Blair Giesen

When I was in Silicon Valley recently, a good friend who works at Apple easily connected me with someone at Facebook, who was open to meeting and showing me around the campus. The next day, I was at Google talking about the future of video and audio technology. And on the final day, I was at Microsoft talking new technologies and San Diego’s place in the innovation economy.

The willingness of people in the Bay Area to connect tech entrepreneurs and startups to others is amazing, and it’s… Show more

When I was in Silicon Valley recently, a good friend who works at Apple easily connected me with someone at Facebook, who was open to meeting and showing me around the campus. The next day, I was at Google talking about the future of video and audio technology. And on the final day, I was at Microsoft talking new technologies and San Diego’s place in the innovation economy.

The willingness of people in the Bay Area to connect tech entrepreneurs and startups to others is amazing, and it’s what has led to some of the most powerful business partnerships and success stories there. Show less

Starting a business is hard. Very hard.

Deciding to utilize an accelerator or incubator program can be a make-or-break moment in that process. At least 16 local incubators and accelerators took part in an event hosted by San Diego Venture Group last month. AngelList, Silicon Valley’s website for startups and investors, lists over 60 incubators and accelerators. The choices can be overwhelming.

San Diego is perfect for manufacturing wearable technology. However, due to its proximity to Mexico, a new accelerator is betting big that it is the perfect place for building wearable technology.
Hard Tech Labs (HTL) has put together a bold plan to bring together a world class design, prototyping and building center in San Diego. HTL is combining the San Diego and Baja regions to form a partnership that cannot be done anywhere else in the world.

Wednesday night was the kickoff of the first Wearable Wednesday event in San Diego and featured an amazing panel to showcase how San Diego was inserting itself into the wearable space.

Last week Forbes named San Diego the best place in the country to launch a startup.

There are many different ways to evaluate this claim, and the comments section for the article proves there are some skeptics. So, is San Diego really No. 1 for startups? Let’s take a deeper look.

Where do you go when you want to get into acting? Hollywood.

Where do you go when you want to get into politics? Washington D.C.

Where do you go to start a tech company? Silicon Valley.

Most people know Silicon Valley creates tech company after tech company. Former employees and founders of PayPal alone have created LinkedIn, YouTube, Yelp and Tesla, to name a few.

What happened at Co-Merge downtown Wednesday night was a parent’s greatest wish come true. Geek Girl brought together some of San Diego’s top women in startups to spread the message of the strength of women in technology. Women from local startups to investors told how they got into technology and shared how other women can succeed in technology.

Does anybody really believe in San Diego technology? How many successful mobile platforms or apps were made in San Diego? Where there any?

Let’s start at the beginning. What is a startup?

While at first that question may seem simplistic, it turns out that some San Diego founders see a major disconnect when it comes to this topic. Lack of understanding about startups and the value they provide participants impact both the San Diego entrepreneurial spirit as well as the ability of budding companies to attract premier local talent.

From high-tech trade organizations to business incubators to an accelerating entrepreneurial scene, San Diego’s startup ecosystem is building momentum.

U-T San Diego is introducing a new weekly column, Startup Scene.

Radio barely scratches the surface of co-creation – the idea that today’s digitally empowered consumers are also producers – makers – of content. And content-makers want nothing more than an audience for their content. Platforms abound, but audiences and the attention they possess remain precious and scarce.

No doubt about it: San Diego has a growing startup scene.

Beyond its ideal location, San Diego now commands the support of both well-known experts and national organizations. Here’s a look at what some of those leaders and groups are doing to establish San Diego as a true startup hotspot.

The local technology field offers ample opportunities for both potential careers and entrepreneurial endeavors, but getting on the inside track to the tech scene can be quite a challenge.

How to make Listener and DJ Relationships Interactive – and Social
Our technology will help r radio station:

Get more Facebook "LIKES" & TSL
Create a true station community by allowing listeners to connect with other listeners
Deep listener participation and interaction with our radio stationy
our radio station can highlight themselves with their on air talents voices (their true brand) not text
Listeners can express themselves by sharing requests and… Show more

How to make Listener and DJ Relationships Interactive – and Social
Our technology will help r radio station:

Get more Facebook "LIKES" & TSL
Create a true station community by allowing listeners to connect with other listeners
Deep listener participation and interaction with our radio stationy
our radio station can highlight themselves with their on air talents voices (their true brand) not text
Listeners can express themselves by sharing requests and comments
Meaningful and personal connection between user and radio station
Fan-centric relationship
Push notification when our station responds to invite listener back to station Show less

The people leading startup revolutions across the country tend to share similar job titles. In New York, there’s venture capitalist Fred Wilson. In Boulder, Colo., there’s entrepreneur Brad Feld. And in Los Angeles, there’s investor Mark Suster.

So when I was invited by Kris Michell from the Downtown Partnership to attend Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s Downtown Startup Roundtable earlier this week, I wondered: Can a mayor even do much to invigorate a startup community? Faulconer even seemed… Show more

The people leading startup revolutions across the country tend to share similar job titles. In New York, there’s venture capitalist Fred Wilson. In Boulder, Colo., there’s entrepreneur Brad Feld. And in Los Angeles, there’s investor Mark Suster.

So when I was invited by Kris Michell from the Downtown Partnership to attend Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s Downtown Startup Roundtable earlier this week, I wondered: Can a mayor even do much to invigorate a startup community? Faulconer even seemed aware of the question – he listened and, to his credit, seemed willing to help in any way possible, but he mostly let the startup CEOs in attendance lead and steer the meeting. Show less

When it comes to building up new economies, Boulder and Austin are both lapping San Diego.

By creating and supporting a wave of young companies, these cities attract big investment dollars and some of the most talented people from around the world. This kind of growth isn't hard to copy. There’s information out there, but to make it happen in San Diego, it’ll need the support of the entire community.

It takes more than vision and a great product to establish a successful new company.

Creating a business structure and finding partners are critical to a new startup’s success, but budding founders may lack business-building skills. In today’s burgeoning startup environment, however, forging supportive relationships is easier than ever before.

Does San Diego have a tech startup community? Do local businesses use any new products actually built in San Diego, by San Diego developers? Can you name any San Diego tech companies other than Qualcomm? How would you find them and why would you want to work with one? Well, the answer is: There are hundreds of them and they are building amazing products.

Test your Idea before you scale it. The Ultimate Guide to Better Advertising with ad tech. written by @CordellGiesen

Zambig is a platform that allows consumers to interact with broadcast brands off the brand’s website and monetizes those interactions there, too.

In a nutshell, the platform allows fans to click to record their own voice, share it with their friends, and have their recordings heard on their favorite radio station in the context of some content element created (and monetized by) the station.

A look at how a handful of local startups have cobbled together money-saving methods and harnessed local resources to build successful companies.

San Diego’s been grappling for the last couple years with what makes a vibrant startup community.

Certainly, a vibrant community is one that fosters a culture of ideas and creativity to help startups grow into world-class companies. Now, there’s a new model to help cities get there, and it involves a new kind of leadership.