[1] In 1986 UC San Diego recruited William (Bill) Otterson, chairman and CEO of Cipher Data Products, to head Connect.
[2] Over the following 13 years, Otterson built Connect by bringing together local entrepreneurs, academics and out of area venture capitalists through a variety of programs centered on innovation.
Today CONNECT is an internationally renowned program that has now been modeled in almost 40 regions around the world including New York City,[3] the UK, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Australia.
[9] San Diego Sport Innovators was created in 2008 by Camille Sobrian and Marco Thompson by partnering with sponsor Dick Kintz from Shepard Mulin law firm.
These businesses are viewed by Connect as significant contributions to San Diego's economy and quality of life, relying on the "Hall of Fame" entrepreneurs for their success.