aivancity · International Study Tour

At the Heart of the Global Artificial Intelligence Innovation Ecosystem: Silicon Valley · Learning Trip

An immersive experience that provides insight into how innovations in artificial intelligence are conceived, developed, and deployed within the world’s most innovative organizations.

San Francisco Big Tech & Scale-ups Venture Capital Stanford University Startup Ecosystem

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The Learning Trip

Explore the globalAI ecosystem, where innovations that transform organizations are born.

The Learning Trip is an academic and professional immersion program designed to help students understand the practices, cultures, and innovation models of major players in the field of artificial intelligence. Over the course of five days, they meet with technology companies, entrepreneurs, investors, and researchers to develop a global perspective on their future careers.

Each year, a class of students participates in a week-long immersion program in San Francisco and Silicon Valley to learn about the organizations that are shaping today’s global artificial intelligence ecosystem. The program evolves each year to offer opportunities that align with the technological innovations and partnerships developed by aivancity.

Students meet with executives, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and artificial intelligence experts during company visits, conferences, roundtables, and networking sessions. These interactions give them a better understanding of the technological, economic, and human challenges associated with the development of AI. The Learning Trip emphasizes direct interaction with professionals and hands-on exploration of the innovation ecosystem to provide an experience that complements academic instruction.

This immersive experience helps students develop an international perspective, a better understanding of careers in AI, a stronger professional mindset, and a network of contacts that will be valuable for their future academic and professional paths.

What each edition includes
5
Intensive Immersion Days
10+
Companies & institutions visited
40+
Established professional contacts
Sustainable international engagement and a better understanding of the global AI ecosystem.
Why Silicon Valley

Why exploring Silicon Valley is a unique way to understand innovation in artificial intelligence.

Silicon Valley brings together technology companies, universities, investors, and entrepreneurs who are helping to advance artificial intelligence. This immersive experience allows students to observe firsthand the practices and methods that characterize this innovation ecosystem.

01
AI is already widely integrated into business operations
Students learn how it transforms products, services, and operational processes.
02
Turning an Idea into a Product
The companies we spoke with demonstrate how AI projects are rapidly developed, tested, and improved to meet market needs.
03
Creating Value on a Large Scale
Students learn that the success of an innovation depends as much on its adoption as on its technical quality.
04
Measuring the Impact of AI
The discussions highlight the challenges involved in assessing the value created by artificial intelligence projects within organizations.
05
An active French community
Students also meet with French professionals who hold leadership roles within the California tech ecosystem, highlighting the many international career opportunities available.
06
Learning from Experimentation
Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial culture values continuous learning, rapid improvement, and innovation.
07
Human skills are becoming essential
As artificial intelligence automates certain tasks, human skills such as leadership, communication, creativity, and collaboration are becoming increasingly important. Interactions with professionals help students better understand these developments.
08
Build an international professional network
The meetings held during the Learning Trip allow students to build relationships with professionals, entrepreneurs, and researchers who can enrich their academic and professional journeys.
Networking

Expanding Your Professional Network
Internationally

The Learning Trip also provides an opportunity to learn how to build a professional network in an international setting. Students discover best practices in networking and interact with professionals from a variety of backgrounds.

Building Your Network
🤝
Building Professional Relationships The meetings organized during the Learning Trip allow students to interact with professionals in a variety of roles in the fields of artificial intelligence, product development, research, and entrepreneurship.
🔁
Building Your Network Students are encouraged to stay in touch with the professionals they meet in order to continue the dialogue, benefit from their advice, and gradually build their professional network.
🌍
Understanding International Standards Beyond the meetings, this immersion also provides an opportunity to discover professional practices specific to international environments.
An international stance
🧭
Developing an International Perspective The Learning Trip enables students to broaden their international perspective, enhance their adaptability, and deepen their understanding of the challenges associated with global innovation in artificial intelligence.
 

Feedback

 

Sample Program: 2026 Edition
San Francisco · May 4–8, 2026

One class of students, 5 days, more than 10 companies visited. The program, photos, and lessons learned from the Class of 2026.

The program is presented as an example. The organizations featured change each year depending on partnerships and availability.
Program · 2026 Edition

5 Days in the Ecosystem: "
" Day by Day

Each day was designed to expose students to a different aspect of innovation: AI operations, venture capital, product development, and the Franco-American network.

 
Day 1 Monday, May 4 · San Francisco
Welcome to the Ecosystem: Introduction, Big Tech, Venture Capital
French-American Chamber of Commerce
An overview of California's innovation ecosystem, how it works, and its cultural characteristics.
Pinterest: 80 billion searches
Engineering, Product & Trust. Exploring the applications of artificial intelligence in product development and business processes.
Cathay Innovation · Top 3 VCs in Europe
Meeting with an investment fund specializing in technological innovation.
 
Day 2 Tuesday, May 5 · Silicon Valley / Bay Area
Big Tech, Campuses & Venture Capital: YouTube, Stanford, Plug&Play, Apple
YouTube / Google
An overview of the challenges related to trust, security, and AI applications in digital platforms.
Stanford University d.school
An introduction to the innovation and Design Thinking approaches developed at Stanford.
Plug & Play: ~1 investment per day
An overview of the innovation ecosystem and discussions on technology entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence.
 
Day 3 Wednesday, May 6 · San Francisco
Businesses & Applied Innovation: Scale-up, Science Museum, Uber Panel
Planisware: A French scale-up
Global leader in PPM. An example of a French company that has dominated a global market since SF.
Exploratorium SF
Science museum with an AI section. Immersive educational approach.
Uber Panel · USF Board AI
Discussions on the use of artificial intelligence in large organizations.
 
Day 4 Thursday, May 7 · San Francisco
Networking at the Summit: CRM, Professional Networking, AI-Powered Email + FABA Evening Event
Salesforce · Data Cloud & AI
Exploring the applications of agent-based AI in CRM solutions and business tools.
LinkedIn · "Welcome, Aivancity!"
A meeting with LinkedIn teams to discuss careers, the product, and the platform's business model.
FABA Startup Competition Event
Discussions with entrepreneurs, investors, and members of the Franco-American ecosystem.
 
Day 5 Friday, May 8 · San Francisco
Closing: Analytics & Bay-Alcatraz Cruise
Salesforce · Digital & Analytics
An overview of analytical approaches for measuring the impact of artificial intelligence projects.
Bay Cruise - Alcatraz
Closing ceremony of the Learning Trip, featuring a tour of San Francisco Bay and an opportunity for participants to mingle informally before heading home.
Gallery · 2026 Edition

Immersion in Pictures

A class of students in the hallways of the world's largest tech companies: photos that capture a defining week.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn HQ: Welcoming the aivancity Delegation
Planisware
Planisware: Enterprise & AI Session
FABA
FABA Startup Competition: Networking & Pitches
Salesforce
Salesforce: aivancity Group with the teams
FACC
French-American Chamber of Commerce, California
Panel
Panel Session: Speakers from Silicon Valley
LinkedIn session
LinkedIn: Introduction to aivancity School of AI
Pinterest
Pinterest: aivancity delegation at the office
Debrief Wine Bar
Informal debrief: wine bar, after Cathay Innovation
Uber Panel
Uber Panel / University of San Francisco
Salesforce Overview
Salesforce: Data Cloud & Analytics Overview
Meetings · 2026 Edition

Some of the organizations we met
, during the 2026 edition

The 2026 edition gave students the opportunity to meet with technology companies, investment funds, innovation support organizations, and professionals from the California tech ecosystem. The organizations listed below are provided as examples and may vary from year to year.

Pinterest
Day 1 · Big Tech · Operational AI
Pinterest
Learn how a major digital platform integrates artificial intelligence into its products, processes, and decisions.
LinkedIn
Day 4 · Professional Network
LinkedIn
Discussions with the LinkedIn teams about job roles, the platform, and the use of artificial intelligence in professional settings.
Salesforce
Days 4 & 5 · CRM · Agent-based AI
Salesforce
Two sessions focused on the applications of agent-based AI in CRM solutions, data analytics, and business transformation.
Planisware
Day 3 · French Scale-up
Planisware
An example of a French company that has established an international presence in the field of project management software.
FABA
Day 4 · Startup Competition
FABA Startup Competition
Pitches by Franco-American startups to a panel of judges. Participation in an evening event bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and key players in Franco-American innovation.
FACC
Partner · FACC California
French-American Chamber of Commerce
The French-American Chamber of Commerce supports the organization of the Learning Trip by facilitating interactions with companies and stakeholders in the California ecosystem.
Professional Network

The network developed
during the Learning Trip

Throughout the week, students meet with professionals from major technology companies, startups, investment funds, universities, and partner organizations. These interactions provide a better understanding of careers in artificial intelligence, what companies are looking for, and industry trends, while helping students build an international professional network.

"This immersion experience goes beyond a simple tour of Silicon Valley: it puts students in direct contact with the places, people, and ideas that are shaping the global future of AI, and it confirms that aivancity has a rightful place in this ecosystem."
Matthieu Alcindor, Admissions Manager, aivancity
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