Government and non-government organizations provide lots of help for San Diego companies. Whether you are an inventor working on your first product idea, an entrepreneur starting your first business, or an established company, there are a multitude of resources to help San Diego companies grow and succeed. No matter what the type of business you are starting or have established, there is probably an organization in San Diego that can help you.
If you need basic business consulting, you can get help from the Small Business Administration-sponsored Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) or from one of the government-funded Small Business Development Centers, one located in North County at Miracosta College and the other located in South County at Southwestern College.
If you are an inventor designing your first product, then you should attend the monthly meeting of the San Diego Inventors Forum to learn from and network with other inventors, service providers and successful entrepreneurs. Topics covered at the meetings include entrepreneurship, all aspects of product development, patents, licensing, manufacturing, funding, and marketing. An annual best invention competition provides small cash awards.
If you have a technology-based company, then CONNECT would be the best resource for you. CONNECT was originally launched 25 years ago by the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) as a type of “incubator without walls” program and spun off as an independent non-profit organization a couple of years ago. CONNECT’s Springboard program is a business creation and development program for innovators at all stages from lab to production, providing hand-on mentoring and coaching by more than 1,000 successful CEO’s, CFO’s and CMO’s in its Entrepreneurs-in-Residence Program. Companies that complete the Springboard program become eligible to present their “pitch” for funding to the Tech Coast Angels.
CONNECT also manages the San Diego chapter of the MIT Enterprise Forum where case studies of local companies are discussed and CEO presenters gain valuable advice to help their company set their course and meet challenges. CONNECT also gives awards in its annual Most Innovative Product competition.
San Diego Sport Innovators (SDSI) is a new program initiated by CONNECT in the last year to accelerate the growth of San Diego’s vibrant sports economy. SDSI provides mentoring, education, and capital funding opportunities for startups. Former basketball star and coach, Bill Walton, became Executive Chairman of SDSI earlier this year.
CommNexus San Diego, formerly the San Diego Telecom Council, is a non-profit network of communications industry companies, defense industry companies, service providers, professional trade organizations, and local government. CommNexus facilitates new business relationships through their CommNexus MarketlinkTM program and helps early-stage high tech companies through their non-profit incubator, EvoNexusTM that provides mentoring, education, facilities, utilities, and other services. The San Diego region has become known as “Silicone Beach” in the telecommunications industry.
There is another incubator for startup companies, the San Diego Technology Incubator, located on the campus of San Diego City College downtown. SDTI is co-located with the Center for Applied Competitive Technologies, one of 12 centers located through the state to technical assistance, education, manufacturing training, and consulting services to contribute to continuous workforce development, technology deployment, and business development.
Another organization that provides resources for high-tech companies is TechAmerica San Diego, formerly AeA, the largest and strongest voice and resource for technology companies in the United States. In addition to the usual trade association benefits, TechAmerica San Diego helps member companies through Roundtable groups for chairmen/presidents, operations, marketing, human resources, product development, and CFO’s. The emphasis for the operations roundtable in which I have participated on the planning group for the past few years has been sharing best practices and tools for continuous improvement in the Lean/Six Sigma journey.
If you have a life sciences or medical industry company, then BIOCOM is the organization for you. BIOCOM has become the largest regional life sciences association in the world. BIOCOM
Works to attract investment dollars to its member companies, helps save members money when buying commodity products, helps build professional networks, works with local universities and colleges to partner on professional development courses, and works to provide the life science industry with favorable government policies on the local, state, and federal levels.
Not to be overlooked is the San Diego Venture Group, providing education and networking opportunities for early-stage to well-established companies. Month after month, 300-400 attendees show up for breakfast at 7:00 AM to network and enjoy a well-prepared presentation, forum, or panel discussion on topics of interest to entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs wear blue badges, service providers wear yellow badges, and investors wear green badges. Of course, some investors want to “hide” as service providers, and some entrepreneurs also invest in other startup enterprises.
A new non-profit organization was formed in 2008 to accelerate San Diego as a world leader in the clean technology economy — CleanTECH San Diego. Its mission is to stimulate innovation and advance the adoption of clean technologies and sustainable industry practices for the economic, environmental, and social benefit of the greater San Diego region.
The above-mentioned organizations are by no means a complete list of government and non-government organizations that help business in the San Diego region. Other organizations can be located using the Biz San Diego directory.
Although San Diego businesses have to contend with the same adverse business climate as the rest of California, the plethora of resources and help available still make it an attractive area for startup companies. In fact, CONNECT reported in the Sunday, July 18, 2010, issue of the San Diego Union-Tribune that more than 300 technology startups were formed here in 2009 and another 57 startups were formed in the first quarter of 2010. San Diego has always been a region of startup businesses, especially in the manufacturing and high-tech industries. American entrepreneurism and inventiveness are the two strongest assets for saving American manufacturing.