Difference between revisions of "1415T1g1 Silicon Valley/Participant Information/Reflection/12 Dec"
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| − | <div style="font-size: 20px"> | + | <div style="font-size: 20px">Day #6</div> |
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| + | '''Microsoft | ||
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| + | The visit to Microsoft SV was the most informative session of all the company visits in this TSM. Matt Thompson, Microsoft SV’s DX General Manager gave us the insights into VC investments in Silicon Valley and pretty much gave us an overview of the startup up scene in SV as compared to other cities in the US and the world. It’s difficult for startups in Singapore because it’s not easy to find suitable tech talents who are willing to work for benefits other than salary. Here in the valley interns and potential employees are more open to risks and equities as compared to safety of guaranteed job and promise of hard salary figures in Singapore. | ||
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| + | In addition, how Microsoft have accumulated an array of products to help startups was interesting. Because the story of Microsoft’s BizSpark startup VC initiative as popular as that of Y-Combinator or TechCrunch Disruptive. Being backed by Microsoft for a startup is a three-in-one match because Microsoft has the technology, the funding and the access to partners to support startups. | ||
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| + | Microsoft’s current VC focus is primarily on Internet Of Things (IOT) startups. The story of how a research of a PhD student who figured out a way to inject codes into devices with specific chipsets to shield the running environment of the software and prevent potential hacks and security leaks is an interesting one. The startup was supported by Microsoft and acquired a USD 1 Million contract with the Whitehouse. This comes to show that anyone with a good product/service/solution to offer will be able to find the tech, funding and partnership support in the valley. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | '''Serena | ||
| + | Serena, although a small company, hosted us like many other professional tech MNCs. Serena is one of the companies that has a suite of change management tools designed around best practices to help developers and operations teams work productively. | ||
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| + | There are many change management tools out there, but it’s not surprising that companies like Serena survive in the market. Large companies often prefer to pay reputable organizations to help them fulfill certain aspect of their business needs as opposed to developing their own capabilities to cater to their needs. Companies like Serena are able to deliver what they were paid for and thus maintain their reputation among their clients. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | This situation was also through about Linux based enterprise systems. Although many Linux products were free and open source, many companies were reluctant to use them in fear of lack of support from experts and specialized organizations. Companies like RedHat and SUSE Linux were able to put a layer of professionalism and specialized services on top of various Linux products and were able to sell a full suite enterprise solution to their clients. Since then, many companies have opted for these services due to the proliferation of expert support from these dedicated organizations. So, it’s not always about inventing an algorithm or developing a new technology, it is also about provide an effective service based on existing but tweaked technologies that can lead to success in Silicon Valley. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ''Stanford Tour & Dinner | ||
| + | Stanford tour and dinner went exceptionally better than expected. It turned into a unplanned but well organized networking session with SMU and NUS Alumni and current SMU, NUS and Stanford students. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | Learning from Adrian, iOS Developer at TripAdvisor, former SMU SIS student, sometimes it’s about just applying for jobs without planning too much that might lead to eventually better career prospects. Adiran received an email from his friend who was interning at a startup in Silicon Valley while doing his NUS NOC program. He decided to apply for the job although he new nothing much about it and eventually got the job at a startup company which was latter acquired by TripAdvisor. From his humble story I was once again reminded of the risks and chances that people in the valley endure to achieve success. | ||
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Revision as of 15:04, 13 December 2014
- TBC
- TBC
- TBC
- TBC
- TBC
- TBC
Microsoft
The visit to Microsoft SV was the most informative session of all the company visits in this TSM. Matt Thompson, Microsoft SV’s DX General Manager gave us the insights into VC investments in Silicon Valley and pretty much gave us an overview of the startup up scene in SV as compared to other cities in the US and the world. It’s difficult for startups in Singapore because it’s not easy to find suitable tech talents who are willing to work for benefits other than salary. Here in the valley interns and potential employees are more open to risks and equities as compared to safety of guaranteed job and promise of hard salary figures in Singapore.
In addition, how Microsoft have accumulated an array of products to help startups was interesting. Because the story of Microsoft’s BizSpark startup VC initiative as popular as that of Y-Combinator or TechCrunch Disruptive. Being backed by Microsoft for a startup is a three-in-one match because Microsoft has the technology, the funding and the access to partners to support startups.
Microsoft’s current VC focus is primarily on Internet Of Things (IOT) startups. The story of how a research of a PhD student who figured out a way to inject codes into devices with specific chipsets to shield the running environment of the software and prevent potential hacks and security leaks is an interesting one. The startup was supported by Microsoft and acquired a USD 1 Million contract with the Whitehouse. This comes to show that anyone with a good product/service/solution to offer will be able to find the tech, funding and partnership support in the valley.
Serena
Serena, although a small company, hosted us like many other professional tech MNCs. Serena is one of the companies that has a suite of change management tools designed around best practices to help developers and operations teams work productively.
There are many change management tools out there, but it’s not surprising that companies like Serena survive in the market. Large companies often prefer to pay reputable organizations to help them fulfill certain aspect of their business needs as opposed to developing their own capabilities to cater to their needs. Companies like Serena are able to deliver what they were paid for and thus maintain their reputation among their clients.
This situation was also through about Linux based enterprise systems. Although many Linux products were free and open source, many companies were reluctant to use them in fear of lack of support from experts and specialized organizations. Companies like RedHat and SUSE Linux were able to put a layer of professionalism and specialized services on top of various Linux products and were able to sell a full suite enterprise solution to their clients. Since then, many companies have opted for these services due to the proliferation of expert support from these dedicated organizations. So, it’s not always about inventing an algorithm or developing a new technology, it is also about provide an effective service based on existing but tweaked technologies that can lead to success in Silicon Valley.
Stanford Tour & Dinner
Stanford tour and dinner went exceptionally better than expected. It turned into a unplanned but well organized networking session with SMU and NUS Alumni and current SMU, NUS and Stanford students.
Learning from Adrian, iOS Developer at TripAdvisor, former SMU SIS student, sometimes it’s about just applying for jobs without planning too much that might lead to eventually better career prospects. Adiran received an email from his friend who was interning at a startup in Silicon Valley while doing his NUS NOC program. He decided to apply for the job although he new nothing much about it and eventually got the job at a startup company which was latter acquired by TripAdvisor. From his humble story I was once again reminded of the risks and chances that people in the valley endure to achieve success.
