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Innovate 78: Panel shared personal fundraising experience, knowledge
At the Innovate 78 Spot Series: Startup Funding event last Thursday, a panel of four presenters discussed raising funds from the perspective of the founder and investor.
Al Bsharah, managing partner of Interlock Capital and panel moderator, opened by demonstrating how important networking is when raising capital. You will need to find the right fund, but you will also need to find the right person to talk to at the company to talk to. Who do you know in your network who can introduce you to them?
Fundraising as a Process
“Consider raising capital as a dating relationship,” said Bsharah. “You’re not going to get married on the first date. It’s a process. It can be a 5-10 year+ relationship.” Nathan Firth, founder of NewRocket, said it was important to consider what stage your business is in, and self-fund as long as you can. That way you build a path to profitability, which is attractive to investors.
“The process of fundraising, if you’re going to do it right… it’s going to take longer than you think,” said Carly Stockdale, co-founder of BestLife Holdings. She suggested doing a high amount of research on funding partners and then front-loading your campaign with investors who aren’t your prime candidates. It helps if you get a competitive term sheet or other investors in the pool before you reach your prime candidates, which you should stack about 50-70% of your way through your fundraising campaign.
Read the rest of the story by clicking below...
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Cox Adds Apple TV+ to Cox Contour, Contour Stream Player
SDNEDC Investor Cox Communications announced Apple TV+ is available to select Cox Contour and Contour Stream Player subscribers. Cox customers who are not currently Apple TV+ subscribers are eligible for a three-month free trial of Apple TV+ when they access the offer via the Cox guide by December 14, 2022.
Apple TV+ is the home of premium Apple Original drama and comedy series, feature films, documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, including this year’s Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA” and record-breaking Emmy Award winner “Ted Lasso.” Apple TV+ also features hit series such as “Severance,” “Pachinko,” “For All Mankind,” and many more, as well as sports, beginning with “Friday Night Baseball.”
Cox Contour and Contour Stream Player are Cox's premier video products, allowing customers access to several streaming platforms and channels. Using one of Contour’s most popular features, the voice remote, customers can access Apple TV+ by saying “Apple TV+” into their voice remote or by saying the name of an Apple TV+ title (for example, “Ted Lasso” or “The Morning Show”).
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Hot Spring Spas celebrates 45 years creating quality ownership experiences
Hot Spring® Spas, the world's number-one-selling hot tub brand, is celebrating 45 years of industry-leading quality and innovation. Since 1977, when Jeff and Jon Watkins built the first Hot Spring spa in a garage in North San Diego County, the brand has served those who want the most out of life by delivering on the promise of Every Day Made Better®.
"For 45 years, Hot Spring Spas has been dedicated to providing customers with the absolute best hot tub ownership experience," said Steve Stigers, executive vice president of SDNEDC Investor Watkins Wellness, manufacturer of Hot Spring Spas. "We continue to honor our commitment to innovation, quality, and making a positive difference in people’s lives. That focus brought us to where we are today and will continue to be at the center of everything we do in the future."
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Improving employee experience:
What happens when employees get one three-day weekend per month?
According to Indeed, 67% of all workers believe burnout has worsened over the last two years.
One company, Highspot, a sales enablement platform, implemented a company-wide, monthly three-day weekend. Once a month, all employees take a designated Friday off, adding 12 extra days off to their PTO policy.
The results? Increased productivity, energy, and moral throughout the year. A 10% improvement in employee rating of how Highspot in motivates them to go above and beyond. A 5% increase employee engagement, which amounted to a 3% higher-than-industry benchmark for new tech companies.
Now part of their company culture, “Recharge Fridays” reflects employees’ changing needs and priorities in the workplace. Here are three more ways companies can adapt and prevent employee burnout.
Offer Flexibility: According to the Mckinsey & Company American Opportunity Survey, 58% of jobholders say they can work at least part of the time remotely. When employees don’t receive flexibility at work, they are twice as likely (pdf) to report being dissatisfied.
Value Mental Health: A 2021 study showed that half of employees who did so to preserve their mental health. Additionally, 43% of workers listed 1) encouraging time off and 2) offering mental health days as ways their workplace could better support them.
Be Mission-Forward: Over half of Gartner's U.S. employees would be willing to take a pay cut to work at a company that shares their values. And 56% said they wouldn’t even consider a job at a company with values inconsistent with their own.
In what ways has your company adapted to improve employee experience during and after the pandemic?
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Scare Away Hunger with North County Food Bank
During the month of October, businesses and organizations across the North County region are coming together to help Scare Away Hunger by collecting jars of peanut butter for local children and families in need. Why peanut butter? Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein for children and families. It is popular with kids. It’s shelf-stable, and one jar can provide more than 12 sandwiches.
Peanut butter is very expensive for the North County Food Bank to purchase. That is why this year’s peanut butter food drive will be instrumental in helping stock the Food Bank’s shelves with this nutrient-rich superfood for local families in need. How to donate...
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P.E.O. Chapter offers grants for women
The P.E.O. Vista Chapter ND offers one-time financial assistance via its Program for Continuing Educations to women whose education has been interrupted and who have returned to school. The money can be used for education-related expenses such as tuition, books, supplies, transportation, child care while in class, uniforms and testing fees. The maximum grant is $3,000. Lesser amounts may be awarded based on individual need. Applicants must have had at least 24 consecutive months as nonstudents and be within 18 consecutive months of completing an educational program. Applications are being accepted for the spring semester (January 2023). Contact Carol Gruber at carolchem@aol.com.
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Vista's Local Roots opens second kombucha taproom in Solana Beach
Local Roots (a Vista-based kombucha company) has expanded to open a second North County location in Solana Beach.
The new taproom, “Solana Booch,” opened in September in the Cedros Avenue Design District. It has 20 hard and non-alcoholic kombucha draft options.
All Local Roots’ kombucha is brewed at the “Boochyard,” their first taproom in Vista. Their Vista location has also recently partnered with Blade 1936 to open a full kitchen.
Cans of Local Roots kombucha can be found in select stores, featuring cocktail-inspired flavors, including strawberry mojito, blood orange mimosa and Cali mule.
Local roots was founded in 2017 by cousins Ryan White and Joe Carmichael of Carlsbad, “with the goal of creating a better-for-you alcohol that gives back to the local community as much as it does your gut,” according to their mission statement.
Four times per year, Local Roots releases a “Can for a Cause,” a specialty flavor that benefits a specific organization through part of its proceeds.
Address: Solana Booch, 112 S. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach, CA
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 AM to 9 PM
Friday-Saturday: 11 AM to 10 PM
Sunday: 10 AM to 9 PM
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December Awards nominations due;
Table sales, sponsorships now available
Thursday, December 15 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
The Seabird Resort
101 Mission Ave,
Oceanside, CA 92054
****NOMINATIONS DUE BY OCTOBER 15****
San Diego North EDC and more than 300 North County leaders will convene to celebrate economic development achievements from throughout North County.
These awards will be an opportunity to spotlight new businesses located in North county, significant expansions of our existing businesses, new developments and investments in our community, and policies and activities that contribute to a more economically competitive and vibrant region.
Member Tickets: $120
Member Table: $1250
Non-member Tickets: $150
Non-member Table: $1,500
For more information or to submit a nomination, visit our website. Please contact Caitlyn at ccanby@sdnedc.org if you are interested in sponsoring this event.
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North County Post-Election Recap
Wednesday, November 9 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Green Dragon Tavern & Museum
6115 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92011
The political landscape of North County is undergoing profound changes. All five of the cities along the SR 78 corridor are now carrying out “district only” City Council elections.
Redistricting at the state and national level has grouped North County communities together with areas of Southern Orange County and the City of San Diego. The numerical difference between Republicans and Democrats has never been closer and the “nationalization” of races is having a profound effect on both partisan and nonpartisan elections.
Join us the day after the November election to hear about what the results say about North County’s political future. Our guest that day will be John Nienstedt, one of San Diego's most experienced and knowledgeable public opinion researchers. John will talk about what the results mean.
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Mesa Rim North City 'Grandiversary'
Saturday, October 15 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Mesa Rim North City
285 Industrial St,
San Marcos, CA 92078
Attendance is FREE
Enjoy FREE climbing, food, and entertainment, and learn more about rock climbing as a sport at Mesa Rim North City's "Grand Opening + Anniversary" debut. Owing to pandemic shutdowns, Mesa Rim was unable to have a grand opening event, so now they are officially making up for lost time with this free event. Mesa Rim aims to build a fun and inclusive community around climbing, yoga, and fitness. From fitness equipment to yoga classes, cardio machines, and everything climbing. Mesa Rim can help San Diegans find community and pursue new heights.
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Escondido's Grand Avenue Festival
Sunday, October 16 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Historic Downtown Escondido
Grand Avenue, Escondido, CA
With the new layout design that places all the street vendor booths along the center of Grand Avenue, the storefronts of our vibrant downtown businesses will be easily seen and accessed by attendees.
This Year, the Grand Ave Festival, will take place in our historic downtown on Grand Ave from Escondido Blvd to Ivy. You’ll be able to shop from hundreds of vendors for unique hand-crafted gifts and imports and enjoy international cuisine and local entertainment at the Maple Street Community Stage. New this year will be a Beer & Wine Garden at Maple & Grand. And there’s more…Such as the Creative Kids Corner at Juniper & Grand featuring Robotic Team Demonstrations from local high schools, and the ever-popular Art In The Garden at Heritage Garden!
Click here for a VENDOR APPLICATION, a PERFORMER APPLICATION, or below for more information.
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Vista Hiring Fair
Wednesday, November 9 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Vista Civic Center, Morris B. Vance Community Room
200 Civic Center Drive
Vista, CA 92084
Admission is FREE, but registration is appreciated
Vista Chamber of Commerce will partner with San Diego Human Resources Consulting (SDHR) to host this event. Three HR consultants from SDHR will join us to provide their knowledge to attendees in the following subjects:
- How to present your best self to a potential employer
- What a successful introduction consists of
- Resume help
- Sample resumes will be provided
- How to upload your resume to LinkedIn + How to use LinkedIn as a tool to find employment
All attendees will receive a bingo card to enter a raffle to win the prizes below:
- Apple Watch SE
- Ring Video Doorbell Wired with Eco Dot
- Tile Mate 4-Pack
A full list of current companies attending the hiring fair can be found by clicking the button below. Vendors please visit the event page for booth information.
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