Carlsbad startups are worth celebrating

Matt Sanford
Economic Development Manager
City of Carlsbad

It’s no secret the economy has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Inflation and a tight labor-market have affected a number of our businesses. But there’s a bright spot here in Carlsbad. Our startup scene is still going strong, and steadily building momentum.

Startup Week brings together more than 1,500 entrepreneurs, founders, investors, advisors, talent and community leaders to network, learn and inspire right here in Carlsbad.

In fact, in 2021, Carlsbad startups saw record-breaking funding. From seed capital to post-IPO equity, 25 local startups raised more than $1 billion in funding. And 2022 is continuing that momentum, with over half a billion in funding already going to 23 Carlsbad companies by the end of August.

All of this is incredibly impressive. And it’s encouraging because startups are a catalyst for economic growth. They create well-paying jobs and drive investment in our community. They also put Carlsbad on the map in a big way. Case in point: we were recently ranked as one of the nation’s best places for startups.

In March, a study by Crowdfund Capital Advisors ranked Carlsbad number 9 on a list of the 100 best cities for startups. The study analyzed US cities that offer the best odds for success when it comes to starting a business. This included vetting data from more than 5,000 companies that have raised money online and primarily from local investors and evaluates a number of other metrics.

All of this underscores just how promising our local startup scene is. We think that’s worth celebrating, and that’s precisely what we plan to do during this year’s San Diego Startup Week, happening Oct. 25 to 28. This weeklong event brings together more than 1,500 entrepreneurs, founders, investors, advisors, talent and community leaders to network, learn and inspire. We’re especially excited to announce that this year the City of Carlsbad will host the opening day of Startup Week, with events happening 2 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25 in Carlsbad Village.

Our venue for the event will be the old Beach City Auto space, which is now planned to be the expansion to neighboring Tyra Biosciences. With untold numbers of startups with roots in a garage, we thought it a fitting place to double down on our support for startups in Carlsbad.

We hope you’ll join us and come see why entrepreneurs and investors alike are excited about the startup scene in Carlsbad! For more information, and to get your ticket, please visit https://startupsd.org/sandiegostartupweek.