“With this opportunity, an increase in exports will allow Epitope to promote the San Diego community while fostering business and exportation partnerships.” – Stefanie Dallozette – Business Operations Manager
As the flagship export assistance program of World Trade Center San Diego, MetroConnect helps to cultivate a pipeline of export-ready firms to elevate San Diego’s global reach. Now in its fourth program-year, company participants will receive a $10,000 grant, presented by JPMorgan Chase & Co., and a suite of programmatic support services to assist with international expansion strategies. Local companies, Epitope Diagnostics included, will have access to a dedicated staff manager at WTC, and will receive guidance on export compliance, financing and fundraising, among other international support services.
“We applaud Epitope Diagnostics Inc. for taking the next step in going global,”
said Nikia Clarke, executive director of World Trade Center San Diego. “With SMEs like this at the forefront, San Diego must continue to increase its export capacity and boost the region’s global identity. MetroConnect is equipping these companies with the resources necessary to do just that.”
The MetroConnect program is highly competitive, with just 20 companies selected based on a variety of criteria including market interest, assessed impact of funds, current international traction and more. Applicants were assessed by a panel of judges, including representatives from Qualcomm Ventures, Biocom, U.S. Commercial Service, Rough Draft Brewing, San Diego State University, UC San Diego, San Diego Regional EDC and WTC San Diego.
Epitope Diagnostics Inc. joins a cohort of 19 other
companies representing a unique cross-section of San Diego’s industries, from defense to life sciences to software and craft goods – each with plans to take San Diego innovation globally. Collectively, the cohort employs 1,181 and has a combined revenue of $392 million revenue and $115 million in international revenue.
Participating companies will also be considered for the program’s MetroConnect Grand Prize Pitchfest in June 2019, which will provide an additional $35,000 to help one or two companies further advance their global agendas. Past grand prize winners include Cypher Genomics (now part of Human Longevity, Inc.), Rough Draft Brewing and CureMatch.
MetroConnect is underwritten by JPMorgan Chase & Co., with additional support provided by Air Canada, Japan Airlines, Japan External Trade Organization, Qualcomm, SYSTRAN, Taylor Guitars, Lufthansa, City of San Diego and others.
The announcement was made by Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer and WTC San Diego on September 26 at WeWork.
