The Tour
Experience innovations, latest technologies and digital transformation with your company during an industry-specific, guided and individual tour in Silicon Valley.
Services
Get to know innovations, disruptive technologies and the effects of digital transformation during a guided Silicon Valley tour: individual and industry-specific. We create and organize a program tailored to your needs and accompany you with passion to Silicon Valley. Let yourself be inspired to create something new.
Inspiration
Let yourself be inspired by the vibe of the “Silicon Valley” hotspot and its pioneers.
Disruption
Learn how established companies master the challenges of the “innovator’s dilemma” and recognize disruptive innovations.
Innovation
Learn about the importance, effects and components of an “Innovation Ecosystem” and understand why Silicon Valley produces innovations on the assembly line.
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Technology
Develop a deep understanding of the latest technologies and learn to assess their impact on your business
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Corporate Branding
Change begins with visibility. On request, we can create photo and video material from your Silicon Valley trip.
Networking
Get to know the unwritten rules of Silicon Valley and expand your network continuously.
Team Building
Shared experiences connect.
Digital Mindset
Internalize and understand the thinking and working methods of global digital thinkers.
Our services:
Individual needs assessment
Creation of a travel concept tailored to your needs
Organization of the trip (incl. overnight stay and transfer on location)
Accompaniment in Silicon Valley
On-site workshops
Final reflection workshop after the return
We develop an individual concept for your Silicon Valley trip
travel itinerary
The detailed program of this year’s Prop-Tech trip (November 9-13, 2018) will be published soon. Here you can see an exemplary itinerary from the past tours:
1st day
2nd day
3rd day
4th day
5th day
Impressions of the last tours
For us, Silicon Valley stands for a uniquely ambitious, easy-going spirit, unlimited possibilities and world-changing technologies. Silicon Valley attracts ideas, talent and capital like no other region in the world and determines technological development worldwide.
Together we travel to the place where our future is defined, learn what makes Silicon Valley unique and how we can adopt the innovation mentality and combine it with our own strengths.
– Philip Mertes, founder silicon-valley-tour.de
For us, Silicon Valley stands for a uniquely ambitious, easy-going spirit, unlimited possibilities and world-changing technologies. Silicon Valley attracts ideas, talent and capital like no other region in the world and determines technological development worldwide.
– Philip Mertes, founder silicon-valley-tour.de
Newsletter
“Inside Silicon Valley” – The newsletter with the latest news on the latest developments and technology trends in Silicon Valley.
FAQ
How does a Silicon Valley Tour work?
All Silicon Valley tours are individually planned and designed for your company or group – we do not offer a standard tour. In small groups of 4-15 participants we experience (usually) three to five consecutive days together the world’s leading technology and innovation hotspot Silicon Valley: from San Francisco via Palo Alto to San Jose we visit renowned universities and research institutions, hear founding stories in typical Silicon Valley garages and network with exciting personalities, decision-makers and insiders. We understand the success factors of Incubator and Accelerator programs, meet (corporate) venture capitalists and discover the latest technologies of fast growing start-ups and leading companies. In numerous intensive workshops we learn what makes Silicon Valley so unique and how we can combine the Silicon Valley mentality with our own strengths. The program is rounded off with cosy BBQs, (optional) surf courses and authentic Californian Morning-Yoga sessions.
In order to consolidate the experiences and learning contents in the long term, we reflect on our experiences in a joint final workshop a few weeks after our return.
What services does an individual tour include?
First, we discuss your expectations and goals with you in a personal meeting. We then plan and organise a tour tailored to your needs and industry (including accommodation and transport on the tour days; excluding flights and catering) and accompany you on site as a competent partner. The program is rounded off on site with numerous workshops and reflection units in the group.
To ensure that the experiences and learning contents are also consolidated after arrival at home, we reflect on our experiences in a joint final workshop a few weeks after our return.
What results can we expect from a tour?
In numerous intensive workshops we learn what makes Silicon Valley so unique and how we can combine the Silicon Valley mentality with our own strengths.
- Inspiration: Be inspired by the vibe of the Silicon Valley hotspot and its thought leaders;
- Disruption: Learn how established companies master the challenges of the “innovator’s dilemma” and recognize disruptive innovations;
Corporate Innovation: Develop how you can use various corporate venturing and open innovation strategies to bring targeted innovations into your company and how you can awaken creativity, inventiveness and entrepreneurial thinking in your employees and colleagues;
Learn about the importance, effects and components of an “Innovation Ecosystem” and understand why Silicon Valley produces innovations on the assembly line and with which approaches you can do so;
Technology: Develop a deep understanding of the latest technologies and learn to assess their impact on your business;
.
Corporate Branding: Change begins with visibility – on request we create high-quality photo and video material from your Silicon Valley trip for internal transformation processes and an externally effective staging of your activities;
Networking: Get to know the unwritten rules of Silicon Valley and expand your network continuously;
Team Building: Connecting shared experiences;
Mindset: internalize and understand the thinking and working methods of global digital thinkers;
Fun: exciting days in one of the most beautiful places in the world, palm trees, water, sea & BBQs. Rounded off with (optional) surfing and yoga sessions, an infectious “gold-rush atmosphere” and rousing people.
In order to consolidate the experiences and learning contents in the long term, we reflect on our experiences in a joint final workshop a few weeks after our return.
Do you also offer the planning and execution of tours as a "White-Label-solution" for management consultancies, associations, media houses and companies?
Yes and please do not hesitate to contact us.
In which language will the tours be conducted?
We offer our Silicon Valley Business Tours in German or English. If required, we can also translate into other languages.
Do we have the opportunity to get to know each other in a personal meeting and talk about the requirements before the tour?
I’d be happy to! We firmly believe that planning an individual tour also works with a good online briefing, during a phone call or a Skype interview. The most important thing in a conversation, however, is to hear THAT, which is not said directly. We therefore recommend our customers always a personal discussion before you book a Silicon Valley Tour.
Will we also visit startups?
As passionate supporters of the start-up scene, we know how important focusing is for startups and growth companies. In Silicon Valley, the world’s most talented people are working to redefine their own and the future of the world as we know it today. It is therefore of great concern to us not to claim the time of the founders with mere “start-up tourism”. Our goal is rather to sustainably network people and companies. We only visit start-ups if their technologies, products and services are really interesting for the visiting company and the industry and if getting to know each other can be an added value for both sides. To find out, we hold detailed discussions with the founding teams in the run-up to the tour.
Is there a fixed travel period?
All tours are individually planned and conceived for existing groups. The travel period depends on your (and our) availability.
Is there a waiting list for individuals?
Yes, please contact us using the contact or enquiry form.
What travel documents/visas are required for a business trip to Silicon Valley?
A valid, machine-readable passport is required for entry into the United States. An identity card is not sufficient. The passport must be valid for at least another 6 months from entry into the USA.
Nationals of 22 countries of the European Union (including Germany) can enter American territory without a visa. You therefore only need to apply for the entry permit ESTA (“Electronic System for Travel Authorization”) online. Although the majority of applications are generally approved within a few minutes of their submission, it is advisable to allow 72 hours for data processing. It is important to know that in the event of rejection, a new application can only be made after 10 days, provided that the above requirements have been met. So please apply for your ESTA entry permit in good time. Further details and the application form can be found on the Homepage of the US Embassy.
Do you also offer tours to Europe?
On request we also accompany customers on Innovation & Technology tours to Europe in individual tours.
How can I book the Silicon Valley Tour?
Please contact us for your Silicon Valley Business Tour via the Request form or via the Contact page.