What do you get when you gather 35 individuals from around the world in the heart of innovation – Silicon Valley? You get ABC Silicon Valley 2025! From June 29th to July 12th, the ABC Silicon Valley Summer School took place, offering participants a hands-on journey through everything from design thinking and customer experience to the CO-STAR method, business model canvas, pitching, and so much more.
However, it wasn’t just about the theory for us; we had the chance to visit companies such as NetApp, Oracle, Plug and Play, IBM, and Tesla. On top of that, we were inspired by a lineup of guest speakers that truly left a mark. Curious to hear more? Keep reading!
The ABC Classroom Experience
To get everyone ready to work on their entrepreneurial ideas in teams, our Lead Instructor, Laszlo Gyorffy, kicked things off with sessions on design thinking and customer experience. But these weren’t your typical lectures – we dove deep into the process and then took it to the streets (yes, literally!). Participants had the opportunity to put their newfound knowledge into practice in real-world situations, reflect on what they experienced, and then come back together to reinvent and improve their concepts as a group.
Next, we introduced the CO-STAR method – a toolkit designed to help innovators spot new opportunities, articulate their ideas more clearly, and collaborate effectively to create solutions that are ready for the market. Following that, we launched the Rapid Idea Improvement Sessions – dynamic, high-energy activities where teams practiced pitching, shared their prototypes, and received valuable feedback to help sharpen and strengthen their CO-STAR value propositions.
Rapid Idea Improvement Session
At ABC Silicon Valley 2025, we also wanted to tap into the participants’ creativity in unexpected ways. Each team was tasked with bringing their ideas to life through mockups and skits. A fun yet challenging approach to see how effectively they could convey their concepts. From there, we dove deeper into the entrepreneurial toolbox: exploring the Business Model Canvas, diving into customer discovery, and working through competitive analysis and hypothesis validation. Each of these steps encouraged teams to sharpen their ideas using real-world insights and strategic thinking.
As the final pitching competition approached, we helped teams get ready with persuasive presentation workshops and another round of Rapid Idea Improvement Sessions. These sessions were a great opportunity for them to refine their delivery, put their value propositions to the test, and pinpoint any areas that needed a little extra work.
Rapid Idea Improvement Session
Insights from Industry Leaders
At ABC Silicon Valley 2025, it was more than just workshops – guest speakers from the industry made an impact too! Participants had the chance to hear from Lisa Friedman and Herman Gyr, co-founders of the Enterprise Development Group, who shared their insights on the regenerative economy. Robert MacPhee’s session on Creating Purpose-Driven Innovation emphasized the importance of sticking to your core values when developing meaningful ideas. Kerry Brown opened up about his journey of launching three payments tech companies, while Ana Lukner offered some real talk on how to build a network in Silicon Valley as an outsider.
Ana Lukner
In today’s AI landscape, Steve Decker shared some valuable insights on how businesses can truly harness AI to create real value. Meanwhile, James O’Connor took a deep dive into the world of customer discovery. Participants also got the opportunity to explore Innovation Within, an AI-driven platform designed to transform raw ideas into validated success stories.
Sri Peruvemba discussed strategies for marketing products that aren’t even on the market yet, while Buddy Burke provided some practical advice in his workshop titled “Beyond the Pitch: How to Get Investors’ Attention and Keep It.” Finally, Barbry McGann offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Workday Ventures, the $500 million investment arm of Workday that focuses on supporting early to growth-stage startups.
Sri Peruvemba
Touring Silicon Valley Giants
One of the highlights of ABC Silicon Valley 2025 was visiting some of the world’s top tech companies! We kicked things off at NetApp, a leader in data infrastructure. There, Jeff Baxter, VP of Product Marketing, shared some fascinating insights into the company’s inner workings, followed by a tour of their HQ. Next stop: Oracle, a global giant in cloud infrastructure and enterprise software. During our visit, we explored the future of AI and AI agents, and received valuable career advice from Ognjen Pavlovic, Group VP of Product Management. At the Plug and Play Tech Center, a global hub that connects startups with corporations, investors, and mentors, participants had the chance to tour the campus and hear pitches from students representing the Universities of Edinburgh, Manchester, and Glasgow.
Tour of NetApp’s HQ
Our visit to the IBM Lab was just as exciting. Vess Bakalov, now CTO at IBM Software Networking, shared his journey as a tech entrepreneur, highlighting how he successfully sold two startups to IBM. Andrew Coward, General Manager of IBM Software Networking, spoke about IBM’s reentry into the networking space. Afterward, we toured the lab and even got a glimpse of their data center! And let’s not forget about Tesla! Participants toured the Tesla Fremont Factory and then had the opportunity to test drive any model they chose – and the Cybertruck was definitely a fan favorite!
Test driving at the Tesla Fremont Factory
Adventures Beyond the Classroom
So, what did participants do in their free time? Besides having some downtime after daily sessions and exploring San Jose and the surrounding area, most participants used Sunday as an opportunity to explore more of California. Some hit the scenic coastal route, visiting spots like Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Big Sur. It was the perfect mix of breathtaking ocean views, winding roads, and relaxed vibes. Others opted for a more nature-focused adventure, heading to Sequoia National Park, which is famous for its majestic sequoia trees that dominate the landscape.
Big Sur
All in all, ABC Silicon Valley 2025 was more than just a learning experience. It was a chance to dive into innovation, connect with inspiring individuals, and push ideas to the next level. With everything from company visits and expert talks to road trips and a pitch competition, it was a journey filled with growth, valuable insights, and unforgettable memories. See you in 2026?
