Founders, one week in San Francisco can change your life...

I want to share my initial thoughts on Silicon Valley as a visiting entrepreneur and tech startup founder from Singapore, as I am get ready to board my return flight back to Asia.

This week has been packed to the brim with learnings and mind-opening experiences that I would like to share with all, also as a way to shout out the incredible friends we have met on this trip.

Let me start with two general learnings.

• First, Silicon Valley has taken a hit from Covid and recent tech layoffs, but that has somehow added to the dynamism of what is happening, perhaps a wake-up call for a very powerful ecosystem that had perhaps gotten a bit complacent. But the opportunities and networks to be built are world-class now as much as ever.
• Second, infrastructure leaves a lot to be desired compared to Singapore/Hong Kong. I found myself frequently in areas with no proper internet coverage, and public transportation is lacking and slow (although the San Francisco trams are gorgeous!). A sustainable ecosystem for a new generation of entrepreneurs, especially in a wealthy part of the world like California, should not let this continue to be the case. Tax the rich!

Now, a few startup learnings:

• Metrics, metrics, metrics. Silicon Valley investors are direct and brutal in their feedback (I love it, as mentioned in my last post), and how well your "product" connects with the "business" part of your startup story is crucial. To that end, be ready to dive deep.
• Also, be ready for your story to evolve rapidly. Storya will be pivoting soon, building on the incredible wealth of experience we have accumulated in the past year building an incredible team, vision, product, and community. But also thanks to the engaging and tough conversations of the last 10 days in the US. It makes me so grateful to have come here to learn, connect, and evolve.
• Pivoting feels scary, but a recession is upon us (making fundraising tougher than ever), the creator economy, publishing, generative AI spaces are evolving very rapidly, and founders need to embrace change, as challenging as it might be.
• I have found on this trip that there can be a route where the initial vision remains, the values are not compromised, but you can learn that the right direction may not be the starting point. For us, it will mean a pivot from a pure B2C play towards a more edtech and B2G focused approach. More to come on that!

Now, onto some more fun experiences.

Storya Chief Strategy Officer Nahuel Furrer and I were honored to be guests of a Keiretsu Forum dinner at Marin McInnis Golf Club, with special guest speaker Dan Lynch , a former NFL player and PE investor, who shared his inspiring life story of working and living in Eastern Europe for several decades. The night was organized by the indefatigable Max Shapiro of PeopleConnect Staffing (a name that defines both his business and his incredible skill set). Too many great guests to mention here, but I will start with Fred Stein , Knud Balslev , and Kasia Krzoska - Stiggelbout , all amazing people with tons of industry experience. I am so glad to have met and learned from you all.

We also attended the live recording of the Silicon Zombies Podcast podcast in Menlo Park, close to Facebook's headquarters. Aside from the truly crazy experience of all internet connections being down in the area (both mobile and wifi) due to bad weather, the event was a true highlight of our trip. This is thanks to Nick Larson , the podcast host, an entrepreneur of the best kind: hyper-talented, super friendly, and community-driven. The podcast saw the participation of neuroscientist Dr. Nikolaos Dimitriadis , a luminary of the field who shared powerful insights about the power of the unconscious over our daily life and decision-making, as well as updates from his work with large organizations around the world looking to understand our magnificent engine of consciousness.

There would be much, much more to share, but I will finish by thanking a few more amazing people we met, including (in no particular order!), Chaitanya Vaidya , Sarah Ko-yung Lee, Ed.M., CPCC , Ruby Yeh , Sophie Alcorn , and my friend of twenty years and amazing fellow founder Nima Alidoust .

And finally, a note for fellow founders around the world. Silicon Valley's energy and dynamism are something to behold. If you are looking to learn from the US ecosystem, you can do no better than joining Kevin Holmes ' Founders Network . I joined over a year ago, and the community they provide has been invaluable to my journey.