Anyone who has ever launched a company knows the truth behind the statistics: the odds of success are brutal. Roughly only 1 in 10 new businesses survive long‑term (more than 10 years).
It’s not because leaders lack drive or imagination, but because building a company is a high‑stakes, high‑pressure journey with very little margin for error. Markets shift. Capital tightens. Teams stretch thin. Trends come and go. Even the best ideas can stall without the right support system—not for lack of talent, but for lack of guidance, resources, and a collaborative community.
Paul June and the Barrel O’Monkeyz team have spent years working alongside startups and growth‑stage business leaders. We’ve seen how tough the climb can be, especially for companies trying to scale. That’s one of the reasons Barrel O’Monkeyz champions organizations like San Diego Sport Innovators (SDSI), which give businesses the structure and support they need to grow with confidence.
Where SDSI Began
SDSI began within the CONNECT organization as CONNECT SI, created to support San Diego’s growing sports and active‑lifestyle industry. The region was already home to a strong base of entrepreneurs, researchers, product designers, and visionaries building the next generation of sports, fitness, and wellness companies—but lacked a central platform to bring ideas, resources, and people together.
CONNECT SI filled that gap, and in 2010 it became SDSI, led by NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton as Executive Chairman. Under Walton’s leadership, SDSI became a force multiplier—uniting founders, mentors, investors, and industry innovators to strengthen the region’s economy.
Today, SDSI is working to establish San Diego and Southern California as the heart of the healthy‑living, sports, and active‑lifestyle community. By supporting companies at every stage, SDSI helps create jobs that benefit the region and the nation.
A Proven Path to Success
SDSI is home to one of the region’s most effective engines for startup and growth‑stage success: the Walton Innovation Lab. Conducted digitally via Zoom and open to sports, San Diego lifestyle, and healthy‑living companies, this 20‑week program is built for existing businesses ready to scale. Whether you’re preparing to raise funding, attract strategic partners, or sharpen your business plan, the curriculum provides the tools you need to grow.
Applicants move through a structured process that includes an initial qualification review, full application, and a live presentation. Final selections are made by the SDSI mentor group.
Each participating company is paired with a tailored team of mentors and receives nearly 100 hours of direct, hands‑on guidance from experienced professionals with real‑world expertise.
Why This Matters
Formerly known as the SDSI Accelerator, the Walton Innovation Lab continues its mission of guiding growing companies toward their goals. The results speak for themselves: 8 out of 10 graduates go on to launch, scale, and sustain successful companies.
When businesses thrive, communities thrive. Jobs get created. Innovation accelerates. Industries strengthen. SDSI and the Walton Innovation Lab play a critical role in that cycle—helping founders build companies that last and reinforcing Southern California’s position as a hub for sports and active‑lifestyle innovation.
Let’s Get Started: The Next Cohort Is Forming Now
The Walton Innovation Lab is now accepting applications for its Fall 2026 cohort, which runs from August (application window) through mid-January 2027. If you are—or know of—a company with real potential, one that’s hungry, coachable, and ready to grow, now is the time to apply. This is an opportunity to change the trajectory of your business or the business of someone you know and champion.
FREE CONSULT—Contact Barrel O’Monkeyz to schedule a free, no strings attached consultation. Together, we’ll explore your goals, develop a plan, finalize the details, and hit the ground running to turn ideas into action.
