San Diego, CA (February 10, 2022) – Trabus Technologies (TRABUS) is one of 15 San Diego-based companies that will participate in MetroConnect starting today. MetroConnect is a comprehensive export assistance program offered by the World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD) that helps local companies accelerate their international growth. The WTCSD, along with San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo and nearly 100 community leaders came together today to welcome the new cohort.

This program will allow TRABUS to pursue foreign markets and establish relationships with international partners for the commercialization of its technologies, RippleGo and SEPP/PeerConnect.

“We applaud TRABUS for taking the next step in going global,” said Nikia Clarke, executive director of World Trade Center San Diego. “As the San Diego economy continues to recover from the pandemic, we are optimistic about the future. Thanks to JPMorgan Chase and Procopio, the MetroConnect program will continue to build on this momentum and help ensure San Diego’s small and mid-sized businesses have the tools needed to weather future economic downturns, grow quality jobs, and share San Diego-made innovation with the world.”

Since the program’s debut in 2015, 80 MetroConnect alumni have collectively added 269 new jobs to the region, signed more than 543 new contracts, and set up 22 new overseas facilities. On average, cohort companies grow their exports by an average 63 percent and revenues by 40 percent as part of the program. Alumni include Blue Sky Network, Aira (acquired by Blue Diego Investment Group), Scientist.com, Modern Times, Dr. Bronner’s, Cypher Genomics (acquired by Human Longevity Inc.), Planck Aerosystems, Bitchin’ Sauce, and many more.

“I’m proud to support and welcome WTCSD’s new cohort and look forward to seeing the companies’ impact on a global scale,” said San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo. “Programs like MetroConnect help ensure the world knows just what San Diego is made of—innovative, high-impact products and services across a wide range of industries.”

TRABUS joins a cohort of 14 other companies representing a unique cross-section of San Diego’s industries, from genomics to manufacturing to craft brewing – each with plans to take San Diego innovation global.

Program participants receive a $5,000 grant, a one-year subscription to premium translation software, discounts on international travel, executive workshops on export-related topics and access to a global mentor and service provider network. Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in the program’s final competition – the MetroConnect Grand Prize PitchFest – which will grant an additional $25,000 to help one company further advance its international efforts.

“Since its launch, the City of San Diego has been a proud supporter of MetroConnect and the nearly 100 businesses it has helped grow internationally,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “As Mayor, I’m committed to supporting San Diego’s small businesses on our road to recovery; and international connectivity is an important tool in building economic resilience.”

The MetroConnect program is highly competitive, with just 15 companies selected based on a variety of criteria, including interest in new markets, interest in targeted metro markets, assessed impact of funds, current international traction and more. Applicants were assessed by a panel of judges, including senior level representatives from Biocom, Connect, CMTC, U.S. Commercial Service, Procopio, and Mitsubishi Electric.

MetroConnect is co-underwritten by JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Procopio, with additional support provided by American Airlines, British Airways, City of San Diego, Japan Airlines, Mitsubishi Electric, Qualcomm, San Diego and Imperial SBDC Network, SYSTRAN, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Taylor Guitars, United Kingdom Government Office, YCP Solidiance and more.

About Trabus Technologies

TRABUS is a minority-owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) headquartered in San Diego, California with regional offices in the National Capitol Region. Incorporated in 2010, TRABUS provides professional support services to the U.S. government and specializes in the development of technical solutions across five major portfolios: Wireless Technologies, Artificial Intelligence & Data Science, Maritime Transportation, Environmental Informatics, and Cybersecurity. With just under 50 employees, the majority of the TRABUS workforce consists of scientists, engineers, military veterans, and management professionals who support to the local defense industrial base and a growing number of technical innovations in wireless communications and data science.

TRABUS has made the “Inc. 5000” list seven years in a row as one of the 5,000 fastest-growing privately held small companies in the United States. In 2022, TRABUS was recognized as one of Southern California’s Cool Companies by San Diego Connect and was featured in San Diego’s first annual innovation day—Five.Ten.Thirty— as one of the fastest growing and most exciting Tech & Life Sciences companies in the region. Also in 2022, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce named Trabus Technologies Innovator of the Year for the development of a ground-breaking wireless innovation called SEPP. This spectrally efficient peer-to-peer technology allows for simultaneous wireless conversations on the same frequency without the need for cell towers or infrastructure. TRABUS’ other best-known innovation, RippleGo, is a state-of-the-art information-sharing solution for the maritime transportation industry that provides up-to-date information on travel time predictions, bridge clearance calculations, forecasted river level conditions, navigation hazards and lock status changes using data analytics and artificial intelligence.

For more information on these and other innovations visit the Innovations page on our website, www.trabus.com.

About World Trade Center San Diego

World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD) operates as an affiliate of San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC). WTCSD works to further San Diego’s global competitiveness by cultivating a pipeline of export-ready firms, attracting and retaining foreign investment and increasing San Diego’s global profile abroad.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.sandiegobusiness.org/wtcsd/