Today, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and World Trade Center San Diego (WTC San Diego), JPMorgan Chase & Co. and business and civic leaders unveiled the 15 companies selected to participate in the MetroConnect program, a comprehensive export assistance program to help local companies accelerate their global growth.
From language translation software platform Urban Translations, to cleantech company Envision Solar, to veteran-owned brewer Julian Hard Cider, the 2017 MetroConnect companies represent a diverse cross-section of San Diego’s innovation economy.
Now in its third year, the MetroConnect program equips small- and medium-sized companies (SMEs) with a suite of financial and programmatic resources to support their efforts in bringing their products and services global. Powered by JPMorgan Chase, MetroConnect resources include:
- $10,000 in matching grants to cover up to 50 percent of the costs associated with international expansion
- Dedicated WTC San Diego staff manager to support company participants in deploying overseas strategies during the grant period
- Access to workshops that address export compliance, financing and fundraising and more
- Reduced airfare on the Japan Airlines direct flight from San Diego to Tokyo, and on Air Canada direct flights from San Diego to Canada
- Free access to SYSTRAN software for website translation and customer service needs
- Consideration to compete for an additional $35,000 during the MetroConnect Grand Prize Pitchfest in May 2018
WTC San Diego is proud to congratulate the 2017 MetroConnect companies:
- Coronado Brewing Co.
- CP Global Manufacturing
- CureMatch
- Del Mar Oceanographic
- Dermala
- Envision Solar International
- FoxFury
- Guru
- Julian Hard Cider
- Optimized Fuel Technologies
- Performa Learning
- Planck Aerosystems
- Tioga Research
- Tunnel Vision
- Urban Translations
Get the details on this year’s cohort here.
Since the program’s debut in 2015, the 30 companies that have gone through the MetroConnect program have collectively generated $10.5 million in new export sales, signed more than 70 new contracts, added 50 new jobs to the region, set up nine new overseas facilities and seen three successful company exits. Past participants include Calbiotech (now ERBA Diagnostics), Rough Draft Brewing, Deering Banjo Company, Cypher Genomics (now Human Longevity Inc.), ROBO 3D and more.
In 2015 alone, San Diego exported more than $17 billion in goods overseas, as well as billions more in services like software, cybersecurity, engineering and research. SMEs produce 92 percent of those goods – driving home the point of programs like MetroConnect. According to the Brookings Institution, companies that are global pay higher wages, are less likely to go out of business and increase productivity of the domestic market.
As part of his commitment to expanding San Diego’s global reach, Mayor Faulconer has led trade missions to Mexico City and Vancouver this year, and will lead a delegation to London and Cambridge this fall.