Supporting the San Diego Advanced Defense Technology Cluster
Lavin Entrepreneurship Center
The SDRIC cluster is managed by the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center at San Diego State University, who works closely with several other partners and support organizations in San Diego to support small businesses. The Lavin Entrepreneurship Center provides market feasibility studies, market analysis studies, and MBA internship programs to help provide an "ecosystem" of resources, companies and technologies for small businesses in the cluster. lavincenter.sdsu.edu
Tech Coast Angels
Entrepreneurs seeking lower level funding and more hands-on investors can consider the angel tier of investors, who offer investments from the $50,000 to the $500,000 level and work more personally with entrepreneurs. The Tech Coasts Angels, managed by CONNECT, is a group of private Southern California investors that offer annual programs for capital access and pitching experience and feedback. http://www.techcoastangels.com/
CONNECT
CONNECT provides programs that convert ideas into concrete applications such as Springboard, which offers free assistance to qualified applicants of life science & high tech companies in all stages of development, including concept, start-up and companies at critical inflection points. The program offers guidance in business model development and feedback and advice from Entrepreneurs in Residence, industry veterans, and top tier service providers. http://www.connect.org
Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC).
The San Diego Contracting Opportunities Center (SDCOC) is a program of Southwestern College/Foundation. PTAC is funded by local government agencies and the Department of Defense, and has the mission to assist San Diego small businesses in how to do business with federal, state, and local government agencies. PTAC provides services to help small businesses identify procurement opportunities, prepare bids, conduct pre/post award negotiations, and other services. www.ptac-sandiego.org
Small Business Development Center
The Small Business Development Center program aims to facilitate small business growth through assistance in areas such as business planning and management, financials, marketing, operations, and government contracts and procurement. The SBDC also provides business counseling - confidential and customized to the business owners, workshops that are designed to inform and educate and site visits to help businesses identify steps and resources for development, expansion and improvement. www.sandiegosmallbiz.com