aivancity · International Study Tour

Where Startups Become Silicon Valley Unicorns
Learning Trip

An annual immersion in the heart of the global AI ecosystem—returning with a new way of thinking, doing business, and looking to the future.

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

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The Learning Trip

Doing Business Globally — You Can Learn the Ropes on the Job at

A learning trip is not a tourist trip. It is an educational investment that transforms capable students into professionals who think globally from day one.

Every year, aivancity organizes a five-day immersion program in San Francisco and Silicon Valley for a select group of students. The program is completely redesigned for each edition in collaboration with new partners to ensure it remains closely aligned with industry realities.

Students meet in person with leaders from the tech industry, venture capital firms, and organizations within the ecosystem—at their offices, during panel discussions, and at networking events. No sightseeing, no lectures: just real conversations with the professionals shaping the global AI landscape.

This kind of experience brings about a transformation that no classroom can replicate: an irreversible rise in ambition, an international professional outlook, and a network of contacts ready to be tapped into as soon as you return.

What each edition includes
5
Intensive Immersion Days
10+
Companies & institutions visited
40+
Established professional contacts
∞
Level of ambition after returning
Why Silicon Valley

What the global "
" ecosystem teaches us about AI entrepreneurship

Silicon Valley isn't a myth. It's an ecosystem with its own set of rules, dynamics, and entrepreneurial culture—which can only be understood by experiencing it from the inside.

01
AI is operational, not predictive
In both large tech companies and startups, AI is already shaping daily workflows, product decisions, and value creation. It’s no longer a distant prospect—it’s the present.
02
Execution > Idea — always
Silicon Valley doesn't reward brilliant ideas. It rewards teams that can deliver, iterate quickly, and adapt their product to market realities. Execution is everything.
03
Distribution = Competitive Advantage #1
Brilliant technology without a distribution channel is wasted technology. Building market access is just as strategic as building the product itself.
04
The ROI of AI has yet to be established
Even the most advanced companies struggle to quantify the financial value of their AI investments. This is uncharted territory—and a major research opportunity for aivancity.
05
The French are at the top
The French presence in Silicon Valley is strong, visible, and respected at every level—engineering, product, venture capital, and executive management. Seeing fellow French people in these roles changes what we believe is possible.
06
Failure is an experience, not a stigma
Investors view founders who failed before succeeding in a positive light. This "fail fast, learn faster" culture remains the biggest cultural divide between Europe and Silicon Valley.
07
Human skills are valued
As AI takes over more tasks, leadership, storytelling, and emotional intelligence are becoming the true competitive advantages. The best candidates combine technical skills, product vision, and an understanding of people.
08
The network is an infrastructure
In Silicon Valley, networking isn't just a nice-to-have. It's the lifeblood of the ecosystem. The best opportunities aren't advertised—they're passed along through personal connections.
Networking

The Rules of the Game
s in the Ecosystem

Silicon Valley operates according to specific social norms. Mastering them is essential to turning a chance encounter into an opportunity.

Building Relationships
🎯
Always personalize the invitation Never send a blank LinkedIn invitation. Mention where you met, what made an impression on you, and why you want to stay connected.
🤝
Be a "solution provider" above all else Don’t ask for a job right away. Build trust first. Opportunities will follow naturally—especially in Silicon Valley.
🔁
Engage after logging in Like, comment, share. Visibility keeps the relationship alive. A connection that isn’t nurtured quickly gets lost in the feed.
Building a presence
📢
Share what you've learned Document your experience on LinkedIn. Build your professional brand. Stay visible so opportunities can find their way to you.
🌍
Think globally from day one Silicon Valley encourages building for the whole world, not just for a local market. The best candidates adopt this mindset from the very beginning.
💡
Curiosity is a superpower AI is evolving every week. The most sought-after candidates are curious, adaptable, and never satisfied with what they already know.
 

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2026 Edition
San Francisco · May 4–8, 2026

22 students, 5 days, and visits to more than 10 companies. The program, photos, contacts, and lessons learned from the Class of 2026.

The companies visited and speakers vary each year depending on current partnerships
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
A Strategic Introduction to the California Ecosystem: Cultural Norms, Networking, and Venture Capital.
Pinterest — 80 billion searches
Engineering, Product & Trust. Everyday AI: Generative Tools, Governance, Workflows.
Cathay Innovation · Top 3 VCs in Europe
"Ideas are worthless; execution is everything." — Arnaud Auger, Director of C.Lab
 
Day 2 Tuesday, May 5 · Silicon Valley / Bay Area
Big Tech, campuses & venture capital — YouTube, Stanford, Plug&Play, Apple
YouTube / Google
Trust & Safety, Generative AI Products, Data Science. "Maybe we've all just been promoted."
Stanford University d.school
The birthplace of Silicon Valley. Design Thinking, Radical Collaboration, Big Projects.
Plug & Play — ~1 investment per day
Two students are pitching their startup. Direct contact with the VP of the AI Center of Excellence.
 
Day 3 Wednesday, May 6 · San Francisco
Businesses & Applied Innovation — Scale-up, Science Museum, Uber Panel
Planisware — 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
Strategic Enterprise, Board Member of the AI Program at the University of San Francisco.
 
Day 4 Thursday, May 7 · San Francisco
Networking at the Top — CRM, Professional Networking, AI Email + FABA Evening Event
Salesforce · Data Cloud & AI
Product Management, Agent-Based AI, Global CRM Transformation.
LinkedIn · "Welcome, Aivancity!"
GTM Operations, Product, Finance. Official homepage with a dedicated section.
FABA Startup Competition Event
French-American pitches, investor panel, networking reception.
 
Day 5 Friday, May 8 · San Francisco
Closing — Analytics & Bay–Alcatraz Cruise
Salesforce · Digital & Analytics
Deep Dive Analytics Team. AI value measurement, data models.
Bay Cruise – Alcatraz
End of the program. San Francisco from the bay—one last look at the city that changed everything.
Gallery · 2026 Edition

Immersion in Pictures

22 students in the hallways of the world’s largest tech companies — photos that capture a formative week.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn HQ — Reception for the aivancity delegation
Planisware
Planisware — Enterprise & AI Session
FABA
FABA Startup Competition — Networking & Pitches
Salesforce
Salesforce — aivancity Group with the teams
Welcome to LinkedIn
LinkedIn — "Welcome, Aivancity School!" — May 7, 2026
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

Actors we met at the
this year

Six key events from the 2026 edition—Big Tech, scale-ups, VCs, and the Franco-American ecosystem. The lineup varies each year depending on current partnerships.

Pinterest
Day 1 · Big Tech · Operational AI
Pinterest
80 billion searches, 4,000 employees. AI shapes every product decision and every engineering workflow. Generative tools used daily by employees across all roles.
"There's no choice anymore—you have to use AI." — The Pinterest Team
LinkedIn
Day 4 · Professional Network
LinkedIn
Official welcome — "Welcome to Aivancity School!" sign in the lobby. Meeting between the GTM Ops, Product, and Economics teams to discuss AI applications on the platform.
"LinkedIn Welcomes Aivancity School!" — Official Welcome Sign
Salesforce
Days 4 & 5 · CRM · Agent-based AI
Salesforce
Two sessions: Data Cloud Team and Digital & Analytics. How agent-based AI is transforming CRM and creating new roles at the intersection of business and technology.
"AI agents enhance the work of human salespeople—they don't replace them."
Planisware
Day 3 · French Scale-up
Planisware
Proof that a French company can dominate the global market from San Francisco. Recognized as a leader by Gartner, Forrester, and IDC. A model of French-style international entrepreneurship.
"Unanimously recognized as a leader by analysts." — Planisware
FABA
Day 4 · Startup Competition
FABA Startup Competition
Pitches by Franco-American startups, a panel of investors, and a networking reception. The moment when students truly realize that these opportunities are within their reach.
"In Silicon Valley, your next breakthrough is always just a conversation away."
FACC
Partner · FACC California
French-American Chamber of Commerce
The partner that makes it all possible: access to companies, understanding the local ecosystem, a visit to Stanford, and networking support. A bridge between French ambition and Silicon Valley execution.
"Strengthening this partnership means ensuring a level of access that few European schools can offer."
Network & Contacts · 2026 Edition

Met with over 40 professionals.
A network to tap into.

The connections made during this event are a lasting asset—provided we nurture them and turn them into real opportunities.

Key contacts met in 2026
Salesforce
Matt Lieber — Product Manager, Data Cloud
Paul François Guermonprez — M&A Analyst, Security
LinkedIn
Tim Tucker — GTM Operations
Dami Ajijolaiya — Product Operations
Brendan Price — Staff Economist
YouTube / Google
Pierre-Antoine Kremp — Senior Staff
Meriem Bekka — Trust & Safety
Chris Apard — Engineering
Plug and Play
Reza Bahadi — VP, AI Center of Excellence ⚡
Kimberly Delgadillo — Business Relationship Manager
Pinterest
Hélène Labriet-Gross — Senior Manager, TPM
Bryce Wyes — Senior Product Manager, Empathetic AI
Chris Bunting — Senior Engineering Manager
Superhuman & Cathay Innovation
Loïc Houssier — CTO, Superhuman
Arnaud Auger — Director of C.Lab, Cathay Innovation
Planisware & FACC
Moussa Gherbi — Vice President of Strategic Accounts, Planisware
Anne-Emmanuelle de Boysson — Executive Director, FACC
Opportunities presented by the 2026 edition
⚡
Plug and Play AI Center of Excellence Reza Bahadi is seeking AI partner universities for a student startup pipeline. Direct contact established—to be finalized quickly.
🚀
AI Venture Track Program Two students pitched their ideas to an investor and received a business card. This marks the beginning of a structured pipeline of student startups at aivancity.
🤝
FACC Partnership to Be Formalized FACC California is a key strategic asset for accessing U.S. companies. An annual framework needs to be established.
📊
Research Focus: ROI of AI The largest companies we visited are struggling to quantify the financial value of their AI investments. This presents a unique research opportunity for aivancity.
🎤
Masterclasses & Alumni Network 40+ contacts met, including several French professionals in leadership positions. A network of contacts to be leveraged through masterclasses and mentoring.
"This immersion goes beyond a simple tour of Silicon Valley: it puts students in direct contact with the places, people, and ideas shaping the global future of AI—and it confirms that aivancity has a rightful place in this ecosystem."
— Matthieu Alcindor, Head of Admissions at aivancity · Executive Report, May 2026
✕