Where do you even start when you spend three weeks in two powerhouses of innovation and technology in North America? Add companies such as Tesla, Plug and Play, Roku, Toyota, a bunch of expert talks, and being surrounded by people who think the way you do, and it becomes so much harder.
ABC Silicon Valley
It all started on July 12 at San José State University, when you entered that room in CV2 and said those shy first hellos. But day after day, you got more comfortable speaking up, talking, and asking questions. Why? Laszlo Gyorffy, our Lead Instructor.
From day one, he creates that environment in class. One where you want to learn and create. Besides, he does an amazing job of breaking down every single thing that makes Silicon Valley… well, Silicon Valley, and showing you how to turn that idea stuck in your head into something real. Something tangible. From customer experience and breakthrough thinking to CO-STAR, pitching, and AI. You name it. He will teach you.
Laszlo Gyorffy, Lead Instructor at ABC Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley Giants
No, we didn’t mean the San Francisco Giants. But who are the Silicon Valley ones, you might ask? Think Tesla, Lyft, Plug and Play, and NetApp. Yes, that’s right. Those giants!
We really went inside, toured the factory or, in the latter three cases, the offices, talked to employees, asked way too many questions, and had the time of our lives (Ivan Ž. — we are looking at you). Add visits to Stanford, the Google Visitor Experience, Apple Park, and Intel’s 10,000-square-foot museum to the mix, and you have one seriously packed program. And let’s not forget about San Francisco — the city by the Bay.
Visit to the Tesla Fremont Factory
Insights You Can’t Get Anywhere Else
At ABC Silicon Valley, you don’t get to talk to one, two, or three experts. Over these two weeks, we got 11 of them. Yes, eleven. And not a single one of them has the same story.
Some talked about corporate venturing, some about purpose-driven innovation, and some about AI. Many of them shared their personal stories — how they got to where they are, how they founded companies or climbed the ladder, or how they failed and what those failures taught them. And, yes, we also asked them way too many questions. But, hey, that is the whole point (and we prepare them in advance)!
Omar Elloumi, one of the guest speakers at ABC Silicon Valley
People
But what is it all for if not for the people who decided to show up? All 26 of them.
From Portugal, Serbia, Argentina, Croatia, Tunisia, Colombia, Poland, New Zealand, and more. People who took time off work, study, and personal life to show up in the Valley. To see innovation in action, learn from the best of the best, and not be ordinary.
People who decided to take matters into their own hands. Those who now understand what it means to think big, start small, and learn fast. Those people.
Group photo of ABC Silicon Valley participants
ABC Toronto
As soon as ABC Silicon Valley wrapped up on the 25th, the ABC Team was already on a plane to catch everyone in Toronto. So, round two began on Saturday evening.
New city, new people, but it all felt pretty familiar. People saying those same shy first hellos. And on Sunday? The very first lectures with Peter. Your guide on the side. And a guide who gives you marshmallows (yes, you read that right) to use for a challenge, so he can teach you about business and entrepreneurship.
No boring lectures, please! From the Flourishing Business Canvas, validation, and market research to sales, operations, and financials, Peter managed to walk us through everything in just one week.
Peter Forint, Lead Instructor at ABC Toronto
Major League
Silicon Valley and San Francisco have their Giants, but Toronto has the Blue Jays in the Major League. But we won’t talk about that for now.
Instead, let’s talk about the major players influencing Toronto’s innovation scene. Think MaRS, Toyota, and Roku.
And again, we went behind the scenes, toured offices, talked to employees, and got the opportunity to ask a gazillion questions. Add a visit to Niagara Falls, and somehow, it all fit into the perfect puzzle Rebeka put together.
Visit to Roku
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
We were never the ones who would make a program that brings people together just to listen to one professor talk for hours. So, you already know that a guest speaker lineup is coming into this mix.
For a program that lasts a week, we brought five of them. Almost one for each day of the program. From innovation and commercialization to AI, social media, and learning how investors think, we covered it all.
Katie Ko, one of the guest speakers at ABC Toronto
People
What got you on that flight soon after one program ended to begin another? Peopleeeee, duh!
From England, Croatia, Ukraine, Belgium, Brazil, Portugal, and more. The next generation of entrepreneurs. People who think outside the box, people who didn’t want to have an ordinary summer, people who got on that same plane (well, not exactly the same plane, but a plane) to come to another country and learn.
Be better. Test. Try. And be willing to fail. And be proud of it. Not ashamed. Proud. That’s why.
Group photo of ABC Toronto participants
Conclusion
All good things must come to an end. So they say.
Yes, three weeks in two powerhouses of innovation and technology are over, but we know that those 44 individuals came back to their countries thinking completely differently. They approach challenges in new ways. They are willing to test and try. Most importantly, they are willing to fail and learn faster from it.
So, yes, while the journey across the Valley and Toronto came to an end, for those 44 individuals, good things are only beginning.
