Most banks have boardrooms. We have launch pads.
The energy in our Encinitas branch shifted dramatically earlier last month as C3bank traded deposit slips for pitch decks and transformed our space into North County’s newest startup hub.
In partnership with The Group SD, we hosted the inaugural PitchFest–an evening where entrepreneurial momentum met financial expertise in a setting designed for meaningful connection.
A Branch Built for Breakthroughs
When C3bank designed our Encinitas location, we knew we were setting out to create more than another branch; instead, we set our sights on building a community center for local business. As our Chief Banking Officer Tommy Wornham put it, “The intention for our Encinitas location has always been to be a local business hub, where our customers and our community can connect.”
That vision took physical form as six early-stage companies stood before a packed room of investors, mentors, and community leaders. Each founder had five minutes to articulate their mission, customer base, financial model, and funding needs. But the real value started weeks before anyone took the stage.
Expert Partners, Not Just Advisors
Unlike traditional pitch competitions that throw founders into the deep end, PitchFest paired each participating company with an experienced mentor weeks in advance. These partnerships helped founders sharpen their messages and craft narratives that resonated beyond spreadsheets and projections.
The lineup reflected North County’s diverse innovation landscape:
- Flag50: A mobile-first platform revolutionizing flag football with integrated scoring, streaming, and athlete profiles
- SpinCircle: A marketplace connecting DJs directly with event promoters without the typical intermediaries
- DCarbon Solutions: Software enabling solar owners to capture and trade renewable energy credits
- EDERRA: A luxury wellness brand sourcing superfoods from trusted local farms
- FasterForests: A biotech startup focused on sustainability solutions
- Reacher Technologies: A medtech innovator developing performance and health-monitoring applications
Funding North County’s Future
“Out of the inspiring presentations, six companies were chosen for mentorship and support, with funding awarded to the most promising ventures,” shared June An, who spearheaded the program with The Group SD. “But more than funding, what everyone walked away with was belief–belief in themselves and belief in what this community can do when it rallies around its people.”
That sentiment captures precisely why we view these initiatives as essential to our mission. Traditional banking looks at spreadsheets; we look at the entrepreneurs behind them. While national institutions might see risk factors, we see regional potential. And where others might measure only current capital, we factor in the community that surrounds and supports each founder.
By the evening’s end, all six companies had secured ongoing mentorship relationships, and several had sparked investor interest–connections which we are optimistic will strengthen our entire regional ecosystem.
Creating Currents of Change
For C3bank, PitchFest embodies our belief that financial institutions should be active architects of local economic growth rather than mere observers. As The Group SD and their partners look toward a second PitchFest, we’re focused on nurturing the relationships sparked at this first gathering. We hope to support all involved as the momentum around these incredible founders, their ideas, and North County’s innovation ecosystem keeps growing.
To us, this is banking that makes a great difference–not just in statements and balances, but in the businesses and communities we call home.
