Intervención de Xavier Verdaguer, Innovalley. Explica como emprender, vivir y tener éxito en Silicon Valley. 17_01_2010 Evento relacionado: http://bit.ly/gwUeyh

1. Launching in Silicon Valley
Xavier Verdaguer
Innovalley, Inc.
January, 2011
@xavierverdaguer

2. Index
• Introduction. Background
• Why I decided to come to Silicon Valley?
• Myths and Realities of Silicon Valley
• The biggest challenges of my move
• Reasons to be an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley

4. • Factory of innovation. Tech + Content
• Founded in 1997. With 2 VC (1.5 + 7.4 MM Eur)
• + 50 employees
• Tech transfer agreements with 11 Universities
• Offices in Barcelona, Madrid & Dubai
• Clients: Deustche Bank, JCDecaux, NH Hoteles, ...

5. 11 years

6. Innovalley, Inc.
FASHION + TECH = SMART APPAREL
@innovalley

12. • Innovation company in smart clothing
• 100% American company founded in January 2010
• 4 strategic partners (Ideas + R&D + Soft + Fashion)
• First round of funding
• 3 product lines. Patenting
• Its own e-commerce platform and B2B clients
• One of the 25 top-ranked startups (Innovate2010)

13. 11 months

14. Time is Gold

15. The Silicon Valley Ecosystem

16. 1. Stanford University

17. 2. Talent

18. 3. Entrepreneurial Culture

19. 4.Venture Capital

20. 5. Networking

21. 6. Top Companies

22. 7. Quality of life

23. Myths and Realities
• Very competitive environment
> Yes, but with equal opportunities for all
• Very informal environment
> In respect to style, but carefully planned
• Substantial legal barriers
> Yes, some, but salvable with good help
• All is achieved through Networking
> Almost everything, but it must be done properly

24. Networking
1. Explain your project clearly and concisely
2. Talk to everyone and at any place or time
3. Do not be overly protective with your ideas
4. Never be dismissive of anyone
5. Be humble and sincere
6. Be patient
7. Be generous

25. In search of gold...
• The largest concentration of investors in the world
• Strategic sectors: ITech, BioTech, CleanTeach
• Money is expensive at the moment
• Consciously prepare a Pitch + Business Plan
• Value = IQ + IP (Intelligent Quotient + Intellectual Property)
• Creativity

26. The biggest challenges of my move
• Found the company
• Legalize my situation
• Find a place to live/work
• Hire staff
• Partnership and commercial platform agreements
• Fundraising

27. Reasons to be an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley
1. Because there are plenty of opportunities
2. Because there is a Positive Mental Attitude
3. Because there is so much to learn
4. Because it’s fun
5. Why not?

28. creativity center
www.imagine.cc

29. Xavier Verdaguer
Innovalley, Inc.
xavi@innovalley.us
@xavierverdaguer
www.xavierverdaguer.com