SD Climate Tech Cities: April 21 - April 28
Startup Essentials, Triton Sustainability Challenge, Composting, Sunset Hike, Birding, Goodwill Sustainability Event, SD Fixit Clinic and more!
Happy Monday San Diego,
We hope you're starting the week with enthusiasm and are ready to seize the opportunities that the coming days have to offer.
Our top picks for the week:
Kick off your week with an informative session on Monday, April 21st, where you can learn about the ⚖ Essentials for BlueTech Startups.
Celebrate Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22nd, with a series of events including the 🧜♂️ Triton Sustainability Challenge, and 🦢 Conservation in Action at UC San Diego Natural Reserves.
On Wednesday, April 23rd, learn 🌱 All About Composting with Worms Workshop in Encinitas.
Thursday, April 24th, is packed with activities from 🐣 Become a Trencwatcher, to a 🌄 CCSD Sunset Hike.
The weekend is filled with exciting events. On Saturday, April 26th, choose from the 🌍 Ramona Earth Day Festival, or 🦉 Birding Outing: Marian Bear Open Space with Anitra Kaye.
Wrap up the week on Sunday, April 27th, with a variety of events including the 🛠 SD Fixit Clinic at Goodwill: Mini Event, 🥾 Nature Walk & BioBlitz, 👚 Goodwill San Diego Sustainability Fair.
Dive into the details below and mark your calendars for these not-to-be-missed events! Remember, some email platforms may truncate this message, so be sure to scroll down for the full list of upcoming activities.
Best
Ehsan & The Climate Tech Cities Team
⚖ Essentials for BlueTech Startups, Mon, Apr 21
🌿 Earth Day Planting Party at Sweetwater Park, Tue, Apr 22
🧜♂️ Triton Sustainability Challenge, Tue, April 22
🦢 Conservation in Action at UC San Diego Natural Reserves, Tue, Apr 22
🌱 All About Composting with Worms Workshop – Encinitas, Wed, Apr 23
🐣 Become a Trencwatcher, Thu, Apr 24
🏢 Net Zero Office Tour at DPR Construction, Thu, Apr 24
🌄 CCSD Sunset Hike, Thu, Apr 24
🌍 Ramona Earth Day Festival, Sat, Apr 26
🏞 Stay Classy O'Side Community Event, Sat, Apr 26
🦉 Birding Outing: Marian Bear Open Space with Anitra Kaye, Sat, Apr 26
🛠 SD Fixit Clinic at Goodwill: Mini Event (Lamps & Bikes), Sun, Apr 27
🥾 Nature Walk & BioBlitz - Descanso Pond Preserve, Sun, Apr 27
👚 Goodwill San Diego Sustainability Fair, Sun, Apr 27
🦆 Birding Outings: Birding at Lindo Lake - East side, Sun, Apr 27
Read on for more details about this week’s happenings.
Community Shoutouts!
Claim $25 to back solar projects on Renewables.org
Renewables.org is offering Climate Tech Cities subscribers $25 free to get started with their Global South solar investing nonprofit. When you back solar projects on Renewables.org, your funds help build the world’s highest carbon impact renewables across India and Africa. The best part is you get repaid to your Renewables.org account where you can choose to withdraw funds or redeploy them for even more impact.
Opportunities
Upcoming and Rolling Deadlines
🎓 University of San Diego Regional Energy Academy Interest Form
🌱 2025 Ray of Hope Accelerator | The Biomimicry Institute (Due April 25)
✨ Urban Future Prize Competition (Due April 28)
👩💼 Women Entrepreneurs Boot Camp | Climate Tech (Due May 12)
🚒 Verizon Disaster Resilience Prize, June 13
🔌 Google AI For Energy Startup Accelerator (Due June 30)
👉 Would you like to feature a grant opportunity, fellowship application, or incubation program in the SD Climate Tech Cities newsletter? Reach out to us with the info.
Upcoming Events
👗SoCal Circular Textiles Summit 2025, May 9-10
⚖ Essentials for BlueTech Startups, May 21
🍻 CCSD May Happy Hour, Wed, May 22
💙 BlueTech Week 2025, Mon, Nov 17
This Week in Depth
⚖ Essentials for BlueTech Startups
When: Monday, April 21, 9:30 AM 10:30 AM
Where: Online
This session will cover the different types of IP protection—including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets—and how they apply to ocean-related innovations.
🌿 Earth Day Planting Party at Sweetwater Park
When: Tuesday, April 22, 09:30 AM - 01:00 PM PT
Where: 845 E Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Help restore habitat for birds and other wildlife!
🧜♂️ Triton Sustainability Challenge
When: Tuesday, April 22, 05:30 AM - 07:30 PM PT
Where: RSVP for location
Cheer on our finalists as they compete for cash prizes totaling $30,000 to support new and innovative ideas that relate to the environment (comes from, inspired by, or directly impacts nature.)
🦢 Conservation in Action at UC San Diego Natural Reserves
When: Tuesday, April 22, 12:00 PM 1:00 PM
Where: UC San Diego Campus 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, CA 92093
Join us as we dive into the mission of the UC San Diego Natural Reserve System, a network of diverse ecosystems that serves as a living laboratory for conservation and research. Kellie Uyeda, the System's executive director, will discuss how the reserves aim to protect and preserve San Diego's unique biodiversity while providing opportunities for scientific discovery and community engagement.
🌱 All About Composting with Worms Workshop – Encinitas
When: Wednesday, April 23, 6:30PM—8:30PM
Where: Ecke Ranch Rd Encinitas, CA 92024
Vermicomposting (worm composting) has a benefit for everyone, whether you want to divert kitchen scraps from the landfill, compost in small spaces, or create a natural fertilizer for your plants. Join us at the San Diego Botanic Garden to learn how to start and maintain a happy home for red wiggler worms.
🐣 Become a Trencwatcher
When: Thursday, April 24, 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM PT
Where: Online
Become a part of TERNWATCHERS, a volunteer program dedicated to monitoring predators and safeguarding the nesting areas of the endangered California Least Tern. Your contribution will support the nesting success by vigilantly watching over nests and recording disturbances observed in Mission Bay.
🏢 Net Zero Office Tour at DPR Construction
When: Thursday, April 24, 5:30 - 7:30pm PDT
Where: 5010 Shoreham Place #STE 100 San Diego, CA 92122
Please join Women+ In Green San Diego for a tour of one such building, DPR Construction's net zero office: the first commercial building to achieve LEED new-construction Platinum in San Diego!
🌄 CCSD Sunset Hike
When: Thursday, April 24, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Where: RSVP for location
Join us to talk climate solutions and climate tech, learn about new climate policies, and decompress.
🌍 Ramona Earth Day Festival
When: Saturday, April 26, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm PDT
Where: 18528 Highland Valley Road, Ramona, CA
Learn How to Sustain Our Community and Make Connections.
🏞 Stay Classy O'Side Community Event
When: Saturday, April 26, 09:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT
Where: RSVP for location
The Green Oceanside team is hosting a fun, family-friendly Earth Day celebration and we need your help to make this the most sustainable yet!
🦉 Birding Outing: Marian Bear Open Space with Anitra Kaye
When: Saturday, April 26, 08:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Where: 5544 Regents Rd San Diego
Marian Bear Open Space is part of Tecolote Canyon system and one of several protected urban canyons in the San Diego area that support native plant communities and associated bird life. Birds that are here for the entire year include hawks, Anna’s Hummingbird, California Thrasher, House Wren, Wrentit, and both California and Spotted Towhees.
🛠 SD Fixit Clinic at Goodwill: Mini Event (Lamps & Bikes)
When: Sunday, April 27, 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Where: Goodwill Training Center
Bring your broken, non-working items—electronics, appliances, computers, toys, bicycles, clothes, and more—for assessment, disassembly, and possible repair.
🥾 Nature Walk & BioBlitz - Descanso Pond Preserve
When: Sunday, April 27, 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Where: 7920 Japatul Valley Rd, Descanso, CA 91916
Join us for a hands-on community science experience, where you'll use the iNaturalist app to identify and record local plants and wildlife. Your observations will play a vital role in supporting conservation efforts at both the local and state levels.
👚 Goodwill San Diego Sustainability Fair
When: Sunday, April 27th, 11:00 AM - 02:00 AM PT
Where: 3663 Rosecrans Street San Diego, CA 92110
This event is all about promoting sustainable practices and eco-friendly living. From upcycled fashion to DIY workshops, there's something for everyone interested in living a more sustainable life. Join us for an afternoon filled with fun activities and learn from local non-profits about the amazing things they're doing in our community to make San Diego a little greener.
🦆 Birding Outings: Birding at Lindo Lake - East side
When: Sunday, April 27th, 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM PT
Where: RSVP for location
The easy-to-navigate trails around the two lakes provide great views for birdwatchers of all levels, making it a peaceful and rewarding location for nature lovers