Belle of the Ball

This is the introduction of a 4-part series by Allison Long Pettine, a founding partner of Seed San Diego on what goes into a Total Package Deal in San Diego.

The recent Startup Week in San Diego was filled with 5 days of highly energetic startup types making connections, building resources, and celebrating accomplishments. Things seem to be heading in the right direction for innovation growth and development in San Diego. In fact, we’ve had some notable press and exits just over the last few months. And of course who could forget GoFundMe’s $600M valuation last year. To top it off, tech behemoths Google and Amazon are both opening offices for hundreds of employees here. Never has there been more excitement to be an entrepreneur in San Diego. There are no shortage of people jumping on the bandwagon.

In spite of feeling like the Belle of the Ball, there is a downward trend: a dearth of new total-package deals. Why this is happening? Is there too much dumb money in the market? Have startups become so commonplace that they are picking smaller ideas with smaller results just to stay alive?

Regardless of these trends, what we look for in San Diego hasn’t changed. Sound business practices, great ideas, stellar teams and early results are attractive to all investors and we’re no different. We all want the Total Package.

This is a four-part series about total package deals. For the intro, start here (you are here).
Part 1: What is a Total Package Deal?
Part 2: The Gulf of San Diego
Part 3: Crossing the Chasm
Part 4: Great Companies vs. Good Deals