.5 Million in Tight Market
PROPERTY: Multiple Offers Were Made on the 240 Unit Complex
An aging Oceanside apartment complex recently sold for $66.5 million — not a record but further evidence of an extremely tight market.
DermTech Goes Public Through Reverse Merger
BIOTECH: Co. to Have $29M to Scale Its Skin Cancer Assay
DermTech has gained a Nasdaq listing through a reverse merger with Constellation Alpha Capital.
Friday, September 6
Searsucker Del Mar to Close
According to a WARN filing by Hakkasan Group, which owns Searsucker Del Mar, 43 employees will be laid off.
Hillcrest Apartments Sold For $8.6M
Building has 37 apartments
Thursday, September 5
Openness to Define Bay Park Apartments
PROPERTY: Trolley Riders, Renters Served By Mixed-Use
Instead of walling itself off as an exclusive private enclave, a proposed Bay Park apartment complex is being designed to encourage people to wander through its lushly landscaped promenades.
2 Pet Cancer Centers Come to San Diego
Two pet cancer centers operated by VCA Inc. have launched in San Diego as part of a larger rollout.
Restaurants Are Special Ingredient In Kearny Mesa Plan
PROPERTY: Businesses Envision a Live-Work and Play Destination
In the last three years, Kearny Mesa, specifically Convoy Street, has seen a surge in high-end restaurant openings.
Two Office Buildings Sold For $16M
Buildings are linked to the County of San Diego
InterContinental San Diego to Launch Fourth Floor Rooftop
Layover will open Sept. 7 and will be located on the hotel’s fourth floor landing.
Tealium Hires Chief Revenue Officer
Tealium brought in Marketo's Ted Purcell as the company's newest C-level hire.
Escondido Assisted Living Center Sold
New York investor purchased property
El Centro Apartments Bought By San Diego Firm For $4.4M
Building has 66 apartments
Wednesday, September 4
DermTech Goes Public Through Reverse Merger
DermTech has gained a Nasdaq listing through a reverse merger with Constellation Alpha Capital.
Miramar Industrial Building Sold For $8.2M
Long-term tenant secured
Garden Fresh Restaurants Hires New Chief Marketing Officer
NIcole Bushnell formerly worked as VP of marketing at Luna Grill restaurants for the last four years, according to a press release.
Confirm BioSciences Names New CEO
San Diego diagnostic testing company Confirm Biosciences named Albert Berger as its new CEO.
Q2 Office Rents Increase 9.7% Year-Over Year
Office Asking Rents at One Paseo Approaching $6.15 Per Square Foot
Sill more evidence of just how hot San Diego’s office market comes from an August report from the commercial brokerage firm Savills.
Polestar Automotive Chooses San Diego as One of Its Markets
AUTO: The All Electric Polestar 2 to Be Sold in 2020 Starting at $63,000
According to reports, five percent of all vehicles sales in San Diego County are electric, and that number continues to grow.
Sol-ti Found Way To Stand Out From The Juice Crowd
Unpasteurized Beverages Expected to Bring in 2019 Sales of $3.5M+
Sol-ti, an unpasteurized organic “living” beverage line stored in glass bottles, is available in stores like Whole Foods Market.
Tuesday, September 3
Cidara Therapeutics Nets $30M Upfront in Partnership Deal
Clinical trial results have yielded a major payout for San Diego-based Cidara Therapeutics.
Navy Ship Contract Sends $1.1B NASSCO’s Way
DEFENSE: Navy Could Add 3rd Ship to Order; Building to Start in 2020
General Dynamics NASSCO pulled in a U.S. Navy contract of nearly $1.1 billion this month, to produce two large auxiliary ships.
El Centro Apartments Sold For $3.9M
ACI Apartments represented the buyer
Biological Dynamics Leads Charge for Biomarker Diagnostic
BIOTECH: Company Raising Funds to Commercialize Cancer Detecting Platform
While conducting research at UC San Diego Health’s Moores Cancer Center, Raj Krishnan discovered something thought to be impossible.
Researchers Receive $3.1M to Study Heart Condition
MEDICINE: Ailment Often Requires Surgery
An international effort led by UC San Diego and Rady Children’s Hospital researchers recently landed a $3.1 million grant to search for better ways of treating a pediatric heart condition.
Monday, September 2
South County Economy Has Many Moving Parts
Logistics, Aerospace, Health Care Are Part of Dynamic, Diverse Region
Otay Mesa, the busiest land port in the western hemisphere, is a magnet to business with its thriving warehouse and logistics environment.
Levitate’s Exoskeleton Handles Stress, Strain
MANUFACTURING: The System Supports Workers Doing Various Tasks
The product went to market in 2017 with its Airframe Exoskeleton, an upper body exoskeleton device.
SEC Accuses San Diego Real Estate Investor of $300M Fraud Scheme, Freezes Assets
The SEC seeks for Champion-Cain and ANI to repay any allegedly ill-gotten gains as well as prejudgment interest and monetary penalties.
Carlsbad Renovation Will Keep Character
PROPERTY: : $7 Million Project Will Include Offices, Retail
A trio of Carlsbad Village buildings that make up the Carlsbad Village Art and Antique Mall will get a new look.
Hillcrest Apartments Sold For $4M
Complex has 16 apartments
Washington, D.C., Based Marketing Co. Acquires IMI
REQ Sees Value in IMI’s Experience, Team and Platform
Internet Marketing Inc., a San Diego-based digital marketing company, was acquired by Washington D.C.-based firm REQ on August 20.
Treobytes Tailors STEM Education to Tomorrow’s Workforce
EDUCATION: Founder Looks to Find Students’ Learning Styles
After a 20-year career working for life sciences companies, Ava Mason founded her own startup.
Sunday, September 1
SDBJ INSIDER: Lifesaving Work Is Company’s Mission
When we can, we like to shine the light on the diverse range of San Diego companies.
High Rents, High Demand Have Investors Putting Money in Multifamily
Diverse Economy And High House Prices Add to Its Allure
Apartment complexes have drawn strong investor interest so far this year, with rents on the rise and no sign that the market will cool anytime soon.
Retrophin Turns to Pipeline After Setback
PHARMA: Co. Has 3 Drugs On Market, Others in Works
Retrophin’s drug candidate for a rare neurological disorder recently flopped in a late-stage clinical study.
Keller Williams Realty La Mesa Moves to New Office
With 100 Agents in The Field, Office Still Plans to Grow
Bucking a cooling market for single-family homes, a real estate agency based in La Mesa is expanding into new offices with a goal of increasing its pool of agents by 20 percent over the next six months.
Right Team, Right Recipe and a Dollop of Social Media
Spreadable Granola Gets Boost, Shelf Space Thanks To Loyal Customers
While studying nutrition at UC Berkeley, Ali Bonar developed an eating disorder.
Viasat, Blue Canyon Team Up to Build Military Satellite
Experimental Product Meant To Connect ‘Link 16’ Radios
Link 16, the encrypted military radio system used by U.S. forces and theirallies, is a useful tool for troops.
Northrop Grumman Benefits From F-35 Spare Parts Contract
Fighter Jet Electronics Made in San Diego Plant
The following are selected defense contracts awarded to San Diego County companies in July and August.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals Gets $25M Fee for Hepatitis Drug
Licensing Deal Could Bring Co. $262M in Milestone Payments
Ionis Pharmaceuticals netted a $25 million licensing fee from pharmaceutical GlaxoSmithKline, with the potential for bigger bucks.
Erasca Assembles Impressive Team for Goal: Curing Cancer
Co. Not Revealing Much; In a Series A This Year, It Raised $64 Million
Led by biotech luminary Jonathan Lim, startup Erasca has beefed up its executive team.
Trovagene Targets Prostate Cancer
Drug Is Also Being Tested on Other Cancers
Men with high-risk metastatic prostate cancer take the drug zytiga.
Qualcomm Names New Interim CFO, Following Retirement
TECH: SVP Akash Palkhiwala Takes Temporary Post
Qualcomm’s interim finance chief, David Wise, retired on August 23.
CUSTOM CONTENT: San Diego County Bar Association Provides Free Wills & Estate Documents for First Responders on Sept. 7, 2019
Attorney volunteers will prepare legal documents for free through the Wills for Heroes Program
San Diego first responders can receive free preparation of wills and related estate documents on Saturday, September 7 through the Wills for Heroes program.
