Press Releases & Media Archives

May 2009 (Entrepreneur Magazine)
A New Take on Incubators: Today's incubators provide cutting-edge support for your startup

Business incubators--organizations that help entrepreneurs get off the ground through mentoring, funding and facilities--have been around since the 1950s. At the turn of the millennium, for-profit incubators were a hot commodity until they deflated with the dotcom bubble. But this year, despite a down economy, the luster is returning to incubation. President Obama has pledged $250 million a year in federal funds to seed a regional network of such organizations--an effort aimed at growing jobs and innovation. So people are talking about incubators again.

 

May 7, 2009 (Malakye.com)
Action Sports Execs Join Connect S.I. Advisory Board

CONNECT Sports Innovators, an accelerator program dedicated to emerging action sports, sporting goods and traditional sports companies in San Diego, announced today, the newest members to its 2009 advisory board. CONNECT Sports Innovators currently reaches out to more than 900 action, sports and active lifestyle companies; an increasingly technology-centric industry that employs between 25,000 and 35,000 San Diego residents and includes everything from surf to bike to golf gear.

 

April 9, 2009 (Xconomy)
Navy Showcases R&D Lab to Business Community and High Tech Execs

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders has referred to SPAWAR, the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, as one of the city’s best kept secrets, and I started to understand why during a presentation yesterday at San Diego’s Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

 

April 4, 2009 (Union Tribune)
Scientists and investors mingle at summit

A sort of debutant ball for high-tech scientists unfolded in La Jolla this week in an effort to introduce the region's top professionals and their cutting-edge ideas to venture capital investors from across the country. Instead of ball gowns and big hair, there were lots of PowerPoint presentations and gray suits, and talk of how hair can be turned into embryonic-like stem cells for therapeutics and drug testing. The inaugural La Jolla Research and Innovation Summit was organized to show investors where San Diego's many research institutes are heading in biotechnology, clean tech, wireless and information technology.

 

April 3, 2009 (Xconomy)
Venter Outlines Progress in Engineering Microbes to Make Fuels

Connect CEO Duane Roth says that when he was organizing an “innovation summit” to showcase San Diego’s prowess in advanced research and innovation, he wanted to start each session of the two-day event with a scientific headliner as keynote speaker. And J. Craig Venter, who gained fame for his sequencing and analysis of the human genome, lived up to his billing as summit’s opening act yesterday.

 

April 2, 2009 (San Diego News Network)
Scientists and investors mingle at summit

About 100 venture capitalists gathered in La Jolla on Thursday to learn about scientific discoveries that could fuel the clean tech, biotech and wireless technology industries of the future.

 

March 23, 2009 (Press Release)
CONNECT Mentoring Leads to Strong Impact on Local Economy and Start-up Financing

CONNECT, San Diego’s technology and life sciences accelerator, graduated 118 companies from its Springboard program and high-tech and life sciences mentoring program over the past four years and 89, or 75%, are still in business. On average, these 89 companies are making an average impact on the San Diego economy of $3 million per company, according to two new studies released today.

 

March 19, 2009 (Press Release)
"Top Venture Capitalists to Pow Wow with World Class San Diego Researchers, April 2-3 2009"

CONNECT has developed a new program, The La Jolla Research & Innovation Summit - a closed meeting to showcase San Diego research excellence to an exclusive group of 50 out-of-town venture capitalists. Josh Green, Partner at Mohr Davidow Ventures said, “We are eagerly awaiting the CONNECT La Jolla Research & Innovation Summit – San Diego seems to be an untapped market with an extraordinary amount of innovation and opportunity for future investment.”

 

March 17, 2009 (Xconomy)
A Snapshot of San Diego’s Innovation Economy

San Diego’s spirit of entrepreneurship remained resilient in 2008, despite a credit crisis that precipitated one of the worst financial periods in U.S. history, according to Connect, a San Diego nonprofit group that promotes technology innovation and entrepreneurship.

 

March 16, 2009 (Press Release)
CONNECT Innovation Report Reveals Steady Innovation in San Diego

CONNECT’s Fourth Quarter Data Reveals New Company Start-up Creation Better Than Expected; Higher Local VC Investment Compared to Q3; Patent Applications Up

 

February 20, 2009 (Press Release)
Connect with CONNECT: San Diego Sport and Active Lifestyle Industry Gathers for Evening of Networking

CONNECT Sport Innovators will host a premier networking event, Connect with CONNECT, on Wednesday, Feb. 25. San Diego is home to more than 650 action & sport companies in the surf, skate, swim, snow, moto, wake, lifestyle and street wear industries that are leading the latest high tech, clean tech and online technology. Local sport innovators, leaders and entrepreneurs will gather to check out the latest tech gear and demos, get connected with key players and pick up on trends that are driving customer acceptance in diverse segments of the action sports industry.

 

February 9, 2009 (Press Release)
MIT Enterprise Forum of San Diego Presents: Building Your Business in the Face of Global Competition-Entrepreneurship in Difficult Times

 

January 19, 2009 (Press Release)
CONNECT to Induct General Atomics’ Neal and Linden Blue into Entrepreneur Hall of Fame; Jan. 28

Neal Blue, chairman and CEO of General Atomics, and Linden Blue, vice chairman of General Atomics, will be inducted into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame on Jan. 28, by CONNECT, the San Diego region’s non-profit technology and life sciences accelerator.

 

January 12, 2009 (Press Release)
CONNECT Seeks Venture-Ready Life Sciences Companies

CONNECT, one of the nation's most successful regional economic development programs for life science innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs, is accepting applications from companies to participate in its 2009 Life Sciences Venture Roundtable scheduled for March 10.

 

January 11, 2009 (Voice of San Diego)
Venture Capital at a Crossroads

"Like so many things in the world of finance, the way in which small start-up companies in San Diego and elsewhere get their seed money might be forever changed by the crash of 2008.

The explosive growth of San Diego's high tech and biotech sectors over the past two decades was largely dependent on the venture capital financing model, a model that industry experts say has broken down over the past year..."

 

January 7, 2009 (Press Release)
MIT Enterprise Forum of San Diego Presents: Sell, Spin-off or Go It Alone: Illuminating OPOTEK’s Path to Success

MIT Enterprise Forum to Provide Expert Insight into Igniting a Profitable Business’s Growth Potential; Jan. 21

 

January 7, 2009
CONNECT and San Diego's Generation Innovation

 

December 22, 2008 (Daily Journal)
In San Diego, Action Sports Lawyers Offer Valuable Advice to New Ventures

Feel the adrenaline rush. The heart-pumping thrill of riding a wave, careening down an icy slope or skate boarding into bliss. You are a champ.

So, how hard can it be to cash in on your passion? Transform your weekend hobby into a money-maker...?

December 16, 2008 (biz San Diego)
CONNECT Announces San Diego’s Most Innovative New Products of 2008

 

December 15, 2008 (San Diego Metropolitan)
Daily Business Report

 

December 13, 2008 (San Diego Union-Tribune)
CONNECT hands out awards for innovation

 

December 12, 2008 (Xconomy)
Dude! San Diego’s Connect Gives Surf Board Maker (And 8 Others) Technology Award

 

November 25, 2008 (Daily Business Report)
Electric scooter 'zuums' into play

"Almost two decades ago, when this product was first launched into the market, Connect awarded the 1989 Most Innovative New Product Award to MedStation," says Duane Roth, CEO of Connect. "MedStation revolutionized the industry with new ..."

 

November 24, 2008 (Press Release)
MedStation by Pyxis to Receive 2008 William W. Otterson Award

 

November 19, 2008 (Press Release)
CONNECT Leader Helps San Diego Land Prestigious TEDMED2009 Conference

Brilliant Minds in Life Sciences and Health Care To Gather in San Diego for Annual Leadership Conference

 

October 31, 2008 (Video)
CleanTECH San Diego

Overview video of the mission and role of CleanTECH San Diego

 

October 14, 2008 (SignonSanDiego.com)
First half of 2008 strong for startups

Despite the growing sluggishness of the local economy, San Diego County was a strong center for high-tech business startups during the first half of the year, with strong year-to-year growth in entrepreneurial activity.

 

October 1, 2008 (UT News Article)
Electric scooter 'zuums' into play

Self-described tinkerer and car enthusiast Tom Boyd was a successful salesman with no engineering training 3½ years ago when he came up with an interesting idea for a vehicle steered by its rear wheels.

 

September 18, 2008 (NY Times News Article)
Entrepreneurial Edge: Helping New Technologies Grow Into Businesses, the San Diego Way

So far, San Diego remains a fertile breeding ground for entrepreneurs, despite the problems in the broader economy.

That is due in large part to a nonprofit organization, Connect, that was created 23 years ago to bring together people knowledgeable about business and investment capital with researchers at the universities and research institutes in San Diego.

 

September 29, 2008 (Press Release)
CONNECT Announces the 2008 MIP Finalists

CONNECT, one of the nation's most successful regional economic development programs for high technology and life science innovators, today announced the finalists for this year’s Most Innovative New Product (MIP) Awards. The winners will be announced December 12th at the 21st Annual MIP Awards Luncheon, held at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, to an audience of over 800 of San Diego's top executives, entrepreneurs, service providers and academics.

 

July 14, 2008 (Press Release)
CONNECT Adds New Categories and Opens Call for Nominations For 2008 Most Innovative New Product Awards

CONNECT, one of the nation's most successful regional economic development programs for high technology and life science innovators, announced that it has added two new award categories for the 2008 Most Innovative New Product (MIP) Awards -- action and sport technologies and aerospace technology -- to mirror new economic growth and achievements in the sectors.

 

May 17, 2008 (News Article)
ENTREPRENEURS: Connect rebounds as advocate and guide

At the center of this beehive of entrepreneurs is Connect, a non-profit organization founded in 1985. Connect teaches entrepreneurs how to form companies and commercialize technologies. It also hosts events that brings together people from academia, business and finance.

 

May 01, 2008 (Radio Interview)
Creating New Energy Solutions and ‘Green-collar’ Jobs

Camille Sobrain, COO of CONNECT, is interviewed on NPR's These Days Show talking about the clean movement.

 

March 22, 2008 (Video)
VOZ Sports featured on KUSI news segment

Most Innovative New Product Awards 2008 winner, Voz Sports, is featured on KUSI

 

March 3, 2008 (Press Release)
Human Genome Pioneer Dr. J. Craig Venter to Speak: On Genomic Advances & New Energy Sources on March 20

CONNECT, CleanTECH San Diego, BIOCOM and UC San Diego Set 5 p.m. event as part of Frontiers in Science lecture series

 

February 28, 2008 (San Diego Business Journal)
Sports Enthusiasts Take Action to Organize Their Cottage Industry: Hundreds Attend CONNECT’s Inaugural Event for Innovators

While sports-related businesses in the county employ more than 30,000 people, according to the San Diego technology and life sciences networking group Connect, the action sports industry often gets overlooked by investors. Its entrepreneurs tend to be younger and less polished, says Thompson, but they compensate for their lack of formal training with youth and passion.

 

February 25, 2008 (Press Release)
CONNECT to Induct Dr. J. Robert Beyster of SAIC into Entrepreneur Hall of Fame on March 20

Recognized Authority on National Security and Reactor Physics to be Honored for 40 Years of Business, Technology, Civic Achievements

 

February 25, 2008 (Press Release)
CONNECT Seeks Clean Technology Innovators

Applications Being Accepted from Entrepreneurs to Present to Investors at Private Showcase on May 7

 

February 11, 2008 (shop-eat-surf.com Article)
New opportunities to score business help

Two items arrived in my inbox lately that I think are of interest to some of you out there, especially the emerging brands. Two groups are offering business advice to help take companies to the next level. One is a new San Diego-based organization Action & Sport Innovators (ASI), which is offering free mentoring to entrepreneurs to help them tap into financing and connect with other resources. ASI is having its inaugural networking event this Tuesday night in San Diego. Details about ASI and the event are below.

 

February 11, 2008 (Press Release)
San Diego MIT Enterprise Forum Presents Creating Companies from Emerging Technologies on Feb. 20

Expert forum to provide perspectives from Cambridge, Menlo Park and San Diego,
and a sneak preview of the top ten technologies for 2008

 

February 4, 2008 (Press Release)
Action and Sports Leaders to Gather for 'X-treme Networking of Feb. 12th.

Incubated within CONNECT, new business accelerator expected to help fuel multibillion-dollar industry

 

January 10, 2008 (Press Release)
From Scooters to SUVs: CONNECT’s MIT Enterprise Forum Presents Revolutionary Transmission Technology; Jan. 16

Fallbrook Technologies Inc. to display and discuss their Nu Vinici® CVP, a gearless technology transforming modern transportation

 

January 11, 2008 (KUSI Video)
CONNECT 2007 Annual Report

Action Sports Innovators' founder, Marco Thompson, was in our studio Friday morning to share with us why San Diego is the Mecca of the action sports industry.

 

January 1, 2008 (CONNECT Document)
CONNECT 2007 Annual Report

A look back at CONNECT's 2007 programming activities, financial status, and membership body

 

November 28, 2007 (Press Release)
U.S. Patent and Trade Office Director to Speak on Local Effect of Landmark IP Law Changes; Dec. 11

CONNECT and Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP Host Policy Forum to Outline Impact on San Diego Tech Companies

 

November 19, 2007 (Press Release)
CONNECT to Announce 2007’s Most Innovative Products at 20th Annual Awards Luncheon Dec. 14; Mayor to Speak

Product developed by Cymer Inc. to receive Otterson Award for Enabling Semiconductor Chip Production

 

November 6, 2007 (Press Release)
Scripps Founder, Designer of Insulin, and Discoverer of Obesity Gene to Participate in Local Biotech Symposium

Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Ferring Research Institute Host 2nd Annual Peptide Therapeutics Symposium Nov. 10

 

October 29, 2007 (Press Release)
CONNECT Extends Application Deadline for Life Sciences Venture Roundtable

Roundtable Open to Companies and Scientists Interested in Presenting Technologies to San Diego Venture Capital Community

 

October 17, 2007 (Press Release)
Life Science Community to Gather for 2nd Annual Stem Cell Research Symposium Oct. 19th.

One year, 29 grants and $38 million dollars in funding later, San Diego Consortium for Regenerative Medicine invites diverse panel to discuss progress in stem cell research

 

October 16, 2007 (Press Release)
CONNECT Names Tricia Geringer Director of Public Policy and Development

Over 10 years as Policy Advisory to U.S. Congressman, Significant Media and Political Experience

 

October 15, 2007 (Press Release)
CONNECT Announces Breakaway Innovation™ Series To Accelerate New Business Growth and Innovation

Exclusive Three-Part Series to Delve into the Latest Theories In Strategy, Mindset and Launch