Sunday afternoon, as any typical tourist will do, we took our cameras and visited the many San Francisco sites!!! 

Amazing city, with amazing people and culture. Yes culture, even though I’m not a citizen of USA, it is clear to see that cultural behavior and style of closing differentiate between cities like Chicago, New York and San Francisco.

Monday

At eBay, we learned about the recruitment process and what actually Ebay is doing especially on their marketing side. (By the way, much of the information we learned are we were asked not to disclose so I will talk only of general issues, but it will still give you an idea of how it was and what it looks like in Silicon Valley) 

Lunch on eBay gave us an opportunity to feel like we were a part of the big community--at least for a few minutes. 

Next destination is Google

Thoughts about what I learned during the first day. Silicon Valley’s new trends – pinterest.com. Core Asset – Data. Core challenge in B&B business is to generate soft , which can automate a marketing process. In B&C business is personalization process. SO guys if you have an idea and something in this field, (from my understanding), welcome to Silicon Valley .

Tuesday

Apple. We all have MSTM iPads so we have worked with the Apple fascinating technology. It is true that this company has the most closed culture but they treated us fabulously.    

Plug and Play Tech Centre. Most startup accelerators in the Silicon Valley are open to talk so basically if you have an idea or prototype, you can go there and find you future way. They have own process and rules. So I will encourage entrepreneurs to go there and try it. 

Wednesday

Intel, seemed like a totally different culture if we compare it with Apple and Google and eBay. We visited the Museum of Intel and had a panel of alumni speakers. By the way one of our classmate had interview with Intel.

HP Labs, due to the lab environment, the organization seemed like a mostly closed laboratory but had some interesting things to show us.  So be aware for this year or next. . . 

Thought what I learn in the third day.  There was some interesting point of the supply chain managing side in Intel and how they manufacture their chips.  In the HP Labs, it was interesting listening to how they collaborate with their internal international divisions and how they fund projects. 


Thursday

New Brand pearl.com before just answers.com.  Interesting startup and have huge potential.

I had a similar idea in 2007 but slightly different on the monetization side, but I didn’t do because of the lack of knowledge and wasn’t so passionate about startups and other economic issues. Pearl’s gain, my loss.

For the Peral.com I would say that their vision after five - ten years is not about helping people and growth bigger than eBay.  It is about personalization of their service model for their customers – kind of personal assistant (ex: - online secretary) for the low income users. Thank you to the CEO for meeting with us and sharing his own beliefs and visions.

Last hours in San Francisco I spend on walking in the downtown area. In that time, I reviewed all these days and I realized that Silicon Valley is one of the cutting edges of the frontiers of technology. With such a ripe frontier, this economy just logically requires special culture, and talented engineers and designers.

Thanks to Donna and J.E. who spent the week with us, for their preparation in these insightful days and pushing us to networking. Thanks to the MSTM program for sponsoring such a trip. I encourage prospective students to enroll in this program…