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First edition 2009

1
st
review, March 2013

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2009, 2013 by Istituto Italiano Imprenditorialit.

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2
This document was originally written for the Fulbright
BEST Orientation Day, July 7
th
, 2009, Roma.
Many suggestions are referred to a Fulbright scholar in
entrepreneurship who is moving to Silicon Valley.

3
2009, 2013 by Istituto Italiano Imprenditorialit
4
One Set up Your Life
Get a phone number
e.g. T-Mobile, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara
Get business cards
e.g. www.vistaprint.com
Add a logo if you have one
One-line introduction
Prepare one-line pitch to introduce yourself
http://www.vator.tv/
Convert your Curriculum Vitae to a Resume
Getting started Templates
https://alumni.gsb.stanford.edu/career/resources/jobsearch/#gettingstarted
Resume, Cover Letters, and Interview tips
http://careerconnection.osu.edu/undergraduate_resume.asp
Facebook and LinkedIn profile
2009, 2013 by Istituto Italiano Imprenditorialit
5
Manage transportations
Train (+ bike)
www.caltrain.com
www.bart.gov
Bike : e.g. www.walmart.com http://www.costco.com/
Car buy a car in few steps
1. Find a car http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cta/ (2-3,000$, >2000, no
Salvage title)
2. Check price http://www.kbb.com/kbb/UsedCars/default.aspx
3. Get a AAA car inspection (AAA, 80 Saratoga Ave, Santa Clara
(408) 985-9300 M-F 8:30-5:30 / Sat 10-2) !book it in advance
4. Check the car history www.carfax.com/ (ask owner for car VIC #)
5. Get cash in advance from your credit/debit card in a local bank
6. Pay the car and get the car title (you will pay taxes based on car
value) http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr26.htm
7. Insure the car e.g. www.geico.com look for a local office
8. Within 60 days get Social Security Number (SOCIAL SECURITY,
ROOM 244 2ND FLOOR, 280 S FIRST STREET, SAN JOSE M-F
9-4) and Driving License (www.dmv.ca.org)
2009, 2013 by Istituto Italiano Imprenditorialit
6
Two Explore the Environment
Around
Locate cities, companies and business centers on Google map
Get a navigator (TomTom, Garmin, !)
Walk around (Mountain View, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, San Francisco, !)
Travel at least once every two weekends (Santa Cruz, LA, San Diego,
Mexico, Vegas)
Join students networks
NAC - Networking Athletic Connection @ SCU MBA http://www.scunetworks-
nac.org/
Fulbright California Chapter
Professional/social networks
A list is available in the next pages
Join mailing lists for free; Ask discounted/guest tickets or membership as SCU
Student/Fulbrighter (remember: Fulbright brand is very strong in the US)
Network with anyone/anywhere and keep in touch
Give your card
Follow-up by email
Meet for a coffee
Find American/International friends
Facebook/LinkedIn
2009, 2013 by Istituto Italiano Imprenditorialit
7
Three Learn the Difference
Compare American and Italian culture/business/risk
approach
Share your thoughts with the other Italian students
Share your experiences with your business partners,
colleagues and friends in Italy
Share your experiences with the Americans
Think out of the box
look for connections, events, networking opportunities by
yourself
Surf Amazon looking for books
Check out other academic resources (e-corner, Stanford Venture
Program, Berkeley, !)
Learn how to market yourself (in social and business
environments)
2009, 2013 by Istituto Italiano Imprenditorialit
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Four Get Real
Work on your business plan / pitch and improve it day-
by-day
Be critical with yourself
Think about the next steps once you will be back to Italy
Work on your venture team
Create a new one
Bring the Silicon Valley culture to your existing one (Italian)
SHARE before leaving the US make a road show and share
your venture idea with entrepreneurs, investors, teachers and
friends you have selected during your staying in SV
Forget NDA
Look for advisors
Join as more as possible events and introduce yourself
to anyone
Build your network and keep in touch
2009, 2013 by Istituto Italiano Imprenditorialit
9

Dont miss any opportunity
!and any business card

Good luck !
2009, 2013 by Istituto Italiano Imprenditorialit
A - Professional/social networks
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Category Description www
Capital Sources VC Taskforce - venture capital hup://www.vcLaskforce.com/
Capital Sources Clean Tech Angels hup://www.cleanLechangels.org/
Capital Sources Clean Tech Open, business plan competition hup://www.cleanLechopen.com
Capital Sources VC firms by industry hups://www.pwcmoneyLree.com/
Networking events SD Forum: software, cleantech, mobile hup://www.sdforum.org/
Networking events SVASE: Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs hup://www.svase.org/
Networking events FountainBlue: medical devices, bio-tech, clean-tech hup://www.founLalnblue.blz/
Networking events The Churchill Club hup://www.churchlllclub.org/
Networking events TiE: entrepreneurs and professionals association hup://www.ue.org/
Networking events Astia: women leadrs and entrepreneurs association hup://www.asua.org/
Networking events Stanford Students Startup Association hup://bases.sLanford.edu/
Networking events BAIA: Italy-US Business Association hup://www.bala-neLwork.org/
Networking events GABA: Germany-US Business Association hup://www.gaba-neLwork.org/
Networking events ANZA: Australia-US Business Association hup://www.anzaLechneL.com
Networking events Pillsbury - Law firm hup://www.plllsburylaw.com/LaworLal/ep/enLrance.do
Networking events Orrick - Law firm hup://www.orrlck.com
Networking events San Jose Bio-Center, startup hub/incubator hup://www.s[blocenLer.com
Networking events Bootstrapper's Breakfast, Informal meeting hup://www.booLsLrappersbreakfasL.com/rsL-umers/
Networking events PARC - Palo Alto Research Center hup://www.parc.com/
Networking events CINA - Cina Business Association hup://www.clna.org
Networking events WorkIt - Weekly BUSINESS Events Calendar hup://www.worklL.com
Networking events MBITA - Monterey Bay International Trade Association hup://www.mblLa.org/
Networking events Going Green hup://alwayson.golngon.com/ecom/producLvlew/23332
Networking events Cafe Scientifique hup://www.cafesclsv.org
2009, 2013 by Istituto Italiano Imprenditorialit
B Living in Silicon Valley
RESTAURANTS
"La Pizzeria", 335 Central Ave, Campbell, CA (408)370-7705
"Amarena restaurant", SF - cucina italiana e creativa
"La ciccia", SF - ristorante sardo www.laciccia.com
Lobster house
Several restaurant along Union St., SF
BAR
Minna gallery (2nd & Mission St.) art galley; lounge bar every Wed after 7pm
Caf Greco in San Francisco-North Beach
Caf Centro in San Francisco-Nob Hill
Caf at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose
ITALIAN FOOD SHOPS
Trader Joe's, Saratoga Ave, Santa Clara/San Jose (Di tutto ed i prodotti sono buoni. prosciutto, bresaola e la
mozzarella di bufala, un po' caro)
Cosentino's Market, 2666 S. BASCOM AVE., SAN JOSE CA. 95124 (Ottimo per i prodotti italiani, gli affettati, il
pane, il riso e altro)
Fruttivendolo, Scott St. & Homestead St., Santa Clara/San Jose (negozio messicano, Frutta e verdura sono buoni
ed i prezzi molto piu' bassi dei supermercati; cioccolato della Kinder, savoiardi, amaretti, fette biscottate, fagioli
semplici, lenticchie in scatola)
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2009, 2013 by Istituto Italiano Imprenditorialit