Our own world tour of The Valley?
3rd of April 2007 by conor
I have many fond memories of the EI-organised trip I did to California back in 1999. We spent the week receiving lectures from some great people like Bob Sutton in Stanford and we also did a bunch of field trips to companies like Cisco, HP, Excite, Ideo etc.
At this stage there are a lot of us in Ireland who know the Valley and the Bay Area quite well and have a good bunch of contacts there. However because of the distance and cost, unless there is a direct and immediate business reason to go, most of us visit rarely.
Then I read Jeremy Fain’s Blog and I realised we are being far too short-term in our thinking. Jeremy writes:
That's why I decided a couple weeks ago to organize a study trip to Silicon Valley. It will be a week-long study trip focusing on the business of innovation & technology (entrepreneurship, venture capital, software, computer networks & hardware, consumer electronics & Internet, telecommunications) and actually take place between Sunday, 25th November 2007 and Sunday, 2nd December 2007. No kidding, it's serious business so save the dates!
In no time at all he had a bunch of people interested in joining him. Similar things have been done before with great success like the Israel Web Tour.
Perhaps we are getting too used to having the Valley come to us in Europe and it is time to return the compliment and meet all those people we admire on their turf? I’m open to helping to arrange something like this later this year. Who would like to discuss this further?
17 Responses to “Our own world tour of The Valley?”
Dan O'Shea
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:40 am
I think this is a great idea!
I myself have some contacts in the Valley… and would be happy to help organize this event.
Conor O'Neill
April 3rd, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Sounds great Dan. I think we should be able to rustle up a good contingent before the end of the year.
Eoghan McCabe
April 3rd, 2007 at 2:44 pm
I think that’s a really good idea. I’d definitely be up for it (if my bank balance allows if / when the time comes). Would be great to go near the start of Autumn.
Jeremy Fain
April 3rd, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Hey guys,
Well I’m glad our initiative inspired you as well. We should definitely, after Silicon Valley of course, think of building a bridge between Ireland and France as well (cross visits?): a load of things has been happening in our respective mother lands recently. Knowing each other better can only help high tech start ups develop their business in the European Union more and better.
Good luck in organizing the trip and take care!
Jeremy
Conor O'Neill
April 3rd, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Later in the year is definitely the plan as a lot of people it might suit are doing launches in the next few months and will neither have the time nor the money. Early Autumn in the Valley is delightful
conor
April 3rd, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Great idea Jeremy about making links. I know several French guys based here building interesting tech. We’ll watch your blog for news on your planning.
Yet another trip to Silicon Valley? « “Tech IT Easy” - Jeremy Fain’s blog
April 3rd, 2007 at 6:04 pm
[...] For those of you interested, his about the Irish Silicon Valley trip (as opposed to the French ) is right here. [...]
Damien Mulley » Blog Archive » Woahhh we’re going to San Francisco - Paddy’s Tech Day?
April 4th, 2007 at 8:44 am
[...] The Zaaahh bit is said like you are using it to threaten someone with a head-butt. Anyways. Conor mentioned trips to Silicon Valley Perhaps we are getting too used to having the Valley come to us in Europe and it is time to return [...]
fergusburns
April 4th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
This is a great idea.
Based on what the Israeli group itinerary – it would be great if we could do something similar – surely the Irish “valley” ex-pat community would also get involved.
Yann Le Gouic
April 5th, 2007 at 6:35 am
yup great idea
I would be glad to join and help !
Ben Mosse
April 5th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Conor, give me a ring. I would be happy to discuss how EI could help get involved in putting this together with you.
Ed Byrne
April 6th, 2007 at 2:47 am
Count me in anyway!
Transatlantic Cowork Location Twinning - Uncategorized.
April 6th, 2007 at 3:04 am
[...] sleeping bags is all we’ll need to bring along on Paddy’s tour of the Valley. And then we can reciprocate by facilitating our Valley colleagues. Because, as Chris said – [...]
If the Valley won’t come to Paddy, Paddy must go to the Valley - Uncategorized.
April 6th, 2007 at 4:55 am
[...] on from Conor’s proposal to do a group tour of the Valley and Damien’s extension of the idea to encompass some marketing it seems like it’s [...]
Sean O Sullivan
April 8th, 2007 at 4:21 am
I was on that same EI trip back in ’99. Really excellent – I still recall some of the site visits, and the lectures, from that week. All in favour of a group tour, especially if we could get some Stanford tie-in and/or start-up networking tie-in over there.
Pat Phelan
April 8th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Would love to go, I have good contacts out their and can arrange visits to the large telco concerns
Damien Mulley » Blog Archive » 18 down so far for PaddysValley Tour
April 18th, 2007 at 4:48 am
[...] Irish invasion of Silicon Valley has gained quite a bit of momentum in the past few days and today a press release was sent out [...]