University City

Founded in San Diego in 2006, Envision Solar, rebranded BEAM in 2021, has grown from a two-person startup to a global leader as local manufacturer of an innovative electric vehicle charger that's making it easier for the world to "drive on sunshine." Envision Solar now employs more than 20 people, including many in San Diego's highly skilled workforce, several veterans and disabled workers. Check out this success story that showcases San Diego's dynamic workforce and its innovation and cleantech economy. (Learn more about the City of San Diego Climate Action Plan here.)

Downtown

Located in the Manpower Building, NEST is the coworking space shared by many startups in nonprofit CyberTECH’s xHIVE incubator program. Check out the largest incubator downtown. NEST-member companies are mostly tech-driven startups in areas of cyber, Internet of Things, Smart City and critical, innovative market needs such as sensors, processing, situational awareness/visualization, big data, predictive analytics, modeling and simulation. (See CyberTECH NEST CoWork in the San Diego Startup Ecosystem Map.)

East Village

Founded in Mission Valley by Jason Kulpa, Underground Elephant went from one-man startup to digital marketing mammoth. It partnered with the City to keep its growing business in San Diego. Check out the video to see its sleek headquarters in what used to be a produce-packing facility and you'll see why this maverick company is part of the innovation movement and renaissance in the East Village.