Mintz is a proud supporter of the San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC), a three-year-old University of San Diego (USD) School of Business program that activates accredited angel investors and engages promising early-stage companies. Designed to build the Southern California innovation ecosystem, the SDAC program consists of a series of learn-by-doing events commencing in a one-day conference, throughout which investors are given the opportunity to build angel investing skills and gain access to deals from different industries and stages, and entrepreneurs are given the opportunity to attend workshops and receive valuable coaching and feedback from investors. Mintz Member Sebastian E. Lucier is a key volunteer member of the SDAC team.

In its recent press release announcing the finalists who will pitch angel investors in March, SDAC included commentary from Mr. Lucier on the value of the organization’s educational and networking resources for entrepreneurs. “In addition to much-needed funding, SDAC offers early-stage companies and developing angel investors critical access to coaching and training, as well as the opportunity to build relationships with each other,” he said. “As a firm, we are committed to supporting the San Diego start-up and entrepreneurial community, and our involvement with SDAC is a key component of that work.”

Through thought leadership published by MintzEdge, an online resource for entrepreneurs, and elsewhere, and the expertise of West Coast practitioners in the firm’s Venture Capital & Emerging Companies Practice, Mintz maintains strong ties with the San Diego start-up and entrepreneurial community, and is helping foster the next generation of start-ups and emerging growth entrepreneurs. For example, in 2020, Mintz and Mr. Lucier participated in the USD Fowler Business Concept Challenge, which is an early stage, entry-level seed competition for both undergraduate and graduate students to explore and develop their entrepreneurship potential.

Additionally, a number of the firm’s San Diego-based attorneys serve on boards and in other advisory roles at the region’s top universities and research institutions. For example, Member and Co-chair of the firm’s Venture Capital & Emerging Companies Practice Jeremy Glaser serves on the Board of the University of California San Diego (UCSD)’s The Basement, a campus-wide innovation and entrepreneurial hub; Member Kenneth E. Jenkins, PhD, serves on the Dean’s Leadership Council of UCSD’s Division of Biological Sciences; and Member Andrew Skale serves on the Advisory Board of San Diego State University’s Zahn Innovation Platform Launchpad, an on-campus incubator.