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| | 2017 Year in Review Dear CONNECT Community, What an incredible year 2017 has been for all of us here at CONNECT! Thanks to your continued engagement, support and belief in our innovation ecosystem, we, together have made great strides in advancing the impact of bringing the most advanced ideas to market. I cannot think of a better place to be: San Diego, in 2017, working with the smartest, coolest and most interesting entrepreneurs, anywhere.
In a small way, it is our hope that CONNECT and the programming we offer has been additive in this process. Below is a short recap the team created of some of our most memorable moments of the year.
On behalf of the CONNECT Board and Staff, thank you again, for everything that you do in support of our organization and more importantly, to support San Diego's entrepreneurs. We look forward to seeing you in 2018!
Happy Holidays, Greg McKee
President & CEO
CONNECT
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#1: TEDx Innovation Alley
For the third year, CONNECT partnered with TEDxSanDiego to curate the 2017's Innovation Alley. The theme of Created Futures explored how our thoughts, words and actions create a personal future for each of us, and how the collective thoughts, words and actions of the 7.4 billion people that we share this planet with can create a more enlightened future for all. In addition to the speakers and performers on stage inside Symphony Hall, B Street was closed to create Innovation Alley and highlight 20 of San Diego's most creative startup companies. It was a great event to catch up with companies and see their success!
We can't wait to see you all again at next year's TEDx Innovation Alley event! Until then, don't miss the TEDx presentations as they are released!
#2: 2017 Springboard Graduates
What a year for Springboard! We are proud to have another incredible class of startup companies graduate from our Springboard program this year! We are excited to have these companies out in the innovation economy, making their mark and changing the life sciences and technology fields. Congratulations to the 25 Springboard graduates below! We can't wait to see what they do in 2018! Techonology: Abrijit, Antsle, BLK Box, BuildFire, Divisax, Ocular, Gryphon, IntraRatrio, Iteros, Mobius, SoloTravellerApp, Water Pigeon
Life Sciences: Concert Health, D&P Bioinnovations, EnduRx, Enspero, GlyConMedics, O'Interface, JAAN Biotherapeutics, Librede, mWorks Health, Poieses Therapeautics, SciStart, VeniSTAT
#3: Our Springboard Mentors
We are so appreciative of our incredible Springboard Mentors who continue to support CONNECT. Springboard Mentors provide the expertise, guidance, coaching, and milestone evaluation for the startups in our Springboard Accelerator Program. The Mentors build a close, business advisory relationship with their startup companies and offer them perspective and a decision-making framework to help them progress through the Springboard Program and grow their business.
"I have been a mentor with Springboard for more than 10 years. Springboard consistently surfaces and screens the best early stage companies and runs them through a rigorous cycle of review and improvement. Drawing from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds, the mentors I work with are top notch. The Springboard process has proven itself to be a valuable resource for start-up companies and for San Diego." - Marc Friedmann CONNECT Mentor Serial entrepreneur Board member of multiple software companies
#4: Springboard Impact Report
| We're thrilled to share the 2016 Springboard Impact Report, reporting on the health and growth of Springboard companies since 2005. In 2017 the CONNECT Innovation Research team, led by Steve Hoey, Vice President, of the Springboard Accelerator Program and Innovation Research at CONNECT, reached out to all the alumni of the Springboard Program from 2005 to 2016 and the Venture Roundtable Winners from 2006 to 2012 to follow-up on their progress. Sixty-two companies responded to the survey. Their responses have been aggregated and presented in the report. | | To read the blog summary of the report, click here. To view the entire report, click here.
#5: The Jacob's Center for Neighborhood Innovation and CONNECT ALL
In 2017, the City of San Diego selected the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation in partnership with CONNECT to create the first business accelerator in Southeastern San Diego: CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center. We are so excited to be working on this incredible opportunity with the Jacobs Center to further our CONNECT ALL initiative towards encouraging diversity and inclusion in the San Diego innovation community. We can't wait for the doors to open in summer 2018! "This business accelerator is going to be a real game-changer," said Mayor Faulconer. "Having a network of resources will give entrepreneurs and start-up businesses the strategic boost they need to grow and thrive. This is all about creating more opportunities for San Diegans across the city with a special focus on underserved communities." Miss the announcement this fall? Catch up by reading the press release here.
#6: 2017 Roth Awards & Inaugural CONNECT Founders Award
You know we LOVE to celebrate and showcase innovation leaders – as part of our 30th Anniversary MIP Awards we couldn't resist honoring these four renowned San Diego innovators known around the world! Congratulations to: Dick C. Atkinson - The 2017 CONNECT Founders Award Joe Markee - The Duane Roth Award for Distinguished Contribution in Technology Dr. Richard Lerner - The Duane Roth Award for Distinguished Contribution in Life Sciences Larry Bock - The Duane Roth Award for Distinguished Contribution in Life Sciences For more information on these inspiring recipients and their awards, click here
| #7: Sage Partnership |  In 2017, CONNECT partnered with SAGE Publishing, a leading global publisher of innovative, high-quality content including more than 1,000 journals and 800 new books each year, and a range of digital products and online courses, to help source and invest in EdTech startup companies.
This partnership aims to support promising EdTech startups as they scale.
On October 30, we concluded our first call for EdTech applicants to apply to this Corporate Match opportunity.
We look forward to continuing our work with SAGE in 2018!
To read more about this partnership, click here.
#8: Jay Flatley Inducted into CONNECT Entrepreneur Hall of Fame
 | Congratulations to Jay Flatley on his induction into the CONNECT Entrepreneur Hall of Fame!
Flatley was honored for his extensive contributions to the genomics industry through building Illumina from a startup to an international leader.
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#9: 30th Annual Most Innovative New Product Awards
Thank you to everyone who made our 30th Annual Most Innovative New Product Awards such a success! We are truly fortunate to be a part of this incredible community who work tirelessly to make dreams of past a reality. With over 600 guests in attendance at the November 30 Awards Dinner, it was surely a night to remember! Congratulations to each of the TEN WINNING companies whose products were selected as the 2017 Most Innovative Product Awards. Thank you to each of our sponsors, distinguished judges, and table sponsors.We couldn't do it without each of you who have supported and partnered with us! BRAVO! To learn more about the award winners, check out our press release here. Need a reminder of the night? Enjoy the post-event video here.
#10: Innovation Report
The latest CONNECT Innovation Report was released over the summer. This year's report shows how San Diego is creating new jobs, fostering new startups, cultivating the growth of existing businesses, attracting investment and how the innovation sector now accounts for $55 billion, or 25 percent, of San Diego's economic activity.
The new report also shows more than 477 new innovation startups were established in San Diego in 2016 – the most ever created in a calendar year since CONNECT began reporting the data in 2005.
The growth of these startup companies accounted for the creation of 1,729 jobs. The two most prevalent types of new innovation startups were software with 280 companies created and life sciences with 95 – both up from last year.
Missed it? Click here to read the Innovation Report.
WE'LL SEE YOU IN 2018!! |
For the Latest and Greatest, Follow and Like CONNECT! www.connect.org
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