The Regional Entrepreneurship Center (REC Innovation Lab) at San Diego Miramar College will host a grand opening of its new on-campus facility Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the C-1 Diesel Technology Building located at 10440 Black Mountain Road.
The REC Innovation Lab is a startup incubator focused on helping women and minority entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds to launch scalable, high growth business startups. Students learn how to take their start-up to the next level by acquiring the skills required to pitch investors in hopes of obtaining venture capital to grow their business. During the semester, students practice pitching to mentors and real-life Venture Capitalists often gaining valuable feedback that leads to funding.
This is a great opportunity to see all of the work being done to increase opportunities for women and minority business owners here in San Diego. This grand opening is a chance to view some of the successful businesses that have started as a result of the program and meet the student founders, including the over 200 small food-based businesses and MEHKOs that have gone through the REC as part of the San Diego Food Justice GET Cooking Program.
"San Diego Miramar College is grateful for the generous support from the San Diego & Imperial Counties Community Colleges Regional Consortium Regional Strong Workforce funds," said Tanya Hertz, executive director of the REC Innovation Lab. "In addition, many private donors have provided much-needed support directly to student entrepreneurs, including Union Bank, Proven Recruiting, and Optima Office, among others.”
The REC Lab already has many success stories to share!
Anh Pham is the CEO and Founder of Earth Fan Surf Company, a business that manufactures and sells eco-friendly wood body boards. Anh came up with the idea after leaving the ocean. The San Diegan noticed his local beach littered with broken foam boards and believed there was a more environmentally safe board for body surfers to use. Anh’s company website can be found here.
Ruth Young-Loaeza is a former homeless women and hospital housekeeper that founded “NEET SHEETS,” a revolutionary bedding innovation that has transformed the way we make our beds.
Ruth embarked on this remarkable journey after realizing the arduous and time-consuming nature of bed-making while cleaning homes and working long hours in the hospitality industry. Armed with a prototype that promised to simplify this everyday chore, Ruth took a daring step by entering an invention competition. With just $50 in hand, she journeyed to New York, even spending a night in a rental car. To her astonishment, Ruth emerged victorious, claiming 1st place, and starting the NEET SHEETS's journey. Ruth’s bio can be found here.
Both Anh and Ruth will attend the grand opening event.
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (California’s 51st Congressional District) is scheduled to give opening remarks at 3pm.
Here is the agenda for the event:
- 2pm - VIP Hour - Highlighted Student Demos & Networking with local Business and Government Leaders
- 3pm - Welcome from Mayor Todd Gloria (tent.) and Miramar College President Wesley Lundburg
- 3:30pm- Pitch Preview - See what our students can do!
- 4-6pm - Student Founders Exhibit Tables with Student-catered Networking
If you’d like to attend the event, please RSVP here.
The REC Innovation Lab can be found on the ground floor of the C-1 Diesel Technology Building. A map of the Miramar College campus can be found here.
To help sponsor this event and the REC Lab on its future endeavors, click here.
Find out more about the REC Lab here.
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