Federation Embraces Jewish Innovation at FEDTalks

 

 

On Thursday, October 30, the Jewish Federation of San Diego County hosted its second speaker series, FEDTalks. The event—held at the newly remodeled Scripps Research Institute—featured seven extraordinary speakers and highlighted innovation in San Diego’s hi-tech and science sectors.

More than 150 guests mingled, schmoozed, and noshed on delicious hor’ devours. The evening kicked off with a welcome from Mandy Danzan, Federation’s Director of Development. She was followed by Joseph Berman, Senior Development Manager, and full-time mensch who moderated the evening. He introduced the first speaker of FEDTalks, Ethan Senturia, Founder of Dealstruck.com, who spoke of how his Jewish identity guided him to start a company that makes a positive contribution to society. To date, Senturia’s company has helped more than 100 small businesses procure fair business loans.

A highlight of evening, were two master’s students from UCSD Rady School of Business U.S.-Israel Center for Innovation and Economic Sustainability, Lance Lopez and Jamie Wiesman, who discussed their summer internships in Israel during Operation Protective Edge. The students were asked a series of questions about their internships, what they learned from working in start-ups, and how their experiences working in Israel has affected them as emerging business leaders. The students shared eye-opening and heartfelt accounts of their summer spent in and out of bomb shelters, the resiliency of the Israeli people and the lessons they learned from a summer in the Start Up Nation.

The remainder of evening’s speakers shared brilliant smartphone apps, online start –ups, and innovate software developments (to view the full list of speakers and businesses visit jewishinsandiego.org/fedtalks).

Federation will host its third FEDTalks event in Spring 2015. Stay tuned to for more information!

About FEDTalks

FEDTalks, based off of the wildly successful TEDTalks, showcases the best and brightest Jewish minds our fine city has to offer. Each series highlights a central theme of our community’s innovators including health breakthroughs, hi-tech innovations, creative arts and life changing sciences.

 

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