About

The origins of CONNECT

CONNECT was founded in 1985 in San Diego, California in response to a serious economic downturn. CONNECT was an innovative attempt to kick start the economy by stimulating company growth.

CONNECT was created to bring entrepreneurs and spin-out companies from the universities into contact with the resources they needed to support the early stages of business development.

Since its inception, CONNECT San Diego has assisted over 1,000 technology start-ups; facilitated over $600m in funding into 300 companies; helped broker $100m investment in 190 companies and raised over $1b over nine years through its relationship with Tech Coast Angels.

Why create CONNECT North East?

Building on the success of CONNECT in San Diego, the model has been transferred to other regions and countries throughout the world, including the Scandinavian countries, New Zealand, Taiwan and the UK.

There are currently two other CONNECT networks in the UK – CONNECT Yorkshire and CONNECT Midlands.  Also under development in the UK are CONNECT Northern Ireland, CONNECT North West, CONNECT East of England and CONNECT UK, which will aim to spread the CONNECT ideal across the UK.

Several recent studies, including the QI 3 report on Access to Finance in 2006 identified a gap in the market place for high level business support for young companies in the region, particularly focused around preparing for and gaining investment.  Research commissioned in the North East by NStar in Spring 2007 found a consensus that a "new network or community in the North East that will provide a proactive forum to access advice and guidance that will help the growth of early stage, young companies in the region was needed".

What does CONNECT North East do?

CONNECT North East facilitates experience exchange, peer to peer learning, and introductions to professional services, business support and investment for early stage science and technology start-up companies.

CONNECT North East develops face-to-face approach a virtual introductions which add value.

CONNECT North East co-ordinates workshops, seminars, conferences, debates, mentoring and coaching facilities, advice and information provision and networking opportunities which focus on business growth.

CONNECT North East harnesses the expertise of its sponsors, partners and members to create an appropriate, effective and demand-led programme.  CONNECT North East uses the national and international traction of the CONNECT brand to bring speakers, specialists, and inspirators to the region.

CONNECT North East does not duplicate what is already here: it adds value to it.