Tag: investor spotlight

As a nonprofit, San Diego Regional EDC is supported by the investment of more than 150 public agencies, companies, and organizations like Cross Border Xpress.

With these investments, EDC provides direct support, aligned with regional Inclusive Growth goals, to companies of all sizes to drive San Diego’s economic prosperity and global competitiveness. EDC sat down with Cross Border Xpress, which shared its insights as a bridge between the Cali Baja region and it’s impact and competitiveness.

Read more about Cross Border Xpress‘s regional impact and support for EDC.

Tell us about Cross Border Xpress and its mission.

Cross Border Xpress (CBX) is an international air terminal in San Diego, California, directly connected to Tijuana International Airport in Baja California, Mexico via a 390-foot pedestrian sky bridge.

With 37 direct flights to Mexico, China, and the U.S., and land connectivity to more than 50 communities in California, plus Phoenix, Las Vegas, and El Paso, it is a true air and ground travel hub.

As the main gateway for passengers between Mexico and California, CBX’s mission is to provide an easy and efficient way to travel between Mexico and the United States, ensuring an excellent and enjoyable experience for all travelers.

Additionally, CBX’s philanthropic arm, CBX Hand in Hand, which launched in 2020, contributes more than $350,000 annually to address the most pressing challenges in the Cali Baja region together with CBX’s passengers, business partners, and nonprofit allies. Through these efforts, CBX positively impacts the lives of more than one million people annually on both sides of the border.

CBX Hand in Hand’s latest campaign

Describe CBX’s impact over the last decade

CBX’s 10-year anniversary marks a monumental milestone for the company, an occasion for celebration, pride and recognition of the hard work of everyone who has been involved in its success during the past decade.

CBX was born out of a unique opportunity in the cross-border region: The need for an efficient and reliable alternative to air passengers crossing the border and facing long wait times—creating a true complementary airport for Southern California.

Since the opening, CBX has become the preferred gateway for travel in the region, playing host to more than 30 million total passengers. Becoming drivers of economic growth, CBX has created more than 700 direct jobs and generated $1.5 billion in annual economic impact. CBX is a major air and land transportation hub for Southern California, connecting the region with the Tijuana International Airport, which has grown from 22 to 40 destinations since 2015, with a network of buses and shuttles across the western U.S.

How has CBX collaborated with San Diego Regional EDC and its team?

San Diego Regional EDC is a key organization in the region and a strategic partner that shares a similar vision and goals to CBX. Throughout the years, CBX has worked with EDC’s international arm World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD) to strengthen regional ties, promoting cross-border collaboration and boosting the economic development of the Cali Baja region.

Notably, CBX has contributed to WTCSD’s Binational Trade & Competitiveness study, which quantifies the Cali Baja region’s challenges, strengths, and growth opportunities across jobs, supply chains, and more.

What should San Diegans be on the lookout for ahead of CBX’s expansion?

As part of CBX’s long-term vision, the organization is advancing a comprehensive Master Plan for 2025–2030 designed to elevate the passenger experience, support regional economic growth, and strengthen our role in binational travel infrastructure.

Key projects currently in development include:

• Arrivals area expansion
• New Ground Transportation Center
• Enhanced Food & Beverage offerings
• On-site hotel
• Quick Turn-around area
• Car Service center

These investments reflect an ongoing commitment to innovation, efficiency, and delivering world-class service to every CBX traveler.

Interested in publishing an investor spotlight? Contact our team:

Enya Castañeda

Coordinator, Investor Relations & Marketing Communications

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As a nonprofit, San Diego Regional EDC is supported by the investment of more than 150 public agencies, companies, and organizations like Excelerate, LLC.

With these investments, EDC provides direct support, aligned with regional Inclusive Growth goals, to companies of all sizes to drive San Diego’s economic prosperity and global competitiveness. EDC sat down with Excelerate, which shared more on its efforts in supporting San Diego’s workforce and business development and exciting collaboration with San Diego’s New Children’s Museum.

Read more about Excelerate’s regional impact and support for EDC.

Tell us about Excelerate and its mission.

Excelerate is a San Diego-based boutique consulting firm that emphasizes strategy implantation across a wide spectrum of industries. Focusing on customer experience and market strategies, organizational enablement, data connectivity and intelligence, and process and digital acceleration, we help businesses by reducing uncertainty, providing actionable insights and paving clear pathways to ROI.

At Excelerate, we believe that solving business problems and forging human connections are the first links in a positive chain reaction that we call the ripple effect. As we deliver positive outcomes, we create ripples of influence and success that radiate outward, gaining size and momentum as they touch more lives with each concentric ring. The profits we enable are an engine of choice that empowers businesses to uplift their employees, communities, and society in unique and meaningful ways.

What are San Diego’s market advantages for workforce and business development?

Excelerate doesn’t focus on any particular industry, meaning our clients come from a diverse set of industries, and San Diego offers a wide range of business types including key industries like life sciences, software, manufacturing, tech, and nonprofits.

The region’s unique diversity of industries allows Excelerate to solve complex business problems—what we do best—and our solutions can begin to pollinate as we apply our approaches across industries. The work we do in one industry often has relevant lessons and best practices to apply to clients in other industries. The region’s diversity enables us to have impact that exceeds the benefit we could bring to a city or metro area that is dominated by one industry.

The same is true of the San Diego talent pool, where people are likelier to have experience across a range of industries, arming them with both broad and industry-specific knowledge and experience.

How does Excelerate collaborate with other regional partners?

Excelerate has recently had the opportunity to collaborate with many local leaders and organizations including our most recent work with San Diego’s New Children’s Museum, which we helped develop a Go-to-Market strategy as it prepared for its expansion. Artopia: NCM Creative Studios was born from this partnership with a fully developed and implemented strategy that ensured not only stellar launch, but enhanced sustainability for the nonprofit. In a time where news involving museums seem to be about closures or lost funding, we are satisfied to help deliver some good news to this sector. Learn more about the collaboration.

Additionally, several of Excelerate’s managers—and our CEO, Jana De Anda—are University of San Diego (USD) alums. So, we maintain a presence at USD job fairs and remain connected with this talent-producing machine that just happens to be in our own backyard.

Also, we would be remiss if we did not specifically call out Garry Ridge’s leadership and tutelage. A San Diego stalwart, Garry has been a mentor to our CEO for almost 20 years, and their relationship has helped Excelerate’s senior leadership team develop a culture-based company.

Finally, one of our very first clients, TaylorMade, gave us an opportunity to showcase our value. As a respected brand, our relationship with them enabled us to build our service offering intentionally, while our work for TaylorMade helped them soar to even higher heights. Our shared success is important to us and exemplifies our San Diego roots.

What does an investment in San Diego Regional EDC mean to Excelerate?

First, San Diego Regional EDC is plugged into all things business in San Diego, making it a great resource for intelligence and information about potential clients and market trends.

Second, EDC hosts some of the best luncheons in the region full of amazing content that brings business leaders together to network and to learn from one another.

But, most importantly, EDC’s mission truly resonates with us. As a small business, it is reassuring to know that EDC is developing short- and long-term strategies that will lead to the city’s continued business success and economic development. A rising tide lifts all boats, and we are happy to do our part to help develop business in San Diego.

Interested in publishing an investor spotlight? Contact our team:

Enya Castañeda

Coordinator, Investor Relations & Marketing Communications

Email

As a nonprofit, San Diego Regional EDC is supported by the investment of more than 150 public agencies, companies, and organizations like Youth Tennis San Diego and Barnes Tennis Center.

With these investments, EDC provides direct support, aligned with regional Inclusive Growth goals, to companies of all sizes to drive San Diego’s economic prosperity and global competitiveness. EDC sat down with Ryan Redondo, CEO of Youth Tennis San Diego and Barnes Tennis Center, which shared more on its efforts to grow San Diego’s racquet sport footprint and help regional youth build confidence on and off the court.

Read more about Youth Tennis San Diego and Barnes Tennis Center’s regional impact and support for EDC.

Tell us about Youth Tennis San Diego and Barnes Tennis Center and its mission.

As CEO of Youth Tennis San Diego and Barnes Tennis Center, I’m proud to lead an organization that has served as a cornerstone for youth development and community engagement in Southern California for more than seven decades. Our mission is simple but powerful: To inspire and provide opportunity through tennis, education, and character development for children from all backgrounds, especially those in underserved communities.

At the heart of our work is the Point Loma-based Barnes Tennis Center, one of the premier public racquet sport facilities in the country. A hub for youth empowerment, educational support, and family connection, we provide access to free and low-cost tennis programs, after-school enrichment, tournament training, and college prep resources. Our programs reach thousands of children each year, equipping them with life skills that go far beyond the court.

We believe racquet sport is a vehicle for change. That’s why we invest in grassroots outreach, regional partnerships, and inclusion. Our aim is to remove barriers to participation, build confidence and resilience, and open doors for children to achieve their full potential—whether in tennis, academics, or life.

What makes San Diego perfect for tennis, pickleball, and padel?

San Diego is unmatched when it comes to racquet sports. With our year-round sunshine, active community, and world-class facilities, it’s no surprise that tennis, pickleball, and padel are thriving here. Our region’s blend of lifestyle, diversity, and innovation make it the perfect environment for racquet sports to grow.

As more people take to the courts—especially in pickleball and padel—we’ve broadened our programming to include these fast-growing sports alongside tennis. The response has been incredible, and we have seen other facilities open that will positively stimulate economic development for the region.

Why have Youth Tennis San Diego and Barnes Tennis Center chosen to invest in EDC?

At Youth Tennis San Diego and the Barnes Tennis Center, our mission is rooted in creating opportunity for children from every corner of our community.

We chose to invest in EDC because we believe that access—to sport, education, and employment—should not be dictated by zip code. EDC’s efforts to cultivate diverse talent pipelines and foster inclusive economic development directly support our work both on and off the court. Additionally, as we expand programs in pickleball, padel, and tennis, we’re increasingly involved in infrastructure, workforce, and public-private collaboration. EDC has been a key partner in helping us navigate permitting, incentives, and strategic partnerships—particularly as we grow our facilities, enhance accessibility, and scale community impact.

How does the organization collaborate with other regional partners?

At Youth Tennis San Diego and the Barnes Tennis Center, community connection is at the core of everything we do.

We work closely with regional hotels and universities to hire interns, coaches, and staff, creating real-world pathways for San Diegans interested in sports management, education, health, and nonprofit work. We also collaborate with local schools, community centers, and fellow nonprofits to offer free racquet sport programs, support after-school and summer initiatives, and provide educational resources and college preparation. Through partnerships with regional companies and utilities, we work to improve facility sustainability and expand access to technology for underserved youth and local businesses, as well as host international-caliber tournaments, including the Association of Tennis Professionals, Women’s Tennis Association, and junior events that elevate San Diego on the global stage.

Barnes Tennis Center is set to host 2025 USA Pickleball National Championships. What is the significance of this moment?

Hosting the 2025 USA Pickleball National Championships at the Barnes Tennis Center is a monumental moment—not just for our organization, but for San Diego’s tourism industry and national sports reputation.

This prestigious event will bring tens of thousands of players, fans, vendors, and media professionals to our region, injecting millions into the local economy and continuing to position San Diego as a premier destination for high-profile racquet sport events. For Youth Tennis San Diego, this will allow us to showcase our mission to a national audience, elevate community engagement, and generate funding and awareness to support our youth access initiatives.

The championships underscore San Diego’s role in the future of racquet sports. We’re not only keeping up with the evolution of pickleball—we’re leading it.

What is on the horizon?

2025 is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic and impactful years yet for Youth Tennis San Diego and the Barnes Tennis Center. We invite San Diego to join us at one of our upcoming events, including the Major League Pickleball Playoffs and USTA Billie Jean King National Championships in August, the Wimbledon-Chic Gala in October, and the Impact Cup Pickleball this fall.

Through our long-standing partnership with Price Philanthropies, the USTA Foundation, and the City of San Diego, we continue to operate a National Junior Tennis and at Urban Village in City Heights, providing free tennis, education, and life skills for youth in one of San Diego’s most diverse and vibrant communities.

From hosting national championships to building grassroots programs, we will continue to focus on one goal: Creating opportunities through sport that last a lifetime.

Read more about EDC’s investors in our investor spotlight blog series, and join the Youth Tennis San Diego, Barnes Tennis Center and 150 investors committed to supporting the region’s inclusive economic development by becoming a member of EDC.

Interested in publishing an investor spotlight? Contact our team:

Enya Castañeda

Coordinator, Investor Relations & Marketing Communications

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As a nonprofit, San Diego Regional EDC is supported by the investment of more than 150 public agencies, private organizations, companies, and developers like the San Diego Seals.

With these investments and in alignment with regional Inclusive Growth goals, EDC provides direct support to companies of all sizes to drive economic prosperity and global competitiveness across the San Diego binational mega-region. EDC sat down with the San Diego Seals, which shared more on the team’s history and role in tourism as our region’s official box lacrosse team.

Read more about the San Diego Seals’ story in San Diego and support for EDC below.

Tell us about the San Diego Seals and its mission.

The San Diego Seals are a professional lacrosse team that competes in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). At the San Diego Seals, we are dedicated to bringing the thrill of box lacrosse to San Diego with intensity and grit. Our mission is to foster a community-focused atmosphere where players and fans alike can experience the spirit of the game. We are committed to celebrating our city, our sport, and our shared passion for the game. Together, we strive to create unforgettable moments and build lasting connections within the San Diego community.

How have the San Diego Seals and lacrosse added to San Diego’s tourism industry strength?

The San Diego Seals contribute to the local tourism industry by attracting local fans and fans from outside the region for home games. We have formed partnerships with local organizations and businesses, supporting community engagement initiatives and promoting local talent development through our partnerships like YMCA lacrosse clinics and other youth programs.

These efforts not only enhance match attendance but also position San Diego as a vibrant ‘sports city’ destination.

How should San Diegans prepare for a San Diego Seals match?

San Diegans can get ready for a San Diego Seals game by sporting team gear to show their support and team pride in prep for an exciting night of entertainment. Our games feature nonstop music, thrilling goals, and action-packed moments all evening long. It’s a unique blend of lacrosse, a party, a concert, and so much more. Watching professional lacrosse live is an experience like no other!

What should we expect to see from the San Diego Seals in the future? What are your plans for the offseason?

As we progress through the season, fans can expect competitive play and strategic improvements on the field. Our commitment to youth engagement and community involvement, like our official youth lacrosse affiliate Junior Seals Lacrosse, will continue to drive our initiatives.

For the offseason, we plan to assess our player roster and focus on developing local talent through our training programs. We are excited about collaborations and regional partnerships, like the one with EDC, that will strengthen our presence in the community and enhance our team for future seasons.

Why have the San Diego Seals chosen to invest in EDC?

The San Diego Seals chose to invest in San Diego Regional EDC because we align with its values of promoting an inclusive economic growth strategy in our community. We were drawn to EDC’s mission to foster collaboration among local businesses and community leaders to drive sustainable economic development. Joining EDC allows us to widen our network, participate in impactful events, and actively contribute to initiatives aimed at strengthening San Diego’s economy.

Read more about EDC’s investors in our investor spotlight blog series, and join the San Diego Seals and 150 investors committed to supporting the region’s inclusive economic development by becoming a member of EDC.

Interested in publishing an investor spotlight? Contact our team:

Enya Castañeda

Coordinator, Investor Relations & Marketing Communications

Email

As a nonprofit, San Diego Regional EDC is supported by the investment of more than 150 public agencies, private organizations, companies, and developers like Breakthrough Properties.

With these investments, EDC provides direct support, aligned with regional Inclusive Growth goals, to companies of all sizes to drive economic prosperity and global competitiveness across the binational mega-region. EDC sat down with the Breakthrough Properties team, which shared more on the developer’s work to help grow San Diego’s globally-renowned Life Sciences ecosystem.

Read more about Breakthrough Properties’ success in San Diego and support for EDC below.

Tell us about Breakthrough Properties and its mission.

Breakthrough Properties, a joint venture between Tishman Speyer and Bellco Capital, is a global Life Sciences real estate developer, owner and operator of research and development facilities for mission-driven companies. With a portfolio of approximately six million square feet across nine markets in the US and Europe, Breakthrough is uniquely positioned to provide solutions for Life Sciences companies at all stages of their development cycles.

The company was started almost six years ago with the mission of reimagining the environments where the world’s leading scientists and innovators feel inspired to pursue their boldest ideas. Each one of our projects reflects a focus on best-in-class infrastructure and design, creative placemaking, and exemplary operational excellence. From multinational firms to Life Sciences startups, we are building leading research campuses to support the ecosystem and communities we serve.

Why San Diego?

San Diego is a world-leading center for innovation and has a thriving life sciences ecosystem. Proximity to world-class research institutions such as UC San Diego, Scripps Research, the Salk Institute, and Sanford Burnham Prebys, as well as a deep talent pool and robust startup culture contribute to an environment that fosters innovation.

Over the last decade, San Diego has also attracted investment from almost every major pharmaceutical company, evolving into a robust Life Sciences ecosystem that spans the full spectrum of biopharma from early-stage biotech firms to established big pharma. The combination of leading early-stage research, a highly skilled workforce, access to growth capital, and a deep base of companies has established San Diego as one of the leading Life Sciences markets in the world.

Breakthrough prides itself in fostering this ecosystem by bringing both clients and the local community together by hosting, with our partners at Bellco Capital and Tishman Speyer, a range of content-driven events and programming to foster collaboration and unlock further innovation. We also provide a variety of spaces within our portfolio to accommodate the full range of client needs, including our StudioLabs program, which offers fully furnished lab/office suites with enhanced services and amenities for high-growth, early-stage companies.

How has Breakthrough Properties collaborated with other partners in San Diego to support breakthroughs in innovation?

One example of how we collaborate with other leading Life Sciences organizations is our partnership with Pfizer Ignite, which started in San Diego. Through this collaboration, Breakthrough is able to connect innovative biotech firms with Pfizer’s R&D infrastructure to help accelerate the development of their assets. By leveraging Pfizer’s R&D infrastructure these companies can push the boundaries of what they can do with their science. We kicked off this partnership at Torrey Plaza and have included a link to the Biotech TV announcement here.

Why has Breakthrough continued to invest in EDC over the years?

San Diego Regional EDC plays a pivotal role in the fabric of the region’s vibrant business landscape, including access to talent, local leadership, education and multiple key tangible benefits to investing. EDC is a strong advocate for the Life Sciences community in the San Diego region, working to help ensure businesses and local City and County leaders are aligned in the opportunities this sector brings to San Diego.

What is on the horizon for Breakthrough Properties?

Breakthrough is a strong believer in the continued growth of the San Diego ecosystem. Our current San Diego portfolio and pipeline totals more than 1.6 million square feet, and we plan continued investment in the community as we partner with leading companies across the market. In 2025, Breakthrough will deliver our Governor Pointe project in UTC, comprised of 160,000 square feet of Class A lab space including a 38,000 square-foot StudioLabs offering. The fully redeveloped campus will offer an on-site café, an indoor/outdoor gym, more than two acres of open space, and freeway signage directly off the I-805.

Breakthrough also recently acquired the Muse campus in the heart of Torrey Pines, which includes two fully leased, modern lab buildings and a third building totaling 95,000 square feet that will be repositioned to lab and deliver in the second half of 2026. The Class A campus was recently upgraded with a new exterior glass façade and enhanced amenity offering including a new fitness center, indoor/outdoor conference center, activated landscaping with outdoor seating and games, and a full-service café.

Read more about EDC’s investors in our investor spotlight blog series and join Breakthrough Properties and 150 investors committed to supporting the region’s inclusive economic development by becoming a member of EDC.

Interested in publishing an investor spotlight? Contact our team:

Enya Castañeda

Coordinator, Investor Relations & Marketing Communications

Email

As a nonprofit, San Diego Regional EDC is supported by the investment of more than 150 public agencies, private organizations, and service providers like ArkusNexus.

With the investment, EDC provides direct support, aligned with regional Inclusive Growth goals, to companies of all sizes to drive economic prosperity and global competitiveness across the binational mega-region.

One of San Diego’s unique value propositions is our proximity to and relationship with Mexico; it is weaved into the fabric of our economy and communities. To learn more, EDC sat down with Younes Aatif, CEO of ArkusNexus, who shared more on the region’s cross-border advantage and the benefits for the software development company.

Read more about ArkusNexus’s success and support of EDC below.

Tell us about ArkusNexus and its mission.

ArkusNexus is a cross-border software development company based in San Diego, with clients across the U.S. and resources throughout Latin America. We celebrate our 21st anniversary this summer, with a team of more than 550 developers and engineers dedicated to driving innovation and helping businesses thrive in the digital age. Our mission is to transform businesses through affordable and high-quality software solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients–from startups to established enterprises.

With more than two decades of experience, we have honed our expertise in managing the complexities of software development, perfecting our engagement model and operational execution, to deliver best-in-class results.

Why San Diego?

San Diego is a strategic location for ArkusNexus due to its proximity to major markets in the U.S. where there is a growing demand for value-driven software development. It serves as a gateway to the LATAM market and an entry point to the U.S. market, offering ArkusNexus unique opportunities for cross-border collaboration. San Diego’s evolving tech scene is rapidly becoming a hub for digital innovation, driven by dynamic companies, academia, and a relentless pursuit of cutting-edge technologies. The region embodies the traits of a modern knowledge economy: diverse economic activities, excellent educational institutions, a unique entrepreneurial spirit, and a deep commitment from all stakeholders to the region’s success. San Diego also provides access to a diverse talent pool and a robust innovation ecosystem, making it the ideal environment for ArkusNexus to grow and innovate.

Finally, San Diego is ArkusNexus’s home. We’re personally invested in its success—it’s not just business; it’s personal.

Describe ArkusNexus’s collaboration and partnership with EDC.

EDC embodies the binational character of the San Diego-Baja region, articulating the opportunities and challenges local companies face. EDC works tirelessly to raise awareness of key issues, foster conversations to find solutions, and encourage local collaboration. It plays a critical role in connecting local efforts to the global stage, and we are thrilled to be part of this conversation.

Through our collaboration with EDC, ArkusNexus actively promotes the San Diego’s unique advantage as a fully integrated binational region. We participate in various EDC initiatives, including events, roundtables discussions, economic updates, and site visits, helping us understand what it takes to serve the region effectively while contributing to regional growth and competitiveness. By aligning with EDC’s vision, ArkusNexus is able to turn insights into actionable strategies that benefit the local ecosystem and build global connections. For us, what’s good for San Diego is good for all businesses operating in its vicinity.

How has San Diego positioned you for cross-border success?

As a binational economic gateway, San Diego has been instrumental in our growth. As the first company to implement the nearshore model, we remain committed to our mission as strongly as we did on day one. Our offices, just 30 minutes from downtown San Diego, provide a significant advantage for clients who want to interact with our team in person, fostering real-time collaboration essential in software development.

Cultural alignment also plays a crucial role. Our team members, who have grown up exposed to Southern California culture, seamlessly connect with clients’ needs. For example, ArkusNexus takes pride as we integrated the engineering operations of a unicorn startup, helping it scale quickly and cost-effectively. The startup has now exceeded a $2 billion valuation. Throughout the last 20 years, ArkusNexus has helped many clients achieve successful exit events, with a total valuation of $14 billion. This value creation reflects a commitment to supporting both sides of the border and celebrating shared success across the region. We thrive because of this unique cross-border dynamic, leveraging San Diego’s strategic location to drive innovation for local and global businesses alike.

What is on the horizon for ArkusNexus?

Business professionals often spend 20-30 percent of their workweek searching for information, sifting through multiple documents for a single answer. ArkusNexus is changing that by making information accessible at their fingertips. Leveraging AI, we provide users with immediate, secure access to their corporate data, without compromising security or data integrity.

We are soon launching our new Chipotle platform, which allows businesses to securely leverage large language models (LLMs) to mine their private data, combining AI’s power with robust security. This will enable businesses to benefit from AI advancements while maintaining strong security standards.

We’re also committed to the AI revolution by supporting open-source AI projects and developing safe, responsible solutions for individuals and businesses. Recognizing the skills gap in AI, our platform ensures safe interactions with LLMs for handling secure corporate data, regardless of its form or location.

Meanwhile, we’re adapting to the changes AI brings to the workplace, transforming how we work and communicate. By embracing these shifts, ArkusNexus remains agile and innovative, and continues to support San Diego’s growth as a hub for technology and business excellence.

Read more about EDC’s investors in our investor spotlight blog series and join ArkusNexus and 150 investors committed to supporting the region’s inclusive economic development by becoming a member of EDC.

Interested in publishing an investor spotlight? Contact our team:

Enya Castañeda

Coordinator, Investor Relations & Marketing Communications

Email

As a nonprofit, San Diego Regional EDC is supported by investment from nearly 200 private organizations, companies, and public agencies. With their support, EDC provides direct services to help companies grow and thrive in San Diego by leading initiatives to enhance the region’s growth and prosperity.

On the heels of the pandemic, many employers have transitioned back to in-office or hybrid operations. And one thing is clear—there is no one definitive way to bring people ‘back to work.’

This week, we sat down with Anne Benge and Annie Cook, senior executives at EDC investor and design and furnishing company Cultura to understand how employers can promote their workforce’s successful transition back to the office. Check out Cultura’s six essential criteria for your Return to Office strategy.

Tell us about Cultura and its commitment to #lovewhereyouwork

Cultura’s mission is to create places where people love to work. We cultivate discussions around a client’s culture then design and furnish their space to reflect it. After three years of working with more than 300 companies, we have observed companies with successful Return to Office strategies do the following six things. Company size is irrelevant as these steps apply to companies from three to 140,000 employees. Failure to do each of these will result in a subpar return to the office.

Six required steps to ensure a successful return to office:

1. Lead by Example
   Leadership, at all levels, must be present in the office to lead by example. This means everyone, not just the top executives. By demonstrating a shared commitment to the return, leaders at all levels can help to establish a culture of accountability, motivate employees, and drive success for the company.

1. Listen
   Taking the time to listen to everyone is essential since returning to the office can be perceived as a loss of a benefit, similar to eliminating health insurance, and affects people differently in ways.

1. Embrace the Start + Stop
   It is normal to begin a transition back to the office only to have it stop. There can be outbreaks, office relocations, and resignations; some may only return to work with masks while others may refuse to come back if masks are required. It’s a challenging and unpredictable journey that requires perseverance and resilience.

1. Coaching + Management
   The philosophy of “I trust you until I don’t” can change abruptly, and not everyone is equipped to handle conflict and resolution when trust is breached. Managing remote work, bringing people back to the office that are against it, and questioning work ethic all come into play. You have to address what the new rules are and how are you managing them.

1. Hidden Influencers
   In every organization, there are change agents who are not in leadership or management roles and may not necessarily lead people, yet are perceived as if they know “what’s going on” and are sought out for “real” answers. Engaging this group in your return is crucial, as they hold great influence and will bring more than 50 percent of the individuals with them.

1. Space Matters
   Your office performance is a hugely important tool you should use to support a positive internal culture. Temperature, ergonomics, snacks, amenities, and social merriment all matter. Pizza and beer will not bring them back alone—you have to have it all.

If your return has stalled, look to these six things to identify where the breakdown may be. They are your keys to unlocking success.

Previous investor spotlight: Cultura: Women’s History Month

Learn more: wearecultura.com

Instagram: @wearecultura

Read more about EDC’s investors in our investor spotlight blog series. Or, join Cultura by becoming a member of EDC.

Interested in publishing an investor spotlight? Contact our team:

As a nonprofit, San Diego Regional EDC is supported by investment from nearly 200 private organizations, companies, and public agencies. With their support, EDC provides direct services to help companies grow and thrive in San Diego, and leads initiatives to enhance the region’s recovery and resilience.

We sat down with Kim Folsom, founder, chairperson, and CEO of Founders First Capital Partners to discuss the company’s mission to provide access to the capital businesses need to unlock their economic potential. Check out the Investor Spotlight below!

Tell us about Founders First Capital Partners and its mission.

Founders First Capital Partners is building a comprehensive ecosystem through its proprietary platform to empower underrepresented founders to become leading, premium-wage job creators within their communities. The firm provides revenue-based financing, term loans, and business acceleration support to service-based small businesses outside of major capital markets.

In addition, Founders First Capital Partners focuses on supporting businesses led by women, people of color, military veterans, LGBTQIA+, businesses located in low-to-moderate income areas, and companies dedicated to inclusive hiring practices.

Why San Diego?

I came to San Diego as a young girl after my dad was stationed here. Growing up here, I loved the city and stayed to attend college at San Diego State University. I knew it was a great place to live and a growing region to do business. For these reasons and more, I decided to build all seven of my companies here.

What’s on the horizon for Founders First?

In the last seven years, we’ve grown from a company of five to more than 35, most of whom are based in San Diego. We see ourselves as a significant driver of the inclusive economy, so it’s no coincidence that we’re staying in the region.

Beyond our full suite of accelerator programs, grants, growth capital, and asynchronous tools, one of our major initiatives is leveraging our expertise and platform to help corporations and their suppliers drive increased capacity and reach. These are very exciting times for us.

Tell us about Founders First’s collaboration and partnership with San Diego Regional EDC.

EDC is a driving force in economic development and aligns with our mission of being a key driver toward an inclusive economy, which makes our focus complementary. We’re focused on not just talking the talk but walking the walk and making a real economic impact driving diverse-led premium wage jobs, profits, and returns for our investors.

Learn more: foundersfirstcapitalpartners.com

Read more about EDC’s investors in our investor spotlight blog series. Or, join Founders First Capital Partners by becoming a member of EDC.

Interested in publishing an investor spotlight? Contact our team:

As a nonprofit, San Diego Regional EDC is supported by investment from nearly 200 private organizations, companies, and public agencies. With their support, EDC provides direct services to help companies grow and thrive in San Diego, and leads initiatives to enhance the region’s recovery and resilience.

We sat down with Neil Semcheski, sales manager at Commute with Enterprise, to discuss the company’s mission to combat traffic congestion and carbon emissions with affordable commuting solutions. Check out its Investor Spotlight below!

Tell us about Commute with Enterprise and its mission.

Commute with Enterprise‘s vanpool solutions are one of the largest and most cost-effective available today. As the largest U.S. vanpool operator, our company addresses both local and global needs by reducing traffic congestion, commute times, travel costs, parking land usage, and carbon emissions, all while providing commuters with a smarter and more efficient way to get to work.

Each year, our commuting solutions eliminate more than one billion commuter miles, clearing more than 45,000 individual vehicles from the road, and reducing carbon emissions by 812 pounds annually. Additionally, businesses that offer our programs not only build their sustainability profiles, but gain a competitive edge in the battle for talent.

In the wake of the pandemic and with the rise of hybrid working arrangements, we know commuters are looking for affordable and convenient alternatives for getting to and from work. For little to no cost to the employer, Commute offers customizable programs that benefit workers and their employers—an investment in employee well-being, attraction, and retention. Our vanpools have alleviated traffic congestion and reduced commuting costs by more than 80 percent.

A few EDC investors currently using Commute with Enterprise include Illumina, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Scripps Health, among other San Diego giants hailing from a variety of industries.

Why San Diego?

Commute with Enterprise established its first vanpool in San Diego 25 years ago, which still operates today. Commute with Enterprise has since served numerous employers in the region across industries including healthcare providers, manufacturing firms, tech and biotech startups, universities, DoD affiliates, and other military and federal entities.

One of the most significant partnerships Commute with Enterprise offers is with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), which provides financial incentives for vanpool offerings—a valuable complement to other forms of public transit offered in the region, especially for the 20-30 percent of the population who commute more than 60 miles each day.

Looking ahead, what’s on the horizon for your organization?

Commute with Enterprise is dedicated to continuing to grow our services in the San Diego region. With essential workforces still on site and as employees continue to return to the office, there’s a great opportunity for businesses to offer vanpool services as a valuable addition to their employee benefits package.

Tell us about Commute’s collaboration and partnership with San Diego Regional EDC.

Commute with Enterprise is excited to be a new San Diego Regional EDC investor and for the opportunity to add value to the organization. We are proud to support EDC investors’ goals of leading San Diego’s economic prosperity and global competitiveness, while investing in the workforces that power our great binational region.

Learn more: commutewithenterprise.com

LinkedIn: Commute with Enterprise

Read more about EDC’s investors in our investor spotlight blog series. Or, join Commute with Enterprise by becoming a member of EDC.

Interested in publishing an investor spotlight? Contact our team: