Our city is home to so many incredible businesses and so we asked the founders how they came up with the ideas for their businesses and have shared their responses below.

Nanelle Newbom | Founder

We’re coffee people. It’s who we are. We have been in the coffee industry for 20 years now and it’s pretty clear we are coffee lifers at this point. Since our earliest days we have always been focused on making the world better through coffee. And in particular through coffee people. Coffee people are the best! What we are aiming to do with Torque coffee via Proportional Pricing is to continue the progressive journey we have always been on. Our goal is to fundamentally change the way the world works. Read more>>

Laura Anthony | President of Zero Waste San Diego and Program Coordinator for SD Fixit Clinic & Zero Waste Consultant

In 2015, I found out about the Fixit Clinic group up in Berkeley, CA led by Peter Mui and loved the idea of getting skilled people together to help repair items. I reached out to Peter to help me get in started and he mentioned his blog where all the information is need to start clinics in your area. I just took that and ran with it. I started a nonprofit group in 2007 called Zero Waste San Diego. Our purpose is to educate the community in San Diego County on zero waste practices through informational booths, symposiums and special events. Read more>>

Hiro Tominaga | Digital Artist

The initial idea was to get a small group of like-minded people together. Even though we’re like-minded, we all have different areas of expertise. I have a background in digital art. My partner has a background in web design. We also work with a graphic designer, my wife, and a communications expert, his wife. While some of these skills can overlap, we work together better amplifying our strengths and assisting on our weaknesses.
For now I live in Japan. However the goal is to move all of JiwaJiwa’s operations to the U.S. by 2027. Read more>>

Matthew Bagdasar | Executive Director

The idea for starting the nonprofit began when I navigated the California Community College transfer process myself. I transferred from San Diego City College to the University of Southern California in just two years. I would be lying if I said this process was easy. Navigating articulation agreements, understanding which courses transfer, and getting in front of a counselor were difficult. Community college students who want to transfer are expected to do so within two years and then earn their bachelor’s degree after at least two additional years of study at the university level. Read more>>