Four startup finalists pitched to an audience of entrepreneurs and angel investors
For the sixth consecutive year the San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC), held at the University of San Diego, made sizeable investments into two startup finalists of its four-month-long program. Ecodrive took the top funding prize of $300,000* and runner-up Achieve Clinics was awarded $100,000.*
Ecodrive is a sustainability startup that works with brands to engage in climate activities while driving customer engagement. The platform offers a way for businesses to meet their impact goals. They may support tree planting, the removal of plastic and trash from oceans, reforesting the oceans with kelp, and assisting with biodiversity and poverty alleviation.
Clients can launch their impact initiative in minutes with a click on their Impact Portal. They are given a full marketing tool kit that empowers them to message out their brand’s sustainability activities—bringing added value to their businesses.
To date Ecodrive touts over 400 clients that they assist in reaching their impact goals. Most important is the verification that Ecodrive conducts. On-the-ground technology records geo-coordinates and timestamps all impact activity. Through this, businesses are assured that their impact is actually happening and false claims are avoided.
Ecodrive Co-Founder Trevor Laudate sums up the benefits of the SDAC program and how the monetary prize will move the sustainability startup forward.
“We are incredibly grateful to the San Diego Angel Conference fund for this investment, which will enable us to scale. The experience has been invaluable – from the mentoring and coaching on how to effectively communicate with angel investors, complete the due diligence process, and build a strong network of mentors, investors, and peers.”
Following the four finalist pitches, Angels retired to a side room to decide the awardees of the Conference’s Fund. The audience was abuzz about the possible winners given the impressive presentations and the significant traction of each of the four finalists.
The other presenting finalists were:
Achieve Clinics: empowers newly diagnosed cancer patients to access future advanced treatments like cell therapy.
TadHealth: provides enterprise tools to deliver and manage school-based mental health care.
Kids Care Finder: the SDAC VI People’s Choice award, offers a comprehensive marketplace to ease the childcare crisis in America by connecting parents with all the childcare, extracurricular activities, and service providers kids need from birth.
The four finalists were chosen out of 102 applicants to the SDAC program.
In addition to the entrepreneurs receiving coaching and resources, another track activates accredited angel investors new to the SDAC—its top goal. The investors hone their investment skills and participate in the Conference program by evaluating the entrepreneurs in stages to arrive at the top finalists.
The angels invest anywhere from $5,500 to $61,500 to form the collective SDAC VI fund spearheaded by Fund Managers Stacey Pena and Brian Engleman. The angels collectively decide how the Fund pool is awarded to the winners.
Throughout the day SDAC Founder Mysty Rusk re-enforces the program’s theme, “We get to Yes!”, meaning that all entrepreneurs leave the program better prepared and positioned to raise funding—a great win for all.
In addition, members of the San Diego innovation ecosystem and the University spoke about their activities to foster the local entrepreneurial community. They were shepherded to the podium by nationally recognized etiquette expert Elaine Swann who peppered the audience with networking tips and insight.
The announcement of the winners culminated this year’s SDAC program supported by the University of San Diego’s Free Enterprise Institute, Brink SBDC, and the Knauss School of Business which hosts the SDAC.
Having funded two more innovative startups and activated additional investors in the greater San Diego community, Rusk sums up the outcomes achieved through the efforts of so many.
“Funding effective solutions like we did today…is humbling, altruistic, and a financially rewarding bottom line that speaks to USD’s mission and the vision of Knauss School of Business benefactors Don and Ellie Knauss…to collaborate seamlessly to meet our goals, as the university continues to lead in values-driven free enterprise.”
*Actual amount invested depends on total dollars raised. Historically, investors have exceeded both the investment amount and number of companies funded.
