Angel investors selected 25 out of 106 startup applicants to advance to the SDAC V quarterfinals based on their potential to win the final conference pitch competition on April 22 at USD
SAN DIEGO – February 21, 2023 – San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC), a University of San Diego (USD) Knauss School of Business program that activates accredited angel investors and engages promising early-stage companies that drive the innovation ecosystem, announced the 25 quarterfinalists that will move forward toward the final pitch at the SDAC V Angel Conference on April 22. Each company is looking to land funding for their business.
A total of 106 companies applied for SDAC V, hoping to land $200,000 in angel investment or attract investors interested in funding additional companies*. SDAC engages new and experienced angel investors and provides coaching, an educational program, and connections to founders. Each year, the program culminates in a live and virtual final funding event. Applications for accredited angel investors are still open at www.thesdangels.com/angel-investor.
SDAC V Quarterfinalists include:
SDAC IV runner up, Jose Gomez, co-founder of Fluid-AI, which introduced a fluid power AI system that can be installed on any hydraulic system to monitor its health status and predict failure, credits SDAC for putting him on the path to funding for his early-stage company. Fluid-AI has raised $4 million of seed stage capital and then even more, closing a strategic $4.8 million round with institutional investors.
“The knowledge, connections and guidance we gained through SDAC were invaluable and critical to us further developing our technology and securing follow on funding,” Gomez says.
With an active angel investor group of about 90 accredited investors, who invest anywhere from $7,000 to $100,000+ each conference series, the San Diego Angel Conference has become one of the largest event-based angel funds in the country.
SDAC partners with 20+ organizations in the startup ecosystem. These connections, combined with SDAC’s reputation for excellence, enables it to attract promising startups and manage a substantial investment fund. SDAC sponsors include USD, Mintz, SDSU, First Republic Bank, Coeptus Law, Aquillius, Clearpoint Agency, and UCSD.
SDAC Founder Mysty Rusk says, “Securing angel funding requires a product that solves a real problem and an entrepreneur with tenacity and a tolerance for risk. With SDAC, our main objective is to activate accredited investors, and fund innovative early-stage companies. USD’s Free Enterprise Institute, Brink SBDC, and SDAC collaborate seamlessly to provide the infrastructure to ‘Get to yes!’. And USD is leading the way in values-driven free enterprise and creating an enduring network of entrepreneurs, partners, sponsors, and investors.”
*Actual amount invested depends on total dollars raised. Historically, investors have exceeded both the investment amount and number of companies funded.
About San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC)
SDAC is the largest angel investment conference in the country, activating angel investors and engaging promising early-stage companies that drive the innovation ecosystem. Through a series of events and workshops that culminate in a one-day conference and pitch competition, SDAC provides valuable insights and hands-on education through separate entrepreneur and angel investor tracks. The program’s investment fund is managed by accredited investors who collectively decide which companies will receive funding. www.thesdangels.com.
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Contact:
Hilary McCarthy
hilary@clearpointagency.com – 774.364.1440
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