Editor’s Note: SDSI has extended the deadline for its Springboard Program through Friday, July 1st. Additional links added below.
San Diego Sport Innovators (SDSI) has been attracting a lot of attention lately with successful programs like Springboard, a four-month intensive mentoring process dedicated to fostering the next generation of SAL companies. We caught up with Executive Director Bob Rief to get details on Springboard and other SDSI offerings.
1. For those who aren’t as familiar with SDSI, would you briefly describe its mission? Is membership open to companies outside of San Diego?
SDSI is a business development group aimed at the Sport and Active lifestyle industries (SAL). We have 90 companies involved. The easiest way to think of what we do is to simply focus on the type of products or services that constitute the So Cal lifestyle..that’s who we are. Our members range in size from very small to GoPro or Road Runner Sports. The sectors are surf, skate, wake, cycling, golf, climbing, active wear, yoga, nutrition, events, footwear, technology, wearables…very diverse. The cross industry networking is very effective. SDSI is not a personal development organization, not YPO for instance. Our focus is on near term business challenges. Our most recent event was an Amazon Clinic: Amazon, Devil or Angel? The event was heavily attended!
The other component of SDSI is Springboard: its mission is development of young companies. It is a 20-week mentoring program. Our metrics here are very impressive: 60 graduates, $47.5M raised in Capital. 89% survival rate (!). Nearly 400 jobs created by graduates. Several graduates have made it on to Shark Tank, most recently Slyde Handboards. It’s best to see the SDSI website for more info.
Membership in SDSI is open to any existing SAL business. We have 3 levels of membership, Board of Directors, Advisory Board and General Membership. Each Membership group meets once per quarter. When we have a notable event like the Amazon Clinic or the amazing Guy Kawasaki presentation we invite the tribe..it’s always fun and worthwhile.
Acronyms can be deceiving. One of our Board members is the SD YMCA. He often says, “listen, we are the YMCA, BUT we are not just for Young and we are Not just for Men and we are not just Christian but we are an Association. Same for SDSI…we are NOT just San Diego, but we are all about Sport innovation. The organization is focused on the SAL industry and we welcome any business in the sector. The only geographical caveat I would offer is that its best to attend the quarterly meetings, since that’s where the action is.
Springboard is open to any SAL company as well, but it is a 20-week mentoring program so that entails meeting here in SD where the mentors are, that’s about 15 to 20 times in the 20 week curriculum. If your company fits the criteria and you can make the commitment to mentoring sessions, that’s all there is, welcome!
2. How can membership in SDSI help young companies get noticed?
SDSI helps SAL companies of all sizes, but The best way to “get noticed” as a young company is to get prepared. The Class 7 SDSI Springboard companies had a special opportunity for PR. Each of them had a feature segment on Sully Sullivan’s Big Biz show. The reach is 70 Million homes..that’s pretty good exposure! At the end of each class SDSI sponsors an investor Forum. This year we offered a $5000 prize for the best presentation. We had the Founders of Liquid Force, Prana, Bill Walton and an investment banker as our Judges…and 17 investors as an audience. It was amazing how really prepared each company was..it was very hard to judge!
3. SDSI’s Springboard Program was accepting applications through June 26th. How are the applications this year? What types of companies are you seeing?
We have openings for 4 to 6 companies., based on their mentoring needs and our team’s availability. We typically receive around 15 applications for our 4 to 6 openings. We have a set of criteria which interested companies can find on the web site.
4. Please tell us about some of the other benefits of membership in SDSI and what events you have planned in the months ahead.
We are constantly working to network the membership together to discover new business partnership and opportunities. We also look at the necessary partners that may not be endemic to the industry but are absolutely critical for business growth. Within the SDSI membership is a trusted network of service provider partners from small bookkeepers, to 3PL’s to large investment banks and everything in between. When you get executives together across a variety of sports disciplines it’s fun to see what can evolve. In August we have an executive from Taylor Guitars speaking to our Advisory Board about cross-border manufacturing and their new maquiladora manufacturing facility in Tecate. The goal is to be relevant and bring the entire SAL industry together for collaboration and education.
5. Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about SDSI?
Well, the main thing is the cross business networking. A good example is the Amazon clinic: there were 8 separate business “verticals” represented. It was not “just surf” but cycling, nutrition, retail and many others. The benefit is listening to other experiences and strategies from outside of your business segment. It’s 2 hours every 3 months…usually informative, productive, always fun. We encourage all the SAL companies in the OC or LA to call us and see if a membership make sense.
SDSI’s Springboard Class 8 is sponsored by by Voit Real Estate Services and Vantage Point Advisors. The application deadline has been extended through Friday, July 1st.
For additional information please see SDSI Springboard’s Case Studies and FAQ Page. Apply here.
