ABOUT US:
Over two thousand California students trained in the art of entrepreneurship
Hundreds of startup ideas turning into finished prototypes
Our Mission
We seek to engage and excite students about launching their very own unique startup, developing a business plan and executing a project plan towards a working prototype.
.
We want to create an entrepreneurship opportunity for every child - to be part of the Silicon Valley innovation economy. We seek to supplement the school offering/coding curriculum with startup like accelerated self-learning, incorporating the latest and greatest programing techniques to startup ideas.
.
We want to create an entrepreneurship opportunity for every child - to be part of the Silicon Valley innovation economy. We seek to supplement the school offering/coding curriculum with startup like accelerated self-learning, incorporating the latest and greatest programing techniques to startup ideas.
HISTORY
The Silicon Valley Coders Club was founded in June of 2015 to provide a fun, learning environment for the youth of Silicon Valley, enabling hands-on collaborative start up experience. It started as a coding focused study group, morphing into an entrepreneurship effort based on the startup ideas that were being launched, Over 2,000 students have been trained and hundreds of startup projects/prototype launched since it's inception in Summer of 2015.
CEO: Rishi Kumar
|
Rishi Kumar, CEO and STEM Passionista
|
Founder: Shivaum Kumar
|
Shivaum Kumar , Founder of Silicon Valley Young Coders club.
• A Senior at Saratoga High School • Programing experience in iOS, Android, Java, Python • Education at UCLA Technology Boot camp, Pre-Collegiate Stanford Camp • 2 Apps in the App store, working on the 3rd app - Volunteer work for a startup - Development United • Youth Chair, Saratoga Cares Foundation • Saratoga High School Marching Band - Section Leader (Saxophone) • Volunteer as the IT support for the neighborhood since 7th grade • Experience building robots and programing with FLL Robotics |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
THE ORGANIZATION THAT RUNS THE CLASS?
- NON-PROFIT (501C3), Tax Id 46-1442459
- Completely run by volunteers (no paid staff)
WHO CAN JOIN?
- No class registration/ tuition fee or per-requisite is required to join, just a creative inquisitive mind and a desire to learn
- Geared towards middle school and high school students.
- Every new semester brings us a new group of kids and the entrepreneurship curriculum is repeated for this group.
WHO TEACHES?
- Industry executives teach the Module 1 class (see "Entrepreneurship Gurus" list below)
- Module 2 is startup team oriented learning, aided by industry mentors and overview sessions
Our curriculum and session presentations are provided to our new instructors, and they are mentored to be successful.
WHERE IS THE CLASS HELD?
- At various locations
- We typically look for "sponsors" at the interested city to provide space
If you see the deck, you will find that typically School districts, libraries/cities, church and religious groups, non-profit groups and corporate groups have provide the sponsorship for this initiative.
For example
. San Jose Library and Oakland Library provide laptops to the students. Mayor Sam Liccardo (San Jose) has taken a personal interest in this program,
- San Jose Library and San Leandro Library have provided us class room facility in the past. The Union City School District has provide us a classroom.
- Union City School District has provided classroom facility
WHO CAN REGISTER? IS THERE A FEE TO REGISTER?
- The 3 modules are open to all, and there is no charge
WHAT DO STUDENTS LEARN?
There are 3 modules to the semester long learning
Three modules, each providing students the fundamentals needed to launch their own startup
Module 1, Entrepreneurship 101. Demonstrates what it takes to turn an idea into a business plan
Module 2, Product Development. Mentoring based collaborative teamwork coding/development of that business plan into a prototype/product. A variety of tiers of coaches/mentoring to enhance the self-learning experience
Module 3 (Spring only) Silicon Valley Youth Technology Day (see details below) - showcase your working prototype, perhaps get funding. Top teams from each location present to win
THE THREE MODULES
MODULE 1: ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101
During this module, students go through a "business school" type crash course on how to write a business plan.
- At the second class of this module, the students are encouraged to form teams and start meeting to come up with that "killer startup idea".
- Students are encouraged to not only finesse the business plan of this "killer idea" as the semester progresses, but also start building their product, create their prototype for their business plan, whether it is an app or website.
- Class participation and interaction is highly encouraged for a collaborative learning experience
- Grand finale of this module is a pitch fest, where business plans are reviewed at each location by a team of judges who declare a final winner
- The top 2 winners from each location go to the Regional Championship round and face off with the best
MODULE 2 : Build your prototype (typically spring only)
Please read FAQ for Module 2 here http://www.siliconvalleycoders.org/faq
Weekly self-learning, team collaboration sessions will magically transform business plans into almost finished products. Each team is encouraged to identify mentors to help accelerate the prototype development.
- Magically transform you business plans into a finished prototype. Mentors will help in areas such as User Interface design, Coding/programing, building business plans, filing patents, finding funding sources etc. Weekly presentation / status updates.
- Opportunity for teams to huddle and continue the collaborative effort, present the prototype status, identify areas they need help
- Mentors / Industry experts will present on specific topics as needed, provide feedback to the teams on their project
MODULE 3: Silicon Valley Youth Tech Day*
*Pitch fest is conducted during the Fall semester. Silicon Valley Tech Day is conducted during the Spring Session.
- Every team (all locations) get to showcase their product as part of the demo time.
- Selected startup teams (two of the best prototypes from each location) present their final project at the annual Silicon Valley Tech Day typically held in June
- A team of judges declare one winner that takes home the start up seed funding.
- Students will also have an opportunity to hear from Silicon Valley Industry Executives, Women in Technology - Executives, Young Entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley, and Tech Policy Leaders/ Elected Officials of Silicon Valley who discuss innovation in Silicon Valley - meant to inspire the students, discover role models. A wonderful opportunity for the startup teams to hear from industry leaders about upcoming technology trends and also hear innovative business plans
Keynote speaker: Mayor Sam Liccardo (San Jose)
- Panel 1: Industry executives panel
- Panel 2: Women in Technology panel
- Panel 3: Young entrepreneurs panel
- Panel 4: Silicon Valley elected leaders panel
- Panel 5: Startup Pitch Fest grand finale to declare the event champion
- NON-PROFIT (501C3), Tax Id 46-1442459
- Completely run by volunteers (no paid staff)
WHO CAN JOIN?
- No class registration/ tuition fee or per-requisite is required to join, just a creative inquisitive mind and a desire to learn
- Geared towards middle school and high school students.
- Every new semester brings us a new group of kids and the entrepreneurship curriculum is repeated for this group.
WHO TEACHES?
- Industry executives teach the Module 1 class (see "Entrepreneurship Gurus" list below)
- Module 2 is startup team oriented learning, aided by industry mentors and overview sessions
Our curriculum and session presentations are provided to our new instructors, and they are mentored to be successful.
WHERE IS THE CLASS HELD?
- At various locations
- We typically look for "sponsors" at the interested city to provide space
If you see the deck, you will find that typically School districts, libraries/cities, church and religious groups, non-profit groups and corporate groups have provide the sponsorship for this initiative.
For example
. San Jose Library and Oakland Library provide laptops to the students. Mayor Sam Liccardo (San Jose) has taken a personal interest in this program,
- San Jose Library and San Leandro Library have provided us class room facility in the past. The Union City School District has provide us a classroom.
- Union City School District has provided classroom facility
WHO CAN REGISTER? IS THERE A FEE TO REGISTER?
- The 3 modules are open to all, and there is no charge
WHAT DO STUDENTS LEARN?
There are 3 modules to the semester long learning
Three modules, each providing students the fundamentals needed to launch their own startup
Module 1, Entrepreneurship 101. Demonstrates what it takes to turn an idea into a business plan
Module 2, Product Development. Mentoring based collaborative teamwork coding/development of that business plan into a prototype/product. A variety of tiers of coaches/mentoring to enhance the self-learning experience
Module 3 (Spring only) Silicon Valley Youth Technology Day (see details below) - showcase your working prototype, perhaps get funding. Top teams from each location present to win
THE THREE MODULES
MODULE 1: ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101
During this module, students go through a "business school" type crash course on how to write a business plan.
- At the second class of this module, the students are encouraged to form teams and start meeting to come up with that "killer startup idea".
- Students are encouraged to not only finesse the business plan of this "killer idea" as the semester progresses, but also start building their product, create their prototype for their business plan, whether it is an app or website.
- Class participation and interaction is highly encouraged for a collaborative learning experience
- Grand finale of this module is a pitch fest, where business plans are reviewed at each location by a team of judges who declare a final winner
- The top 2 winners from each location go to the Regional Championship round and face off with the best
MODULE 2 : Build your prototype (typically spring only)
Please read FAQ for Module 2 here http://www.siliconvalleycoders.org/faq
Weekly self-learning, team collaboration sessions will magically transform business plans into almost finished products. Each team is encouraged to identify mentors to help accelerate the prototype development.
- Magically transform you business plans into a finished prototype. Mentors will help in areas such as User Interface design, Coding/programing, building business plans, filing patents, finding funding sources etc. Weekly presentation / status updates.
- Opportunity for teams to huddle and continue the collaborative effort, present the prototype status, identify areas they need help
- Mentors / Industry experts will present on specific topics as needed, provide feedback to the teams on their project
MODULE 3: Silicon Valley Youth Tech Day*
*Pitch fest is conducted during the Fall semester. Silicon Valley Tech Day is conducted during the Spring Session.
- Every team (all locations) get to showcase their product as part of the demo time.
- Selected startup teams (two of the best prototypes from each location) present their final project at the annual Silicon Valley Tech Day typically held in June
- A team of judges declare one winner that takes home the start up seed funding.
- Students will also have an opportunity to hear from Silicon Valley Industry Executives, Women in Technology - Executives, Young Entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley, and Tech Policy Leaders/ Elected Officials of Silicon Valley who discuss innovation in Silicon Valley - meant to inspire the students, discover role models. A wonderful opportunity for the startup teams to hear from industry leaders about upcoming technology trends and also hear innovative business plans
Keynote speaker: Mayor Sam Liccardo (San Jose)
- Panel 1: Industry executives panel
- Panel 2: Women in Technology panel
- Panel 3: Young entrepreneurs panel
- Panel 4: Silicon Valley elected leaders panel
- Panel 5: Startup Pitch Fest grand finale to declare the event champion
OUR PANEL DISCUSSION SPEAKER* AT TECH DAY
*NOTE: Titles that appear may be from prior positions held
|
Senator Jim Beall
Assemblymember Kansen Chu, Mayor Sam Liccardo President of Santa Clara County, Supervisor Dave Cortese, Mayor of Milpitas Jose Esteves Vice Mayor, San Jose Rose Herrera, Councilmember D5 San Jose Magdalena Carrasco San Jose Councilmember Ash Kalra Dinuba Councilmember Kuldip Thusu SVP/GM Symantec Ana Pinczuk, SVP Cisco Systems, Kelly Ahuja VP/GM Intel Geetha Dabir, VP/GM Intel Dipti Vachani CEO QMAT Francois Henley, CFO AMD Devinder Kumar, CEO Pulse Secure Sudhakar Ramakrishna CEO Unitive Laura Mather CEO Dave Holt, Entrepreneur, Investor, Advisor CEO Target Recruit Reena Gupta |
SVP/GM VMware Charles Fan,
CEO 6d bytes, Vipin Jain SVP/CIO, Symantec Patty Hatter, VP Engineering, Twitter Nandini Ramani, VP Product Marketing Ellen Brigham VP Marketing Dhana Pawar VP Mobile Innovation SAP Shivani Govil VP Engineering Netapp Simon Zarrin VP Strategic Shruthi Rao Board of Director Legal.io Van Dang, CEO Cavirin Purnima Padmanabhan, Chief Product Officer, Hublou Systems Rani Hublous, Sr Director Engineering Citrix Minoo Gupta Director and Global Head Youtube, Shalini Govil-Pai Director Product Marketing Cisco, Guy Brundson Director of Engineering Roku Shobana Radhakrishnan, CEO SilRay April Zhong Senior Engineering Manager, Google Archana Krishna |
HALL OF FAME: THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP GURUS
|
Amit Seth
Gary Tasser Vishal Kirti Sreeram Pydah Jonathan Reinchental Madhan Rangaswamy Praveen Gupta Avi Bhatnagar Reena Gupta Sheela Ranganathan Vipul Shah Naresh Arora Shatrughna Sinha Tripti Singh Paramita Bhattacharjee Swati Nigam Sinha Seema Giri Monica Jain Saurabh Madaan Srikali Varanasi Dhana Pawar |
Sunil Sabat
Lochan Narvekar Archana Kulkarni Alma Delia Lopez Sivakami Sambasivam Lakshmi Sharma SaiLaxmi Korada Kiran Guleria Priya Rajpal Sarita Agrawal Anuroopa Midde Jayant Shekhar Keshav Saharia Praveen Sharma Sonny Mujumdar Jigar Shah Nathan Iyer Anjani Nandan Kusum Rai Anupam Talapatra Kanu Kalra |
YOUTH TEACHER SERIES || TEACH TECH TO SENIORS VOLUNTEERS
|
Aditya Aggarwal
Spencer Yan, Rohan Koodli Siva Sambasivam Rishub Kumar, |
Vidushi Somani
Sruthi Neelima Ranjeet Pancholy Rishi Upadhyay Pranav Prathista Siyona Suresh |
Ashwin Rammohan
Varsha Rammohan Nanditha Ramadurai Advik Gonugunta Shivaum Kumar |
Our Advisory Board
|
Dave Holt is a serial entrepreneur and seasoned corporate executive. He has served as a C-level executive in both established and start-up companies for much of the past 25 years, including exits to Amazon, Oracle, Disney, and ATI. He was the founding member of two pioneering organizations advancing system architecture and multimedia, and brings strong business, management, and technical experience to the companies he works with.
|
|
Amit Seth is the President of Affinity Solutions, a startup in the AI space that betters Marketing results for Financial Institutions and Marketers. Amit was EVP of Global Media Products at Nielsen where he helped gestate, launch and grow successful businesses in the marketing technology space. Amit has also served in executive leadership roles at Yahoo!, Good Technologies (acquired by Blackberry), Microsoft and IBM. Additionally, Amit currently sits on the Board of Directors or Advisors of various startups and a VC firm in Silicon Valley.
|
|
Minoo Gupta is Sr. director of engineering and customer experience at Citrix. She leads the customer experience for all NetScaler brand products for Cloud and Networking Division. Minoo is an advisory board member of USD Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering college shaping curriculum for future engineers, Minoo Gupta lives in Santa Cruz mountains with husband Vikram Joshi and daughter Anika Joshi. She enjoys hiking, gardening and pottery making in her leisure time.
|
|
Vishal Kirti, a Technical Leader at Cisco Systems, Vishal leads the effort of designing chips/ASICs. Amit founded Silicon Tech Services in 2012. Vishal holds a Masters in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Wisconsin- Madison and a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. He also runs a holistic meditation based afterschool "Damara Kids" with his wife in Livermore.
|
|
Lochan Narvekar spent 10+ years as Enterprise Software Architect at Oracle, before entering field of Enterprise Data Management. He is passionate about using data to improve Enterprise efficiency. Lochan is also involved with a group "Volunteers – SouthBay" which prepares and delivers meals every weekend to homeless in the city and larger bay area. Lochan's hope is to make young coder's club a platform to make coding accessible to broader, minority, and previously non-represented communities.
|