This year was unlike anything anyone could have predicted. Our communities grappled with unimaginable loss brought on by COVID-19, a social and racial justice reckoning, an ever-contentious political landscape, and so much more. And yet, here we are—turning the page into the New Year, still with the same problems of 2020, but with greater resilience, forward thinking, and commitment to inclusion.With and through our nearly 200 investors, EDC worked directly with nearly 500 San Diego businesses through crisis and recovery. Learn about this work and more in our Top 20 in 2020, and read on below for our month in review.
By the Numbers
7.7% San Diego County unemployment rate
359 business assisted year-to-date
8K jobs impacted year-to-date
15 Programs identified as Preferred Providers of business talent
The Advancing San Diego (ASD) Internship Program launched this Spring in a remote-capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to provide up to 100 San Diego-based companies with fully subsidized interns. This program targets companies with 100 employees or less, which comprise 98 percent of all businesses in San Diego, employ nearly two thirds of San Diegans, and account for 70 percent of job growth. A key issue for these companies has been a lack of time and resources to recruit the skilled talent necessary to continue their growth.
As students close out their Summer internship experiences, EDC has launched this blog series to highlight the innovative local companies that comprise the first cohort of the program, and the interns they hosted.
In this feature, we sat down withTraits AI, Inc. intern and Mesa College student Emma Plum. A part of the inaugural cohort of host companies, Traits AI is a San Diego-based software company that creates animated artificial intelligence (AI) avatars that you can talk to, like you talk to Siri or Alexa. The company develops Alexa Skills, Google Assistant Actions, and chatbots for clients to help them better serve their customers; but its particular area of focus is on AI avatars that put a face to the voice using an animated avatar that looks like and sounds like the person they represent to help them extend their reach.
People are busy, especially those in in-demand professions like law, healthcare, consulting, and more. In these fields, there’s often only one point-person, but thousands of people who want a little bit of their time. While we cannot duplicate or replace those professionals, Traits AI can extend their reach by automating some of the repetitive parts of what they do on a daily basis. This frees them up to spend more time on things that require their unique skill set and expertise.
Read on for more from Emma.
How has your experience in the ASD Internship Program been, and what projects have been the most meaningful?
I enjoyed my time in the internship at Traits AI. My supervisor Brandon was very understanding and flexible with work schedules. My primary projects were working on Facebook Messenger bots/marketing campaigns and email marketing/automation. These helped my understanding of design in marketing greatly, as well as improved my time management skills.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your day-to-day, and what challenges have you faced as a student?
Online learning and the transfer to the online structure has been particularly challenging during this time. Online school is an entirely different beast. Scheduling seems more flexible but between keeping up with everything at home (work, school, clubs, social life), Zoom fatigue hits hard and you have to keep a strict schedule to keep up.
What advice would you give to high school students looking for a successful career in the local software industry?
Be assertive! You don’t know what you don’t know, so reach out to the people who do. Talk to a high school counselor or someone knowledgeable about job opportunities, interview skills, resume reviews, and industry knowledge. Networking can be a gamechanger; go out and email or connect on LinkedIn/social media with industry professionals as you look for advice or job openings. Chase after job opportunities, even the ones you think you won’t get because you never know where you’ll get your foot in the door. Even if you don’t get the job after the interview, that’s a great practice. And don’t be afraid to leave a job if the work environment is toxic.
Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week.
For the week of November 20, 2020, here’s what we’re reading:
This edition of San Diego’s Economic Pulse covers October 2020 and reflects some effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the labor market. In October 2020:
San Diego’s jobs recovery accelerated from previous months, but remains uneven across industries.
San Diego employers brought back 21,500 workers, lowering the unemployment rate to 7.7 percent.
Job gains were widespread, and workers returned to the labor force in record numbers.
Amidst everything happening in the world, we need a reminder that there’s plenty of ‘Good News’ to go around in San Diego. We have also compiled additional resources for businesses and individuals seeking additional guidance.
The Advancing San Diego (ASD) Internship Program launched this Spring in a remote-capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to provide up to 100 San Diego-based companies with fully subsidized interns. This program targets companies with 100 employees or less, which comprise 98 percent of all businesses in San Diego, employ nearly two thirds of San Diegans, and account for 70 percent of job growth. A key issue for these companies has been a lack of time and resources to recruit the skilled talent necessary to continue their growth.
As students close out their Summer internship experiences, EDC has launched this blog series to highlight the innovative local companies that comprise the first cohort of the program, and the interns they hosted.
In this feature, we sat down with Brandon Bosse, Founder and CEO at Traits AI, Inc. A part of the inaugural cohort of host companies, Traits AI is a San Diego-based software company that creates animated artificial intelligence (AI) avatars that you can talk to, like you talk to Siri or Alexa. The company develops Alexa Skills, Google Assistant Actions, and chatbots for clients to help them better serve their customers; but its particular area of focus is on AI avatars that put a face to the voice using an animated avatar that looks like and sounds like the person they represent to help them extend their reach.
People are busy, especially those in in-demand professions like law, healthcare, consulting, and more. In these fields, there’s often only one point-person, but thousands of people who want a little bit of their time. While we cannot duplicate or replace those professionals, Traits AI can extend their reach by automating some of the repetitive parts of what they do on a daily basis. This frees them up to spend more time on things that require their unique skill set and expertise.
Read on for more from Traits AI founder Brandon Bosse.
Why was your company founded, and what are your current points of focus?
You know that annoying feeling you get when you ask Siri or Alexa a question and she completely gets it wrong and has no idea what you just said? Yeah, we get annoyed by that, too! That is the underlying problem we fell in love with and seek to solve: people need better, more instant access to information. Of course the nuances of language are incredibly challenging to understand even for us people and, so far, understanding complex language is also beyond what AI models can do. That’s why we turned to crowd-sourcing responses as a stepping stone approach until natural language models like GPT-3 are able to grasp the nuances of language.
Our main point of focus now is on establishing product-market-fit to help in raising a pre-seed funding round. Most investors aren’t aware of the budding field of synthetic media and recent advances in China, New Zealand, and Canada, and it is our job to help demonstrate how AI avatars can be a benefit to modern society.
Tell us about your experience building a startup in San Diego.
San Diego is an amazing place to start a tech company because it attracts so many brilliant people and has a thriving startup scene.
For example, in 2017, I joined the fall cohort of The Founder Institute, which was instrumental in getting Traits AI up and off the ground. Through networking with fellow graduates, I learned about the Small Business Development Center and The Brink where I have received mentorship and support, including connection to the ASD Internship Program. For the past two years, I have volunteered at the registration desk of San Diego Startup Week and have met some really amazing people!
There are also fun community events and meetup groups that have been a great way to socialize and meet other people interested in entrepreneurship, AI, and tech. I’ve enjoyed attending Triton Entrepreneur Night where I got to see how great pitching is done! And I’ve met some really smart and amazing people at The Machine Learning Society and The San Diego Machine Learning Meetup Group.
Has your company pivoted as a result of COVID-19?
Yes, in March 2020 we began working on a new AI avatar/chatbot named Vita to help people with advanced care planning, like filling out an advanced directive. Since patients with COVID-19 are typically in isolation, having an AI avatar help them navigate their healthcare choices makes sense so that healthcare staff aren’t exposed any longer than necessary. Vita is able to take as long as the patient needs to talk about and answer questions related to advanced care planning.
Tell us a little bit about your interns and the value they bring.
We have been lucky enough to work with four interns through the program and they have all brought their own unique talents to the team. Their education in programming, web development, social media, and creative writing have helped the company advance toward our goals. I have found them to be professional, responsible, and hardworking even during this time of remote work and I am grateful to have them on the team.
In your opinion, what is special about San Diego’s science and technology community, and the talent that drives it?
California has always been the land of dreamers—people who dare to DREAM BIG and make their dreams come true. It also attracts open-minded, outside-the-box thinkers who don’t always fit into mainstream society. I see many dreamers, open-minded, outside-the-box thinkers in San Diego and THAT is what makes it a great science and tech community.
I think Steve Jobs put it best when he said, “Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes…the ones who see things differently—they’re not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week.
For the week of November 13, 2020, here’s what we’re reading:
Our region is home to a vibrant manufacturing cluster that spans across many industries, from defense to craft brewing. EDC has partnered with California Manufacturing Technology Consulting to help San Diego regional manufacturers identify and connect to key resources and relief. Click below to get in touch with EDC’s team.
Amidst everything happening in the world, we need a reminder that there’s plenty of ‘Good News’ to go around in San Diego. We have also compiled additional resources for businesses and individuals seeking additional guidance.
Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week.
For the week of November 6, 2020, here’s what we’re reading:
A look back at Advancing San Diego’s Career Exploration Day and Virtual Career Fair
With the support of title sponsor Qualcomm, EDC hosted Advancing San Diego’s Career Exploration Day and Virtual Career Fair – a free event that brought together San Diego employers and students for a full day of career exploration, professional development, company information sessions, peer learning, and networking. Throughout the day, 150 students from universities, high schools, and training programs across the region logged on to chat with employers in the virtual career fair and listen in on a webinar series on job search strategies.
Amidst everything happening in the world, we need a reminder that there’s plenty of ‘Good News’ to go around in San Diego. We have also compiled additional resources for businesses and individuals seeking additional guidance.
EDC’s Industry Profiles are back…and better than ever. Consistently our most visited pages on the former EDC site, we took some time to give them the refresh they deserved.
Not sure what we mean by ‘Industry Profiles’?
With breakthrough technology companies and research organizations, the largest military concentration in the world and a strong tourism industry, the San Diego region has one of the most dynamic economies in the country. Created by our Research Bureau, these profiles take a deep dive into the industries that make San Diego the innovation hub that it is, with data on employment, businesses, wages, and more.
“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds…to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.” –President Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address, 1865
It is clear that when President Lincoln wrote and shared these words, it was to bring together a terribly divided nation that had been through its most horrific chapter to date. And yet more than a century and a half later, it is also clear that not all of our wounds have healed.
The weeks leading up to this election have been marked with anger, frustration, fear, resentment, hatred, and a barrage of disinformation coming at all of us from all political levels. And unfortunately, the weeks that follow will likely bring more of the same. But behind it all, we are also seeing record voter registrations, a remarkable number of early votes being cast across the nation, and a new and different generation of voters seeking new and different strategies and solutions.
Regardless of election outcomes, individually and as a team at EDC, we will continue to do all we can to work with all leaders, at all levels of government. Time and again, we have seen that it is public and private-sector leadership working together that creates the best possible outcomes for our economy and our community.
As we move into the final months of 2020, our focus will remain on supporting our local businesses through economic recovery, and in creating the jobs that will lead to more thriving households in all corners of our region. We look forward to another year of working with and through all of our investors and partners to rebuild and strengthen San Diego’s economy and to ensure that our core values of integrity, accountability, collaboration, and inclusion are seen and felt in all that we do.
Wishing our region and our nation a great and peaceful election today. May we all strive to finish the work we are in—with malice toward none, charity for all, and a firmness in what we know to be right.
Well, we’ve made it to October. It’s hard to believe that this tumultuous, lesson-filled year is nearing its end. While our nation and our community have faced many challenges in 2020, there is still much worth celebrating here in San Diego. This month we celebrate National Manufacturing Day, as well as San Diego Startup Month—two areas of our economy that have demonstrated resiliency in times of crisis. Read on for more.
Advancing San Diego is a multi-faceted initiative to strengthen relationships between industry and education systems in San Diego. The vision behind the initiative is an environment where more San Diegans have access to quality job opportunities, and employers of all sizes have established effective recruitment partnerships with locally-serving education institutions.
In ‘normal’ times, EDC hosts on-campus events throughout the year for San Diego employers to connect with students. The unique opportunity of a virtual event is that we are not limited to one campus and one group of students. On October 20, with support of our title sponsor Qualcomm Incorporated, EDC hosted Advancing San Diego: Career Exploration Day and Virtual Career fair – a free event that brought together employers and students of San Diego schools for a full day of career exploration, professional development, company information sessions, peer learning, and networking. Throughout the day, 150 students logged on to chat with employers in the virtual career fair and listen in on a webinar series on job search strategies. Attendees represented schools throughout San Diego, including San Diego State, CSU San Marcos, UC San Diego, Community Colleges, National University, San Diego Code School, a handful of high schools, and more. Nearly half of attendees were first-generation college students, and 65 percent were studying either computer science or engineering. Representatives from more than 20 San Diego companies participated in the event, and 244 job applications were submitted directly through our platform, vFairs.
“As a company of Inventors, we know that it takes diverse skills, experiences and cultures to develop and enhance world-changing products and technologies like 5G,” says Heather Ace, Executive Vice President Human Resources, Qualcomm. “Events like Advancing San Diego’s Career Exploration Day are critical to engaging students from all backgrounds by providing exposure to innovative companies and real world advice from employers who are all looking for top talent in the region and beyond.”
With so much uncertainty around the job market, workplace environments, and career opportunities, students are in somewhat uncharted territory when it comes to career exploration in 2020. Speakers throughout the event offered consistent advice to students navigating their career path through challenging times: lean in, stay focused, and be confident in yourself, your abilities, and your value. Below are some key takeaways for students.
Lean in
We are fortunate to live in a time where we have access to technology to help us adjust and stay connected through a global pandemic. Lean in to your career exploration by actively updating your LinkedIn profile. Take time to research companies and jobs you may be interested in and direct message representatives from those companies on LinkedIn, and ask for an informational interview (people are more accessible than you may think!). Build your network by joining a club or getting to know your professors, and activate that network by staying in touch with friends, family, and professors for guidance. Your network will gladly open doors for you when you need them to.
You may be spending more time at home these days. Stay focused on the things you can control and use this time to invest in learning something new outside of school. Research free online courses, trainings, conferences, or certificates related to your career interests. Pursue passion projects, or volunteer. Whether it’s blogging or coding or drawing, set aside time to apply and refine your new skills often. Your first job or internship may not be your dream job, but don’t be afraid to bloom where you’re planted, and use that time to develop your skills so you can figure out where you want to go next. Make a short-, medium-, or long-term term plan for your professional development. No one expects you to be an expert early in your career, and employers will be impressed that you’re working towards a goal.
People at every age, in every type of job, have experienced imposter syndrome, or feeling like you lack the qualifications to be taken seriously for a job. Before you can start planning for your career, define what your goals are for a job or internship and what skills you bring to the table. If you have little or no professional experience to reflect on a resume, be sure to include your college job, volunteer work, or experience in a club. Think critically about how skills you gained in those experiences will translate to a professional position. Define the environments where you thrive and use that to guide you in selecting a company or job that is right for you. For example, if you have an entrepreneurial spirit, enjoy flexing your creative muscle, and are adaptable in a fast-paced environment, a smaller company or startup might be right for you. If you appreciate defined processes, structure, consistency, and clear direction, a larger company might be a better fit. Use internships as a time to learn about different roles and company cultures, and seek out mentors.
Leaning in, staying focused, and knowing your goals will help you identify jobs that are aligned with your strengths and values. Building your professional brand means knowing what you bring to the table, and having the confidence to own and communicate those strengths. Believe that you belong there and that you belong in that job, even before you’re there! Finally, always remember, you’re interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you.
