The Conductor’s Call: Transition from Scientist to CEO
Join us every fourth Friday (11:00 AM – 12:30 PM) at the Aquillius Institute.
Most accelerators promise speed. Bright Business Accelerator promises control.
In the heart of San Diego, a new kind of community is forming. We aren’t here to teach you how to “pitch for pennies” or follow the high-pressure, equity-stripping models of traditional accelerators. We are here to help you build a scalable Business Operating System (BOS) that functions whether you are in the room or not.
The Vision: From Technical Expert to Business Orchestrator
If you are a scientist, an IT specialist, or a traditional business owner, you possess deep technical excellence. However, being the “smartest person in the lab” often leads to the Technician’s Trap—where you are the most exhausted person in your own company.
The Bright Business Accelerator, powered by Aquillius, is designed to move you from the orchestra pit to the conductor’s podium. You don’t need to be a professional accountant or a veteran attorney; you need to know how to orchestrate them to build a business that is documented, designable, and delegable.
Why We Are Different
While other programs focus on “the hustle,” we focus on Engine Engineering.
• No “Pitching for Investors” Focus: We don’t just prepare you to ask for money. We prepare you to control the growth process and the negotiation, so when you do meet investors, you speak from a position of systemic strength, not desperation.
• Hands-On Evaluation: We skip the “high-level” fluff. We go deep into the critical aspects that increase your Business Valuation and founder confidence.
• The BBOS™ Curriculum: Over 10 weeks starting this September, we install a cohesive operating system covering:
1. Inner Leadership: Upgrading the “Driver” (you) to handle the “Vehicle” (the business).
2. Expert Integration: Each session features a “Crew” of vetted professionals—from Business Attorneys and CPAs to Marketing Strategists—who teach you the hard skills needed to delegate with precision.
3. The 55 Pitch: Mastering the 5-slide, 5-minute clarity that opens doors with partners and customers alike.
4. Bright Accountability System™
Join the Pre-Launch Community (April – August)
Before our formal 10-week cohort rolls out in September, we are opening our doors for in-person discovery meetings. These 90-minute sessions are designed to build a pragmatic ecosystem of technology experts, scientists, fractional executives, and sponsors.
Are you ready to stop “grinding” and start building?
Whether you have a groundbreaking lab discovery or a traditional business looking for a modern edge, come share your feedback and join a community that values pragmatism over hype.
Next Meeting: Fourth Friday of the Month
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: Aquillius Institute
Build the system. Own the growth. Join the Crew.
Open House + Bionic Baseball Film Screening
Events & ConferencesJoin us at this special screening to celebrate the share mission of PSYONIC and the Ability Fund: ensuring limb loss never limits human potential.
We’ll have a talk and Q&A with CEO of PSYONIC, Dr. Aadeel Akhtar, our celebrated athlete, Jamie Groshong, and more!
Optional $20 donations to support the mission will be taken at the door. Hope to see you there!
Marine Science Day
Biotech & Life SciencesFree annual Marine Ecology and Biology Student Association (MEBSA) at the SDSU Coastal and Marine Institute Laboratory (CMIL).
12th Annual Sports Business Summit
Business & Professionals, SummitJoin us in person at the 12th Annual Sports Business Summit for best insights and networking in the game!
Get ready for the 12th Annual Sports Business Summit, the premier gathering for the next generation of sports industry leaders. Hosted at the University Club atop Symphony Towers, this year’s summit brings you inside one of San Diego’s most iconic venues for an elevated evening of insight, ambition, and opportunity.
Join fellow students, alumni, and professionals for an exclusive chance to hear directly from top executives and decision-makers across the sports industry. Our speakers will share real-world experience, career advice, and behind-the-scenes perspectives on what it takes to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving sports business landscape.
Beyond the panels, the Summit is built for connection. Attendees will have dedicated time to network with industry professionals, expand their personal brand, and build relationships that last well beyond the event—all while enjoying sweeping skyline views from the University Club. Whether you’re exploring career paths or ready to break into the industry, this is an event you don’t want to miss.
Seats are limited. Elevate your network. Elevate your career.
Leadership Planning Coffee Hour
Leaders, NetworkingCleanup @ Seaport Village – Surfrider Foundation San Diego
Community Building, NetworkingCleanups are a fun and rewarding way to volunteer and engage with our mission to protect our ocean, waves and beaches, for all people.
Join Surfrider San Diego and our Ocean Friendly Hosts, Sally’s Waterfront Dining, for a cleanup at Seaport Village. For faster check-in, register through the offical Surfrider sign-up link: Seaport Village Cleanup
PURPOSE
Bring your family, friends and make new acquaintances to raise awareness about litter and plastic pollution. Earn service hours too! Getting involved with the Surfrider Foundation shows that you care about the community and its environment.
ROLE
Learn a bit more about our beach cleanup program by removing trash and collecting data to support a healthier ocean, parks, waterways, and beaches.
VIBE
Active teamwork, outdoors, and fun! We provide cleanup supplies until we run out.
Tectonic Shifts 2026
Events & ConferencesTectonic Shifts 2026 is more than a technology conference—it’s a high-energy crossroads where breakthrough ideas, real-world applications, and investment momentum come together. Hosted in the heart of San Diego, this premier event is designed to connect the people building what’s next with the people backing what’s next.
Over the course of the conference, industry leaders, visionary founders, and strategic investors gather to spotlight the technologies reshaping business and society—from cutting-edge artificial intelligence and next-generation robotics to enterprise-ready digital transformation. Expect forward-looking keynotes, practical insights from the front lines of innovation, and conversations that move beyond theory into implementation, scale, and market impact.
Whether you’re launching a company, scouting emerging trends, or looking for the next high-growth opportunity, Tectonic Shifts 2026 offers a rare environment to learn, collaborate, and form partnerships that can shape the year ahead—and the decade after.
For more information on the conference agenda, sponsors, and speakers, please visit our landing page at https://tiesandiego.com/tectonic-shifts-2026.
Creative Mornings: Aladrian Goods on Ember
LectureBreaking into Design Student Panel
AI, DiscussionsAre you feeling anxious about the future of design in an AI-driven tech industry? Not sure whether grad school is the move or how to land a job in today’s market? 🤔🤔
Come get your questions answered directly by UCSD students who’ve secured 2026 design internships, worked at startups, and gotten into grad school using the same resources available to you at school.
Join us Friday, April 24th to ask your questions, get real advice, and see what’s possible for your own path. 🥰🥰🥳
Dinner and snacks will be provided 🥪🧃
Speakers coming soon and timeline will be posted in the next few days!!
Inside Dual-Use Technology Lunch & Learn
Research, Startups & FoundersJoin The FORGE for a high-impact lunch and learn as we deconstruct the future of dual technology. Are you ready?
Dual-Use Tech: The New Era of Defense Innovation
The “traditional” way of doing business with the government has just changed. With the Department of War’s recent acquisition reforms, the barrier between commercial brilliance and national security has never been thinner. We’re bringing together the founders building the tech, the VCs funding the mission, and the government leaders rewriting the rulebook.
The Panel
Why Attend?
Who Should Join?
Whether you’re a researcher with a patentable breakthrough, a student looking to enter the defense-tech space, or an industry veteran pivoting to the new acquisition model, this conversation is for you.
The Details
Date: April 24, 2026
Time: 11:15 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Panel 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
Location: UC San Diego Design & Innovation Building, Room 208
Lunch: Provided for all registered attendees.
Space is limited. Secure your seat at the front line of innovation.
Directions to the Design & Innovation Building
The event is located on the second floor (room 208) of the Design and Innovation Building (DIB). The entrances are located across from the Structural Materials and Engineering building or next to the UC San Diego Central Campus Station bus and trolley stop.
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MTS Trolley
The easiest way to get to the DIB is by taking the MTS trolley UC San Diego Blue Line and getting off at the UC San Diego Central Campus stop. The trolley stop is a short 1 minute walk to the DIB.
Parking
Public transportation is highly recommended as parking is limited on campus. If you plan to drive to campus, please give yourself plenty of time. You can download the ParkMobile app to pay for your space digitally once you find a spot.
Bright Business Accelerator powered by Aquillius Institute – Discovery Meeting
Accelerator, Business & ProfessionalsThe Conductor’s Call: Transition from Scientist to CEO
Join us every fourth Friday (11:00 AM – 12:30 PM) at the Aquillius Institute.
Most accelerators promise speed. Bright Business Accelerator promises control.
In the heart of San Diego, a new kind of community is forming. We aren’t here to teach you how to “pitch for pennies” or follow the high-pressure, equity-stripping models of traditional accelerators. We are here to help you build a scalable Business Operating System (BOS) that functions whether you are in the room or not.
The Vision: From Technical Expert to Business Orchestrator
If you are a scientist, an IT specialist, or a traditional business owner, you possess deep technical excellence. However, being the “smartest person in the lab” often leads to the Technician’s Trap—where you are the most exhausted person in your own company.
The Bright Business Accelerator, powered by Aquillius, is designed to move you from the orchestra pit to the conductor’s podium. You don’t need to be a professional accountant or a veteran attorney; you need to know how to orchestrate them to build a business that is documented, designable, and delegable.
Why We Are Different
While other programs focus on “the hustle,” we focus on Engine Engineering.
• No “Pitching for Investors” Focus: We don’t just prepare you to ask for money. We prepare you to control the growth process and the negotiation, so when you do meet investors, you speak from a position of systemic strength, not desperation.
• Hands-On Evaluation: We skip the “high-level” fluff. We go deep into the critical aspects that increase your Business Valuation and founder confidence.
• The BBOS™ Curriculum: Over 10 weeks starting this September, we install a cohesive operating system covering:
1. Inner Leadership: Upgrading the “Driver” (you) to handle the “Vehicle” (the business).
2. Expert Integration: Each session features a “Crew” of vetted professionals—from Business Attorneys and CPAs to Marketing Strategists—who teach you the hard skills needed to delegate with precision.
3. The 55 Pitch: Mastering the 5-slide, 5-minute clarity that opens doors with partners and customers alike.
4. Bright Accountability System™
Join the Pre-Launch Community (April – August)
Before our formal 10-week cohort rolls out in September, we are opening our doors for in-person discovery meetings. These 90-minute sessions are designed to build a pragmatic ecosystem of technology experts, scientists, fractional executives, and sponsors.
Are you ready to stop “grinding” and start building?
Whether you have a groundbreaking lab discovery or a traditional business looking for a modern edge, come share your feedback and join a community that values pragmatism over hype.
Next Meeting: Fourth Friday of the Month
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: Aquillius Institute
Build the system. Own the growth. Join the Crew.