May 15, 2023

Drexel University's Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship recently organized a Silicon Valley Immersion Trip for its students, and it was an experience unlike any other. The trip began on Monday when students flew out to San Francisco with Dean, Donna De Carolis and Associate Dean, Chuck Sacco. The attending students were Aaron Feker, Liam Moyniham, Peyton Mercer, Dean DiGiovanni, and Arin Mishra, and they proved to be excellent representatives of both Drexel and the Close School.

The students had the opportunity to visit various startup companies, including Polymath Robotics , founded by Drexel alumnus Stefan Seltz-Axmacher, and Amity Ventures, a boutique VC fund. They also visited Plug and Play Ventures, one of the most prominent incubators in Silicon Valley, and Draper University, a startup boot camp program founded by famous Silicon Valley investor, Tim Draper. Visits to German Accelerator, an incubator program for German companies looking to scale globally, and Vijay Ullal, one of Drexel’s most notable alumni, were also on the itinerary.

At an early evening dinner event, students had the chance to pitch their ideas to three of Drexel's alums, including Stefan, Dipak Patel, and Tony Stolis. They received constructive and in-depth feedback on their ideas, which provides a valuable growth experience for them in their entrepreneurial journeys.

In addition to the startup visits, the students also had the opportunity to visit Apple's campus visitor center, attend a Golden State Warriors game, and have a social event with Drexel alums at the Exploratorium. The trip concluded with a visit to Alcatraz.

The trip was an unforgettable experiential learning experience for the Drexel students, and they were grateful for everyone who contributed to it. The Silicon Valley Immersion Trip program provides Drexel dragons with the opportunity to learn from successful entrepreneurs and venture capitalists while gaining insights into the startup ecosystem in Silicon Valley.

If you're a student at the Close School of Entrepreneurship, we encourage you to consider applying for next year's Silicon Valley trip. It's a unique and valuable experience that can help you develop your entrepreneurial skills and give you a new perspective on what it takes to succeed in the business world.