Here’s to the trailblazers, the innovators, the rising stars, and the industry icons. From breweries to biotech and healthcare to hospitality, San Diego is infused with dynamic companies making their mark in their respective industries and in the local business ecosystem.
San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase have teamed up to recognize middle market companies creating meaningful economic contributions at the inaugural San Diego Business Impact Awards on October 16.
“Small and medium-sized companies are driving the economy and growth here in San Diego, and this is the time for us to celebrate these companies,” says Jennifer Henry Storm, executive director of EDC’s Foundation. “We’re looking for the best in class in a broad set of industries and categories—early-stage companies with deep local commitments, companies that have exceptional creativity in product development, disruptive startups that are changing the world, and tried and true companies that have weathered the economic ebbs and flows.”
Though San Diego is home to many large businesses and household names, small and medium-sized companies are the backbone of the region’s economy. Small businesses that employ fewer than 100 people make up 99 percent of total business in San Diego County, and represent 60 percent of total employment, according to EDC.
The goal is to also highlight high-growth companies—the types of companies that are on their way to being major employers in the region, says Aaron Ryan, San Diego region manager of middle market banking at JPMorganChase.
“This is a good opportunity to shine a spotlight on that segment of the business community,” he says. “When businesses start to become successful and reach that mid-size, high-growth part of their evolution is when they begin to be able to make a major impact in terms of meaningful employment which enables all of San Diego to grow. It resonated with EDC and also with JPMorganChase because we serve companies of all sizes.”
Nominations in the following categories are being accepted through September 24. Applicants must be headquartered in San Diego and have been in business for at least two years.
- Early-stage companies with revenues of at least $5 million with year-over-year growth
- Rising stars demonstrating staying power within the marketplace with revenues of higher than $20 million with year-over-year growth
- Established heavyweights with revenues of approximately $100 million or more that are growing and committed to staying in San Diego
- Pre-revenue companies on the cusp of changing the marketplace
“While one of the benchmarks we are looking for is growth, there are other companies that are pre-revenue and doing really interesting things in the innovation economy,” says Ryan. “We also want to create a space to recognize these firms. Sometimes they’re not seeking recognition or only have an awareness with their client base. But these pre-revenue companies eventually gain traction and become high-growth, revenue-generating businesses. We want to shine the spotlight on San Diego’s economic growth and future and that means recognizing companies at different stages of their lifecycle.”
Honorees will be selected by a panel of industry experts, with awards presented at a cocktail event at Scripps Research Auditorium. More than 200 people are expected to attend.
“We want to hear the cool stories. We want to hear about companies that are thriving here. We want to hear about companies that you might not hear about every day that are really changing the way something is delivered to the marketplace,” says Storm. “With so much economic uncertainty and noise at the national level, this is the time for us to celebrate San Diego, and we have thriving companies here that are driving our competitiveness.”
Click here for nominations or find more details here.
