Twenty years ago the University of California at San Diego, local San Diego businesses, and the city government created CONNECT to transform San Diego based institutional research into a center for technological innovation commercialization. It’s been working ever since.
The first Executive Director for Connect was local San Diego entrepreneur, Bill Otterson. For those of us fortunate enough to have worked with Bill, we knew nothing ever got in the way of his relentless efforts to develop and fund the organization. One of the programs he launched within CONNECT was the Springboard program, designed to help early stage ventures get traction for their key initiatives.
Recently I’ve been volunteering my time as an EIR – Entrepreneur in Residence within the Springboard program. My first assignment, assist startup venture “Dasko Communications” prepare for a successful round of funding. For Dasko the Springboard program has provided CEO Ray Barger with the advice and business contacts of at least six key San Diego executives, who became intrigued by Ray’s vision.
Dasko is getting very close to the right equation for success, at which time the Springboard program volunteers will “graduate” Dasko and facilitate broad exposure for Dasko within the angle and venture communities.
Springboard does not guarantee funding, partnerships, nor even that the program can help the entrepreneur, but if they are determined coachable, at least 100 senior tech community will step up to help. What more could an Entrepreneur ask for?
Note – Dasko is pioneering an innovative, internet based, interactive video solution for sales and product training, initially focused on pharmaceutical and medical product sales. www.daskocommunications.net
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