Jorge Mercado
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Executive editor @Pacbiztimes; proud former nexite @dailynexus; clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose ❤️
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Articles by Jorge Mercado
Latigo reports first earnings since going public, highlights successful IPO
In its first earnings report since going public, Latigo Biotherapeutics highlighted the success of its upsized initial public offering, including full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, raising gross proceeds of $397.4 million. Based in Thousand Oaks, Latigo Biotherapeutics is a pre-revenue, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative non-opioid pain medicines. The company noted that thanks to its Aug.
Carpinteria coalition study finds ICE has hurt business, workforce
By Jorge Mercado Friday, September 11th, 2026 Businesses throughout the Central Coast, especially in Carpinteria, continue to feel the negative economic impacts of the ongoing presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents throughout the region. A recent study from the Carpinteria Immigrant Rights Coalition, a nonprofit bilingual organization founded in the spring of 2025, published the results of a survey of local businesses,…
Connecting people: Latino Business Expo celebrates two decades of bringing industries together
By Jorge Mercado Friday, September 11th, 2026 Vendors at the 2025 Latino Business Expo talk to the guests. The expo has 122 vendors each year. (courtesy photo) Adam Casillas has deep ties as a Ventura County entrepreneur,¬†working across several industries, from real estate to food-and-beverage event production. Around 2006, he and his business partner, Richard Ramos, were looking to attend industry events to…
Street smarts: Ancient Peaks Winery opens satellite tasting room
By Staff Report Thursday, September 10th, 2026 Ancient Peaks Winery announced the opening of “AP by the Sea,” a satellite tasting room in coastal Cambria. Located within the Pelican Inn & Suites on Moonstone Drive in northern San Luis Obispo County, AP by the Sea offers a range of selections from the winery’s estate Margarita Vineyard, including limited-production Pearl Collection wines that…
Calico’s Santa Barbara team excited to grow brand after $15M raise
By Jorge Mercado Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 There is a lot more work that goes into a single piece of clothing than people realize. It is so much work, in fact, that Kathleen Chan decided she was going to make it her mission to make the process much easier. That is why in 2021, she founded Calico AI in Toronto and now,…
The Trade Desk lays off 15% of its workforce
The Trade Desk headquarters in downtown Ventura (file photo) Ventura-based The Trade Desk, an advertising tech firm, announced that it would be laying off 15% of its global workforce in an effort to “align resources” for long-term growth. In a filing with the SEC on Sept. 3, The Trade Desk announced it would be eliminating approximately 15% of its workforce, which is about 585 employees, with the majority of those cuts to be completed by the end of the third quarter, which would be Sept. 30.
Quintessent aims to take advantage of AI, data center market size
By Jorge Mercado Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 Quintessent's Heterogeneous Quantum-Dot on Silicon Wafer. (courtesy photo) When Alan Liu finished his Ph.D program at UC Santa Barbara, he dreamed of starting his own company, but he wasn’t sure what. So while he thought, he moved to Washington, D.C., working as a consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, where he advised on optical interconnect research…
Mercado: Business Times VC list, Latigo IPO highlight Conejo Valley biotech hub
By Jorge Mercado Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 Jorge Mercado A couple of weeks ago, our top story was the initial public offering of Thousand Oaks-based Latigo Biotherapeutics, which smashed even its own highest expectations in its Aug. 6 IPO, raising $345.6 million and debuting at a share price of $18.¬† Shares of Latigo are doing well in their first month as a…
Shorthanded Bishop Diego Football Suffers First Loss of Season to Lancaster, 50-34
It was a rough night for the Bishop Diego football team, as the shorthanded Cardinals were outpaced 50-34 by the Lancaster Eagles on Thursday night at La Playa Stadium. The Cardinals (2-1) were missing several key players in Thursday’s contest, including junior running back/linebacker Sammy Boeddeker, junior running back/linebacker D’Marzy Siaosa, senior tight end/defensive lineman Jeremiah Mercier and senior wide receiver/defensive back Mavaeaga Luvu.
Updated: AeroVironment commits $100M to new Moorpark campus
By Jorge Mercado Monday, August 31st, 2026 A rendering of AeroVironment's planned campus in Moorpark. (courtesy photo) Despite relocating its corporate headquarters five years ago, AeroVironment is committed to growing in California, more specifically the Central Coast. AeroVironment doubled down on its Ventura County presence Aug. 24, announcing a $100 million investment in a unified, company-owned campus across approximately 20 acres in…
Velocity acquires Toorak’s operating platform
Westlake Village-based Velocity Financial announced that it has agreed to acquire the operating platform of Toorak Capital, a business-purpose lending and asset management platform which is majority owned by funds advised by affiliates of KKR, a leading global investment firm.
SBCC Football Shows Youth in 61-7 Season-Opening Loss to El Camino CC
It’s been nearly two years since the Santa Barbara City College football program won a game, and while the team failed to break that streak in its season opener, there were signs of life for the rest of the season. The Vaqueos lost their home opener to visiting El Camino Community College, 61-7, at La Playa Stadium Saturday night. It is SBCC’s 12th straight loss dating back to the 2024-25 regular season.
AeroVironment commits $100M to new Moorpark campus
AeroVironment has doubled down on its Ventura County presence after the drone maker announced that it is investing $100 million into a unified company-owned campus across approximately 20 acres in Moorpark to bring together capabilities from five leased Southern California locations to strengthen collaboration across research, engineering, design, prototyping, and production. Founded in 1971 in Monrovia, AeroVironment has held a Southern California presence throughout its entire existence.
Goleta retail center sells for $11.3M
An aerial view of Kellogg Square in Goleta. (courtesy photo) Kellogg Square, a retail center located at 5555-5585 Hollister Avenue in Goleta, fetched $11.3 million in a sale brokered by Colliers, the national commercial real estate firm announced Aug. 24. The Colliers advisory team, made up of Vice President Miles Waters, Executive Vice President Austin Herlihy, Vice President Chris Parker, and Associate Mike Chung, represented the buyer, AJR Capital Group, LLC, and the undisclosed seller.
Santa Barbara-based Quintessent raises $40M in Series A
Santa Barbara-based Quintessent, a semiconductor company that specializes in resilient and low-cost AI datacenter optical interconnect products, announced it has raised $40 million in an oversubscribed Series A investment round. Announced Aug. 24, Quintessent also announced the start of a customer sampling of its single-chip quantum dot-based DWDM comb laser— a new class of light source designed to simplify optical connectivity for rapidly scaling AI clusters, the company said in a press release.
Unemployment continues rising on the Central Coast
The Central Coast jobless rate is on the rise for the second consecutive month, jumping to 4.56% in July from 4.3% in June, according to the California Employment Development Department’s latest numbers released Aug. 21. All three counties saw their unemployment rate increase in July. Ventura County’s rate was 4.7%, up from 4.5% in June. Santa Barbara County’s rate was 4.5%, up from 4.2% in June. San Luis Obispo County’s rate was 4.5%, up from 4.3% in June.
Diablo Canyon receives $271M from DOE to support extending operations
By Jorge Mercado Tuesday, August 18th, 2026 Diablo Canyon Power Plant. (courtesy photo) The future of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant received a big boost Aug. 17 after the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Pacific Gas and Electric $271 million to help support the power plant’s extended operations. Originally set to be decommissioned by 2025, the power plant had its life extended…
Limoneira’s Windfall Farms nets $15M in all-cash sale
Windfall Farms in Paso Robles. (Courtesy photo: Sotheby’s International Realty) Santa Paula-based Limoneira announced the successful sale of its 724-acre vineyard property in Paso Robles, Windfall Farms, for $15 million in an all-cash deal with a private buyer. Announced Aug. 17, the sale follows a competitive public auction conducted by Concierge Auctions in cooperation with Sotheby’s International Realty, which started on Aug. 15. The transaction is expected to close by Sept.
Our view: Ojai Raptor Center earned its wings with eagle care
By Editorial Board Friday, August 14th, 2026 We’re going to take a few words to recognize the Ojai Raptor Center for its heroic efforts to save Jackie, also known as Bald Eagle Patient 26-519, who passed away after developing an infection. Jackie’s live-streamed exploits in raising a family in a nest near Big Bear drew audiences from around the state, the nation…
Swarm Aero secures $10M contract
Loading... You are here: Home > Latest news > Current Article Swarm Aero secures $10M contract Oxnard-based Swarm Aero, a developer of large uncrewed aerial vehicle swarms, announced over $10 million in contracts with the Air Force Research Laboratory to perform research and development on the company’s novel, high-rate composite manufacturing approach and produce aircraft parts for the U.S. Air Force. Announced Aug.
Semtech sells off cellular module business for $62M
Camarillo-based Semtech, a provider of Internet of Things products, announced that it is selling off its cellular module business to Compal Electronics for $62 million in cash, according to an Aug. 13 press release. Compal Electronics is a major Taiwanese original design manufacturer founded in 1984. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2027.
Updated: Teledyne acquires Varex Imaging for $1.1B
This story was updated on Aug. 12. Thousand Oaks-based Teledyne Technologies made one of the largest acquisitions by a Central Coast-based company this year when it announced it would be purchasing Varex Imaging for $1.1 billion in an effort to increase its exposure in the health care market. Teledyne announced Aug.
Latigo’s successful IPO boosts Conejo Valley
By Jorge Mercado Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 Nima Farzan was appointed to be Latigo's CEO on July 22. (courtesy photo) The success of the Conejo Valley’s burgeoning biotechnology and life sciences scene was boosted after Thousand Oaks-based Latigo Biotherapeutics, in its Aug. 6 initial public offering, raised $345.6 million, exceeding its initial fundraising expectations. Originally, the company expected to offer 16 million shares between $16…
26 companies represent the region on 2026 Inc. 5000 list
By Jorge Mercado Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 Parent Square Founders Anupama Vaid and her husband/CEO Sohit Wadhwa, at their Goleta office. ParentSquare founders Anupama “Anu” Vaid. The company ranked No. 788 on the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies list, generating a three-year revenue growth rate of 440%. (File photo) More than two dozen companies based on the Central Coast received national recognition…
Teledyne acquires Varex Imaging for $1.1B
Thousand Oaks-based Teledyne Technologies made one of the largest acquisitions of any Central Coast-based company this year when it announced it would be purchasing Varex Imaging for $1.1 billion. Announced Aug. 10, Teledyne said it would be acquiring all of the outstanding common shares of Varex for $18.90 per share payable in cash, valuing the deal at about $1.1 billion, taking into account Varex’s equity awards and net debt as of April 3, 2026.
Procore’s AI play highlights deal frenzy
By Jorge Mercado Monday, August 10th, 2026 Procore's Carp building. (File photo) Artificial intelligence-related deals continue to dominate the mergers and acquisitions market as deal values reach record highs — a trend that is expected to continue, according to local experts. Global M&A entered 2026 with high expectations, and it has delivered through the first half of the year, with deal value rising…
Mercado: AI will continue to dominate tech headlines into 2027
By Jorge Mercado Monday, August 10th, 2026 By this point, I am sure you’re tired of hearing about artificial intelligence, but the fact of the matter is it is not going away. Throughout this month’s 805 tech report, the focus is on a slew of stories about how AI is being incorporated into all parts of our world, from health care to construction. According to Pitchbook,…
Cottage taps AI platform for better outcomes
By Jorge Mercado Monday, August 10th, 2026 In an effort to stay ahead of the curve and improve patient outcomes and employee satisfaction, Cottage Health announced a strategic partnership with Thesis Care to use its artificial intelligence-powered care team platform for scalable clinical capacity. Announced Aug. 4, Cottage Health will deploy Thesis's AI care team agents to support high-impact clinical operations and care management workflows. This is the…
Autio embraces embedded app deal with Ford, Lincoln
By Jorge Mercado Monday, August 10th, 2026 Autio announced its latest deal on Aug. 4. (courtesy photo) Autio has been hitting the road with its customers since 2020, but for the first time it will be doing so by being plugged directly into customers’ cars. Autio, a location-based audio storytelling platform based in Santa Barbara, announced Aug. 4 that it is launching its app embedded…
Latigo Bio IPO exceeds expectations
Thousand Oaks-based Latigo Biotherapuetics became the latest Central Coast-based company to hit the stock market and did so in style with a better than expected raise. Latigo, a biotech company developing non-opioid pain medicines, blew away expectations after going public on Aug. 6, raising $345.6 million in its upsized listing. Originally, the company expected to offer 16 million shares between $16 and $18 apiece.
Amgen delivers strong sales, earnings behind product growth
By Jorge Mercado Tuesday, August 4th, 2026 A rendering of Amgen's new science and innovation center in Thousand Oaks. (courtesy photo) Thousand Oaks-based Amgen, one of the largest biotech companies in the world, upped its fiscal guidance for the year after the company reported strong drug sales in the second quarter of 2026. Released after the markets closed Aug. 4, Amgen reported…
IBM purchases HRL Labs for undisclosed amount
In an effort to scale its quantum capabilities, global tech firm IBM has purchased HRL Laboratories, a flagship research and development institution, for an undisclosed amount, the company announced July 23. Based in Malibu but housing major operations in Camarillo, HRL is a private company jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors.
ChipAgents keeps venture capital dollars flowing
Just five months after ChipAgents tacked on $50 million to its Series A round, the AI company is piling on the cash yet again, adding another $60 million in Series A2 financing, bringing the expanded round to $134 million in total. New investors in the round included B Capital, joining Bessemer Venture Partners, Micron, MediaTek, Ericsson, ScOp and other existing investors, according to the July 28 press release.
Procore announces $845M buy
Carpinteria-based Procore Technologies is beefing up its AI capabilities by announcing the acquisition of DroneDeploy for approximately $845 million in cash. Announced July 29, DroneDeploy is a robotics and visual intelligence platform for the built world, used on over 3 million job sites across more than 180 countries.
Kate Farms expands national footprint
Goleta-based Kate Farms, the top doctor-recommended plant-based brand, announced the continued national retail expansion of its High Protein Nutrition Shake, including expanded distribution at Walmart and a new launch into CVS. The foundational nutrition brand also unveiled Vanilla, the newest flavor in its growing HPNS lineup, according to the July 28 press release.
Taking stock: AeroVironment details latest contract as shares see volatility
By Jorge Mercado Monday, July 27th, 2026 It has been an up-and-down month for shareholders of AeroVironment, but after the company's latest contract announcement, things might be on the rise again. AeroVironment, which is based in Virginia but houses major operations in Simi Valley and San Luis Obispo, was awarded a $117.3 million contract by the U.S. Army for its P550 unmanned…
MannKind wins FDA approval for Furoscix ReadyFlow
By Jorge Mercado Monday, July 27th, 2026 Westlake Village-based MannKind received some good news from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after the agency approved Furoscix ReadyFlow, an auto-injector designed to deliver an 80-milligram dose of subcutaneous furosemide in five to 10 seconds for the management of fluid overload. Announced July 24, MannKind CEO Michael Castagna said that this was the company’s…
Executive coach brings psychology to founders meeting
By Jorge Mercado Sunday, July 26th, 2026 Khewna Dawar. (courtesy photo) As the corporate world begins to fully incorporate artificial intelligence into multiple facets of its business model, Khewna Dawar is trying to show the importance of the human touch to early-stage founders and entrepreneurs. Dawar has served as an executive coach to many different corporations all across the world over the…
Business Times wins 5 awards at annual California Journalism Awards
The Pacific Coast Business Times took home a bit of hardware at the annual California Journalism Awards. Hosted by the California News Publishers Association, the Business Times won five awards across five different editorial categories for reporting done in 2025. The Business Times competes statewide against other weekly newspapers with a circulation of under 4,300.
Unemployment rate back on the rise on the Central Coast
After months of a descending tri-county unemployment rate, the Central Coast’s jobless rate was back on the rise in the latest report, rising to 4.3%, according to the California Employment Development Department’s latest numbers released July 17. All three counties saw their unemployment rate increase in June. Ventura County’s rate was 4.4%, up from 3.9% in May. Santa Barbara County’s rate was 4.2%, up from 3.7% in May. San Luis Obispo County’s rate was 4.3%, up from 3.6% in May.
Energy Vault names new CFO
Loading... You are here: Home > Energy > Current Article Energy Vault names new CFO Westlake Village-based Energy Vault Holdings announced the appointment of Nitin Dahiya as its next CFO. Dahiya, who begins in his new role on July 27, succeeds Michael Beer, who will be transitioning from his role to pursue other opportunities. Dahiya joins Energy Vault from BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager with over $15 trillion in assets under management.
Banking roundup | Pacific Coast Business Times
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The next generation: Christina Zins takes the helm at Summit Wealth
By Jorge Mercado Friday, July 17th, 2026 Christina Zins with her father, Jerry Zins. Christina has been promoted to CEO of Summit Wealth Management Group. (courtesy photo) While attending classes at the University of San Diego, Christina Zins imagined a career in psychology. But around halfway through her collegiate career, her father, Jerry Zins, asked her if she had put any thought…
CRE: Sotheby’s Montecito office gains Kogevinas Group expertise
By Staff Report Friday, July 17th, 2026 Sotheby's International Realty, a global real estate brokerage network, announced that the Kogevinas Group has joined its Montecito brokerage team. The move was announced July 13. The Kogevinas Group, which is led by Nancy Kogevinas, was recognized as the top small team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices nationally in the 2026 RealTrends rankings. The team closed $265.5 million in…
Habitat for Humanity San Luis Obispo County announces new CEO
By Jorge Mercado Thursday, July 16th, 2026 Habitat for Humanity SLO County CEO Dawn Smith. (courtesy photo) Habitat for Humanity San Luis Obispo County has announced longtime nonprofit executive Dawn Smith as the nonprofit's next CEO. The appointment was announced July 13. Smith succeeds Anthony Overton, who has transitioned to a new leadership role overseeing dual-enrollment initiatives at Cuesta College. Overton had been…
The Trade Desk keeps C-suite hires coming
After months of stock selloffs and C-suite changes, The Trade Desk is looking for more stability and has initiated another executive hire in hopes of getting there. The Trade Desk, an advertising tech firm based in Ventura, announced the appointment of Kristi Argyilan as chief commercial officer and executive vice president. Argyilan is the third new C-level hire in the past two months.
Big Brand Tire & Services acquires Midwest tire service provider
Moorpark-based Big Brand Tire & Service, a full-service auto repair facility, announced that it will be acquiring Belle Tire, the Midwest’s premier tire and automotive service provider, for an undisclosed amount. Announced July 16, the acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation taps Ouellette as CEO
By Jorge Mercado Thursday, July 16th, 2026 Calen Ouellette will be the next CEO of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara. The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara is embracing a new era after the nonprofit announced it ended its search for a new CEO. Announced July 14, the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara appointed Calen Ouellette, an award-winning nonprofit executive with more…
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria worker wages beat national average
By Jorge Mercado Sunday, July 12th, 2026 Workers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara region had a higher average hourly wage in May 2025 compared to the nationwide average, according to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Announced July 9, the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara region had an average hourly wage of $34.45 in May 2025, compared to the nationwide…
State allocates $5M for CenCal Health to pilot program
By Jorge Mercado Sunday, July 12th, 2026 The Central Coast is at the forefront of a lot of technological advancements, but now the region will also be poised to be an innovator in behavioral health. Following the approval of California’s 2026-27 state budget, $5 million has been earmarked for investment in CenCal Health and the behavioral health departments of both Santa Barbara…
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