Joseph Wei is a venture partner at Skychee Ventures who has mentored and advised startups. He discusses four key reasons why startups come to San Francisco and Silicon Valley: 1) access to venture capital funding, 2) access to talent from top universities, 3) acceptance of startup failures, and 4) opportunities to learn from other tech companies. He notes the region's entrepreneur-friendly culture, diversity, and wealth of technical and business expertise that have made it a global center for technology and innovation.

1. Joseph Wei, Venture Partner
www.skychee.ventures

2. Speaker’s Background
1996 - 2009
Joseph Wei
1987 - 1996

3. Ventures/Accelerator Experience (2014 – present)
Mentor
Board member/
advisorPartner

4. Why Startups around the globe come
to San Francisco/Silicon Valley?
Reason 1

9. Why Startups around the globe come
to San Francisco/Silicon Valley?
Reason 2

11. Why Startups around the globe come
to San Francisco/Silicon Valley?
Reason 3

12. Other Tech Companies

13. Why Startups around the globe come
to San Francisco/Silicon Valley?
Reason 4

14. • Diversity of people
• Friendly/Sharing Culture
• New Business Models/Disruptive ideas
• Startup failures are acceptable norms
• Talents – from universities/relocation from other states
• Reinvesting the wealth
• Entrepreneurship-friendly government
• Great climate
Uniqueness of Silicon Valley

15. Where is Silicon Valley?

16. • Silicon Valley is not really a
Valley
• Bay area includes 8 million
people in San Francisco,
Silicon Valley & East Bay
• Critical mass in
– Entrepreneurial culture
– Venture Capital firms
– Large base of tech companies
– University graduates
– Global Talent magnet

17. Moving to San Francisco ?

18. Considerations

20. Source: Daijob.com

21. • Avoid summer
and winter
holidays, many
VCs take
vacations
Timing of your visit to the Bay area

22. Which team members to move?
CEO

23. Most likely
CEO
+
CEO
Or

24. Move to SF ONLY for the
right reasons

25. • Visit the Bay area before starting your fundraising tour or launching your
US operations. Time your visit to co-inside with a major conference. e.g.
Techcrunch …
• Network with other founders from your country who have raised funding
and launched businesses in the US
• Network with your country entrepreneur support groups in the Bay area if
available
• Build sufficient customer traction in your own country or region
• Establish a US entity, ideally in Delaware if you want to raise funding from
US VCs
• Check out related videos on YouTube, Coursera, Udemy …
• Ensure you have sufficient funding to accomplish goals to be
in the Bay area before deciding to move
Final Thoughts

26. Apply to Bay Area Accelerators

27. Videos from the founder of Vivino (Denmark)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gV19njWSJs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_JxhnvCoOQ

29. Welcome to San Francisco/
Silicon Valley
Email and let me know how I can help:
joseph.wei@techventures.co
@josephwei