The Connect Current is your inside look at the people and ideas shaping San Diego’s innovation ecosystem.Produced by Connect, a nonprofit supporting founders and investors for over 40 years, the podcast builds on a legacy of helping high growth companies, including alumni like Cloudbeds, ClickUp, Inhibrx, and NanoCellect Biomedical, grow and scale from San Diego to the global stage.Each episode features relaxed, thoughtful conversations with founders, investors, and community leaders across life science, tech, climate, defense, AI, and more, sharing the stories shaping San Diego innovation.If you’re building, investing, learning, or simply curious about the future of San Diego’s innovation economy, this is your place to stay connected to what’s happening now and what’s next.
Pitch Analysis
Required Pod Score for this show. PitchCentric checks your profile against host openness, topical fit, and audience signals before you generate a pitch.
Contact path
Verified email
Booking probability
30%
Guest openness
Selective
Verified email on file
80/100
Required Score
Sign up to generate a grounded pitch for The Connect Current.
The Connect Current is a entrepreneurship podcast hosted by Connect, with 22 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.
About the host
Connect hosts The Connect Current, a entrepreneurship show with 22 episodes published.
Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.
Episode #22
Advancing a New Treatment Path for Gout featuring James Mackay
Aug 17, 202619 min
In this episode of The Connect Current, we sit down with James Mackay, Ph.D., President and CEO of Crystalys Therapeutics, to explore how the company is advancing a new treatment path for people living with gout. James shares how Crystalys is developing dotinurad, a next-generation, once-daily oral URAT1 inhibitor, and what the company’s recent $130 million Series B financing enables as it moves through late-stage global clinical development and commercialization preparation. The conversation dives into why gout remains an underserved treatment area, what it takes to execute at this stage of biotech development, and how experienced leadership, strong science, and committed capital can help move promising therapies closer to patients. Recorded at Kiln Rancho Bernardo: https://kiln.com/communities/rancho-bernardo/ Learn more about Crystalys Therapeutics: https://crystalystx.com/
Spectral Encoding, Molecular Screening and the Future of Connected Data featuring Ramesh Ramji
Aug 10, 202617 min
In this episode of The Connect Current, we sit down with Ramesh Ramji, Founder and CEO of SpectralTx, to explore how spectral hyperplexing technology could help reshape molecular screening and the future of connected data. Ramesh shares how SpectralTx is developing tools like Spectra-Gel and SpELs to improve encoding depth, speed and data fidelity, giving researchers richer information for drug discovery, diagnostics, deep learning and broader biotech innovation. The conversation dives into why better molecular screening matters, what it takes to build a deep tech life sciences platform, and how SpectralTx’s journey as a Connect Springboard Company reflects San Diego’s strength in turning complex science into real-world opportunity. Recorded at BioLabs San Diego: https://www.biolabs.io/san-diego/ Learn more about SpectralTx: https://spectraltx.com/
Solving the Delivery Challenge in Genetic Medicine featuring Niren Shah
Aug 3, 2026—
In this episode of The Connect Current, we sit down with Niren Shah, PharmD, MBA, Co-founder and CEO of Cove Therapeutics, to explore one of the biggest challenges in genetic medicine: delivery. Niren shares how Cove is developing non-lipid, non-viral biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles designed to overcome key limitations in the field, including efficiency, safety, manufacturing, redosing, and larger genetic payloads. The conversation dives into Cove’s platform approach, what it takes to build a biotech company around difficult science, and why the company’s next chapter as one of Connect’s 2026 Cool Companies reflects the strength of San Diego’s growing life sciences ecosystem. Recorded at UC San Diego Park & Market: https://parkandmarket.ucsd.edu/ Learn more about Cove Therapeutics: https://covetx.com/
Targeted Cancer Therapies and the Fight to Make Treatment Less Fearful featuring Stanley Lewis
Jul 27, 202622 min
In this episode of The Connect Current, we sit down with Stanley Lewis, MD, MPH, Founder and CEO of A28 Therapeutics, to explore how targeted cancer therapies can create better options for patients facing difficult diseases. Stanley shares the story behind A28’s targeted oncolytic peptide platform, the company’s lead candidate AT-101, and what it takes to move a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company from scientific promise toward real-world impact. The conversation dives into patient need, treatment burden, clinical development, capital, partnerships, and why A28’s next chapter as one of Connect’s 2026 Cool Companies reflects the strength of San Diego’s growing life sciences ecosystem. Recorded at UC San Diego Park & Market: https://parkandmarket.ucsd.edu/ Learn more about A28 Therapeutics: https://www.a28tx.com/
Connecting National Security, Startups, and San Diego’s Innovation featuring Scott Tait
Jul 20, 202620 min
In this episode of The Connect Current, we sit down with Scott Tait to explore how San Diego can better connect national security needs, university research, dual-use startups, capital, and policy into a stronger innovation system. Drawing on his 27-year Navy career and his work across Lumetec, Startup Science, and the National Security Innovation Catalyst at UC San Diego, Scott shares what it takes to move promising technology from concept to real-world mission impact. The conversation dives into San Diego’s unique national security advantage, where founders and researchers often get stuck, and how stronger pathways between government, academia, startups, industry, and investors can help accelerate innovation that matters. Recorded at UC San Diego Park & Market: https://parkandmarket.ucsd.edu/ Learn more about Lumetec: https://www.lumetec.com/ Learn more about the National Security Innovation Catalyst at UC San Diego: https://nsic.ucsd.edu/
Every question we get asked before someone starts their trial.
If you have a concern about deliverability, AI quality, data privacy, or whether this will actually work for your specific situation, it's probably answered below.
What is the difference between Founder Solo and Founder Pro?
Founder Solo gives you 50 AI pitches per month using the credit model (Standard pitches cost 1 credit, Enriched pitches cost 2). Founder Pro raises that to 200 credits per month and adds full Booking Probability access, unlimited Magic Match, Apollo enrichment credits, and data export capabilities. Both plans use the same credit system, so you can stretch your monthly budget further by using Standard-mode drafting.
How do agency tiers work?
Agency tiers have no base fee. You pay per managed client and per talent profile. Agency Standard is $199 per client per month; Agency Pro is $399 per client per month. Both add $39 per talent profile per month. Your own team's user seats are always free.
What is a talent profile?
A talent profile represents one person (founder, executive, or spokesperson) you are booking onto podcasts. It includes their bio, topics, headshots, and outreach history. Team plans include 5 profiles; agency plans are pay-as-you-go.
Can I switch plans later?
Yes, at any time. Upgrades take effect immediately; downgrades apply at the end of the current billing period. Contact support if you need help migrating between plan families.
Do you offer a free trial?
Every paid plan includes a 15-day free trial. Your card is saved at signup but you will not be charged until day 16. Cancel any time from your dashboard.
What happens if I cancel?
You keep access until the end of your current billing period. No charges after that. Your data is retained for 30 days in case you reactivate.
Is the 20% annual discount automatic?
Yes. Select Annual on the pricing toggle and the discounted price is applied automatically at checkout. The annual price shown is the full year cost.
What if I have more than 50 profiles or 20 clients?
That is our Enterprise tier. Contact our sales team and we will build a custom plan with volume pricing, a dedicated account manager, and SLA guarantees.
