“Meeting the biggest companies in Silicon Valley is a unique opportunity to learn about innovation, connect with like-minded people, and maybe even found a company.”
Can you introduce yourself? Tell us your name, where you’re from, and a bit about your background.
My name is Luis, and I’m from Brazil. I have a strong background in computer science. I earned my bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering and went on to complete a master’s in distributed computing. Professionally, I’ve worked as a software engineer for more than 10 years, mainly in the software quality assurance area and with programming languages such as Python. In addition, I also teach at the university in subjects related to Python, testing, and computer networks.
How do you see your technical background combining with what you’ve learned at ABC Silicon Valley?
I think the technical skills are the foundation for building the solutions themselves. But what I’m learning here—and also what I’m seeing—is that you also need to think beyond the technical side, more about the business, the ideas, and the customers. It’s a different approach.
The technical background is good because you need it to build the product. But you also need to think differently: discovering customers and business opportunities. They’re different skill sets, but when you combine them, I think it makes a huge difference.
You also teach at the university. How has that experience helped you at ABC Silicon Valley?
At the university, teaching requires you to shape your message to your audience. You need to explain things in different ways, or think differently about how to transmit the message to your students.
That experience translates well here. When you are pitching, you also need to shape your message to your target audience—whether that’s investors, customers, or collaborators. It’s something I’ve practiced in teaching, and I see now how important it is for pitching ideas, getting investment, or connecting with customers.
Why did you join ABC Silicon Valley?
I joined mainly to have the opportunity to meet the biggest companies in my area. Here in Silicon Valley, you have the most famous companies, the ones with the biggest impact in the world. Meeting those companies is a great opportunity to learn about innovation, to connect with people who share a similar mindset, and to build a network!
