• UPCOMING EVENTS
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CONNECT's Entrepreneurs for Young Innovators

About the Program:
CONNECT has developed a STEM program called Entrepreneurs for Young Innovators which is designed to inspire middle and high school students to pursue careers in life sciences and technology by introducing them to local entrepreneurs with exciting technology products.  CONNECT arranges for local CEOs who are winners of our Most Innovative New Product Awards or Venture Roundtables or graduates of our Springboard program to visit classrooms to tell their stories, describe their companies, demonstrate the products they are creating and explain how science, technology engineering and math (STEM) classes can help prepare for college and rewarding careers in technology.

The goals of the program include:

• Inspiring and encouraging students to pursue courses, degrees, and careers in science, technology, engineering and math;
• Increasing the long term availability of technical talent in the San Diego region; and,
• Increasing the participation of students in after school science clubs and community science, math and technology programs.

The Entrepreneurs for Young Innovators program was developed and launched with an initial development grant from Biogen Idec in 2010.  Initially the program focused on biology and the life sciences.  In the program’s first year San Diego life sciences, medical device, wireless health and diagnostic entrepreneurs met with more than 850 students.   

Thanks to additional support from Biogen Idec, along with grants from Qualcomm, San Diego Gas & Electric, the Arthur Brody Foundation and Wells Fargo, CONNECT has scaled the program to include life sciences, clean technology and high tech.  This year, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, entrepreneurs will visit more than 4,000 middle and high school students in more than 20 schools across the region.

Do you want to be an Entrepreneur for Young Innovators?  Click here to learn more about qualifying for participation.
Would your organization be interested in supporting the program?  To be contacted, click here.

CONNECT Entrepreneurs for Young Innovator Partner Programs:
MiraCosta College/Oceanside Unified School District GEAR UP
Palomar GEAR UP 
Math for America 
New Children’s Museum Create + Innovate Program 
San Diego Science Alliance 
San Diego Science Festival 

Other STEM Resources:
Academy for STEM Success 
BeWise
New Childrens Museum
NSF-SDSU STEM Scholars Program 
San Diego County Office of Education
SPAWAR  

Program Contact: