Silicon Valley Entrepreneurship Trek for Cornell PhDs interested in careers in innovation and entrepreneurship

The objective of the trek is to expose PhDs to various companies and organizations that contribute to a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, including university spinouts, incubators/accelerators, venture capitalists, and large innovative firms. The trek also helps PhDs learn about a variety of careers in start-ups, large innovative firms, finance, law, and consulting. It is also an excellent opportunity for PhDs to network with many Cornellians in the region.

The event is Thursday, May 23-Friday May 24, and includes site visits in Silicon Valley and networking with alumni working in Silicon Valley in academic entrepreneurship as well as with founders who based their company on their graduate research.

The trek is open to 6-8 Cornell PhDs. Participants should arrive in Silicon Valley by Wednesday (5/22) and stay through the end of Friday evening. The trek would include up to three nights accommodations, and meals and transportation on May 23 & 24. Half the slots are reserved for BEST participants from any discipline and half the slots are reserved for Engineering PhDs.

Led by Michael Roach, J. Thomas and Nancy W. Clark Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business, this will be his third time leading this entrepreneurship trek at Cornell.

Supported by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, the College of Engineering, and the BEST Program in the Graduate School.

REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Please send your expressions of interest (only if you are available on these dates) to sv27@cornell.edu and please apply via this link: https://cornell.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6gpvBf3losqIBgh. A more detailed agenda will soon be available. Only upon notification of selection should flights be purchased.

Learn what participants in the treks to Silicon Valley in 2016 and 2017 and the 2018 Boston trek have to say and what they got out of their experiences.