San Diego has been the epicenter for a startup company revolution for years, launching innovative companies in biotechnology, consumer products, mobile applications, medical devices and more. To cater to the needs of the region, the Rady School of Management integrated startup-centric curriculum to encourage students to develop entrepreneurial skills necessary to launching a company or innovating systems and operations at existing companies.
Each year, entrepreneurs and innovators gather at San Diego Startup Week to celebrate the pursuits of local startups and entrepreneurs supporting America’s Finest City’s startup ecosystem. The weeklong event hosts panels, sessions and pitch competitions covering topics relevant to those in the industry. Topics covered marketing strategies, blockchain for startups, design thinking, app development and fundraising for success.
Four Rady School of Management alumni were invited to share their expertise and knowledge as startup experts at a variety of panel sessions.
- Silvia Mah (MBA ’10) led three sessions – From Bench to Blockbuster, which explored how to turn an idea into a fully-functioning company, Choosing Your Unique Path for Passionate Entrepreneurs, and San Diego Startup Ecosystem, a panel analyzing the current state of San Diego’s startup scene and evaluating future projections. Mah is a startup expert, with two businesses dedicated to launching startups developed by women and minorities.
- Lauren Lindner (MBA ’15), Director of Strategy for Brain Corp, hosted a talk titled Scaling an Artificial Intelligence Business: How to go from Local to Global. Brain Corp develops artificial intelligence technology with cloud-based capabilities.
- Marcos Rivera (’07) spoke in part A and B of the Hiring Product Managers: The Who, What, When, and Why for Success. The two-part series explored the intricacies of hiring the right people for the complex position. Rivera works as a Program Director of Product Management for Vista Equity Partners.
- Julio de Unamuno (MBA ’14) was a speaker in the panel titled Minorities Doing Crazy Sh*t. The diverse panel featured minorities who are leading startups in San Diego. De Unamuno’s company LabFellows, a Rady School StartR Accelerator alum, created a platform that simplifies the logistical needs of life science companies.
UC San Diego also hosted a Pedicab Pitch competition, which featured three experts judging pitches from participants. More than 40 people participated in the event, showcasing their 90 second pitches in one of downtown San Diego’s most popular forms of transportation – the pedicab.