40 Under 40
Join us as we look back at San Diego Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 event that celebrated the outstanding young professionals in San Diego who are making a real impact. Discover what separates these extraordinary business leaders, and prepare for an unforgettable experience! Tune in now!
Neighborhood HC Fun In The Sun
🎉 Join us or donate at http://www.nhcare.org/SummerFun for Neighborhood Healthcare's Fun Under The Sun Gala on Aug 31! 🌴 Get ready for an unforgettable evening with live music, Tahitian dancers, and delicious cuisine paired with our signature cocktail! 🌊
Support Neighborhood's mission to build healthy, happy communities by providing health care for everyone regardless of situation or circumstance! Thank you to our supporters--Biocom California, Cardiovascular Institute of San Diego, Inc., Gary & Maxine Kreitzer, and Jack & Caroline Raymond. 💙
Follow us at Neighborhood Healthcare to stay informed, learn about ways to give, and see new employment opportunities.
#FunUnderTheSun #NeighborhoodHealthcare #FundraisingGala #CommunitySupport #bettertogether
CEO Awards
A great CEO is someone who cares about and recognizes the hard work of their team, support their community, and who brings out the strengths of the individuals around them. #TavoMediaGroup and #SanDiegoBusinessJournal was proud to honor these influential leaders at this year’s CEO Awards!
Leaders of Influence
A leader of influence is someone who makes a difference in someone’s life, someone who is a trailblazer, and someone who leads by example with heart, passion, education, and a who has an opportunity to change the world. See #TavoMediaGroup, #SanDiegoBusinessJournal, and #Computers2Kids honoring these influential leaders at this year’s CEO Awards!
Construction has started on a $30 million street improvement project by Pacifica Companies for t...
Construction has started on a $30 million street improvement project by Pacifica Companies for the Chula Vista bayfront as a precursor to the $1 billion Amara Bay project. Amara Bay will feature 1,500 condominium units, seven residential towers, and over 400,000 square feet of commercial space. The Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, a $1.2 billion project, and Amara Bay will significantly add to the Chula Vista bayfront. The Gaylord Pacific Resort is set to open in May 2025, with the timeline for Amara Bay's construction depending on market conditions. The site will be divided into 11 lots, and infrastructure improvements involve overhauling and expanding local roadways. Chula Vista Mayor John McCann stated that Amara Bay will transform the bayfront, creating new dining options, recreational activities, quality retail, and housing opportunities. Read more by subscribing to sdbj.com.
https://www.sdbj.com/real-estate/development/1-billion-chula-vista-bayfront-project-coming/
GSK
GSK purchased Elsie for around $50 million to expand its platform R&D capabilities into oligonucleotide therapeutics. Elsie, founded in 2021, has a discovery platform with an ultra-high throughput proprietary process for evaluating oligonucleotide chemical space. The collaboration has made great strides in drug development for chronic hepatitis B and steatotic liver disease. GSK plans to apply its expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning to support the development of predictive models for future oligonucleotide design. GSK will retain the entire Elsie team and plans to grow it. Stay up-to-date on all GSK news by subscribing to sdbj.com.
https://www.sdbj.com/life-sciences/biotech-life-sciences/gsk-acquires-elsie-bio-for-50m/
Local
Samantha Scholl, a hospitality expert with over 25 years of experience, transitioned from restaurant operations to become the Associate VP of innovation and entrepreneur programs at the Better Business Bureau of the Pacific Southwest. After facing challenges during the pandemic, she now guides small businesses and entrepreneurs, drawing from her own experiences in the industry. She is dedicated to supporting small businesses, especially family-owned restaurants, and is also involved in initiatives supporting the LGBTQ business community in San Diego.
https://www.sdbj.com/nonprofits/helping-local-entrepreneurs-innovators-thrive/
Sparky
Mark Rappaport, the founder of Marky Sparky Toys, is known for creating engaging toys and sporting goods. The company recently won a grant from FedEx's Small Business Grants Program. Despite facing supply chain issues during the pandemic, the company has experienced significant growth in the last five years. Marky Sparky Toys specializes in creating innovative and safe toys for children aged 6 to 14, focusing on archery items. The company's products are available online, in specialty toy stores, and in local stores nationwide.
https://www.sdbj.com/retail/toy-company-takes-aim-at-child-safe-archery/
Ascent
Ascent, a financial lender, recently completed a $287.43 million transaction through its first public securitization. This move is expected to bring better returns for investors and improved pricing for student loan customers. Ascent's CEO and CFO stated that the securitization will allow future investors to track the company's success on the stock exchange. The company's unique outcome-based loan program offers loans to upper-level students and graduate students without requiring co-signers. Before receiving the loan, students must complete a financial wellness video and pass a test. The loans are available at select schools, and the loan amount is determined based on the student's potential future income.
https://www.sdbj.com/finance/ascent-completes-287m-securitization/
Ardvark
Aardvark Therapeutics, a biotech startup focused on developing drugs that reduce hunger, has successfully raised $85 million in its Series C financing round. The funding came from a dozen-plus investors, with Menlo Park-based Decheng Capital leading the round. The company plans to use the capital to advance its late-stage studies for a drug candidate targeting Prader-Willi syndrome and further develop its pipeline, aiming for FDA approval by 2026. The company has also expressed interest in potentially pursuing an IPO.
https://www.sdbj.com/life-sciences/biotech-life-sciences/aardvark-raises-85m-series-c/
Up 'n Go
Touradj Barman and Scott Webber founded Up ‘n Go in 2016, a contactless transaction company that allows diners to pay their bills by scanning a QR code on their check. The company has processed about $1.2 billion in total payments at dining establishments nationwide and has partnerships with various restaurants, including First Watch and On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina. The company's point of sale integrates with various restaurant software and payment solutions, offering low-risk, high-reward solutions to streamline operations and boost revenue. Up ‘n Go has raised a little over $4 million in investment.
https://www.sdbj.com/technology/restaurants-making-up-n-go-a-go-to-for-payments/?oly_enc_id=2915B8540289A9W