Education Contributors | C3 Members

General Membership Structure
CONNECT is a non-profit association supported through annual memberships, program sponsorships and event attendance fees. Contributions to CONNECT from a corporate or private foundation may be tax deductible; please discuss with your accountant.

CONNECT Association Membership
The CONNECT Association is a 501-C6 non-profit organization established to provide educational, networking and public policy advocacy to contributing members.

CONNECT Foundation Membership
The CONNECT Foundation is a 501-C3 organization established to provide educational and networking programs to contributing members.


Membership enables CONNECT to provide high-quality programs to entrepreneurs and early stage companies, while simultaneously providing opportunities for early stage access to capital providers and the service industry.  The resulting membership community has accelerated company formation while strengthening San Diego’s local economy.

CONNECT carries out its mission through the generous support of our over 220 members and almost 2,000 volunteers who mentor companies and serve on our boards and planning committees. The financial support and active, hands-on participation by CONNECT's members from all areas of high technology, life sciences, law, accounting, angel and venture investment, investment banking, marketing, and communications brings invaluable expertise to start-up companies.

Who can become a CONNECT Member?

  • Life science, telecommunication, software and other high-technology companies
  • Business service (legal, accounting, banking, real estate, etc.) providers to the life science and technology industries
  • Capital providers such as VCs, angel investors, and banks

Join CONNECT and become part of this unique and vibrant collaborative community. Put your talents to work to help us continue to grow San Diego's innovation economy.

For more information, contact Lauren Kunin at lkunin@connect.org.


Membership Levels

Platinum

  • Priority for participation on CONNECT Board of Directors, host committees, panels, seminars, etc. for CONNECT’s 25 programs and 350 events held annually
  • Member discount for all employees for all CONNECT events and programs
  • One sponsorship of a Frameworks Workshop or Public Policy Forum
  • One featured article or interview in CONNECT newsletter annually; the newsletter goes out to 18,000+ opted in subscribers
  • Table discounts for CONNECT’s annual premiere events: Most Innovative New Product Awards ceremony (December 9, 2011) and the Hall of Fame luncheon (March 1, 2012)
  • MIT Enterprise Forum member discount
  • Ten complimentary tickets to Connect with CONNECT
  • Platinum level recognition in CONNECT Resource Guide
  • Company logo and/or acknowledgement on CONNECT’s website, annual report, and all other marketing materials
  • Access to CONNECT’s Washington, DC policy office


Gold

  • Consideration for participation on host committees, panels, seminars, etc. for CONNECT’s 25 programs and 350 events held annually
  • Member discount for all employees for all CONNECT events and programs
  • Five complimentary tickets to Connect with CONNECT
  • MIT Enterprise Forum member discounts
  • $10,000 level recognition in CONNECT Resource Guide
  • Company logo and/or acknowledgement on CONNECT’s website, annual report, and all other marketing materials

Silver

  • Consideration for participation on host committees, panels, seminars, etc. for CONNECT’s 25 programs and 350 events held annually, pending availability
  • Member discount for employees for all CONNECT events and programs
  • Three complimentary tickets to Connect with CONNECT
  • MIT Enterprise Forum member discount
  • $5,000 level recognition in CONNECT Resource Guide
  • Company logo and/or acknowledgement on CONNECT’s website, annual report, and all other marketing materials

Resource Guide

The CONNECT Resource Guide is a comprehensive report of our member’s services. It serves to generate informal, professional connections between our members and the greater San Diego business community. The guide connects outside prospects with the services and expertise of our membership.

As a CONNECT member, your profile would showcase the following items:

  • Logo
  • Website
  • Contact Info – main office line, address, unlimited contact information
  • Company Bio (unlimited biography space) history, mission statement