A recent dinner hosted by Innovate 78 brought together business leaders from the five cities along the 78 Highway, which includes Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Carlsbad, and Oceanside.

Organized by the San Diego North County Economic Development Council (SDNEDC), the event aimed to connect leaders from diverse businesses, from large to small, nonprofits to for-profits, to share resources and foster a thriving regional business environment.

With a focus on the food, beverage, and agriculture industries – dense hubs in North County – the dinner sparked conversations around these rapidly growing sectors. The success of local companies like Stone Brewing, which started in the mid-90s and grew into a world-leading private brewery, highlights the industry's potential. Stone's story, from inspiring a craft brewing revolution to training countless professionals and ultimately merging with Sapporo, offers valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Director of Communications and Public Relations, Lizzie Younkin, shared her eight-year journey with Stone and its future aspirations, providing firsthand insights gleaned from building and growing a successful company.

The dinner also featured representatives from the agriculture/grower community, including GroGreen, a rapidly innovating lettuce producer. The camaraderie fostered by the Escondido AgX quarterly gatherings was evident at the dinner, demonstrating the positive impact of these events within the Escondido agricultural community.

Kudos to the SDNEDC team for organizing this valuable experience by bringing together the right people and facilitating meaningful conversations.

To join this vibrant community, consider attending the next Escondido AgX Gathering on January 30, 2024. This event will also serve as an information session for the 2nd Annual Escondido AgX Startup Hackathon, taking place March 7-9, 2024.