Tag: Silicon Valley

IoT Solution for Senior Citizens — The First Big Challenge as An Entrepreneur

THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP STORIES

The quest for being an entrepreneur begins — three (3) takeaways.

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The trip to Silicon Valley was not just a visit; it was a pilgrimage to the heart of technological innovation. As I stepped off the plane, back from the land of giants, the buzz of inspiration was palpable in my veins.

I pondered, “If those in Silicon Valley could turn dreams into reality, why couldn’t I?”

Amidst the relentless pace of progress, the seed of an idea began to germinate—an idea that would not only cater to an aspiration but also address a pressing social need.

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Idea Generation

I remember the dialogue within me:

“Why not create something meaningful?”
“How can we ensure the well-being of seniors living alone?” 
“The answer lies in IoT — the nexus of care and technology.”

These questions and affirmations became the mantras of my newfound quest.

The Genesis of a Vision

In April 2017, with a vision of empowering senior citizens, I fused a team to embark on a two-year entrepreneurial odyssey. The goal was to harness the potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) to foster a safer, healthier living environment for the elderly.

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Confronting the Challenges

The reality was stark; seniors were battling health issues, from heart conditions to dementia, while their busy offspring grappled with the guilt and strain of being unable to provide constant support. Traditional caregiving was no longer sufficient — there had to be a more proactive way to ensure safety and provide swift assistance when needed.

Identifying the Opportunity

Our research uncovered a burgeoning market. The aging population was rising, with Malaysia housing a 7% senior demographic. This was more than a business opportunity; it was our chance to impact society substantially.

Designing the IoT Innovation

The blueprint of our product was clear — a wearable akin to a smartwatch, encapsulating features for health monitoring, GPS tracking, and two-way communication. Simplicity and efficiency were the cornerstones; the device had to be as unobtrusive as effective.

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Market Exploration and Realizations

Our initial market approach focused on B2B collaborations with Senior Citizen Care Centres, only to discover the mismatch in demographic needs. We recalibrated, focusing on direct-to-consumer channels and even the Hajj pilgrimage market. Each pivot taught us invaluable lessons about our product and its market position.

A Look Back and Ahead

Looking back, the journey from Silicon Valley to our first IoT product has been enlightening. The entrepreneurial path is fraught with obstacles and learnings, but the drive to innovate for the betterment of our elders fuels our persistent march forward.

Crystallizing the Entrepreneurial Spirit: Three Takeaways

  1. Immerse Yourself in the Problem: Understanding is the bedrock of innovation.
  2. Embrace Flexibility: The ability to pivot is the entrepreneur’s greatest asset.
  3. Community is Key: Feedback and engagement are the lifeblood of a successful product.

How The Silicon Valley Trip Transform Me Into An Entrepreneur

ENTREPRENEURSHIP SERIES

From Techie to Entrepreneur

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The air of Silicon Valley is thick with dreams and the electric buzz of ideas sparking to life. When I first stepped onto the storied grounds of this technological mecca in 2016 as part of the MDEC delegation, I was struck by the place’s profound sense of possibility.

This is where giants like Apple and Facebook stand tall, monuments to innovation and human ingenuity.

Back then, my ambitions were relatively modest — I aspired to be a CTO. But Silicon Valley has a way of expanding your horizons and reshaping your dreams.

A Change of Heart

The realization struck me as I walked through the campuses of Google and Facebook and mingled with the visionaries who tread those paths: each of these legendary companies began with nothing more than a simple yet powerful idea.

In that moment of clarity, I felt my direction pivot. The seed that would grow into FAVORIOT, my dream IoT startup, was sown.

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A Trip Down Memory Lane

The Computer History Museum offered a tangible narrative of our technological evolution, from bulky vacuum valves to the sleek smartphones of today.

It was a pilgrimage through history, standing face-to-face with the milestones of progress, including the very first Apple computers.

Each artifact echoed with stories of challenges overcome and milestones achieved, and I absorbed it all.

Where Unicorns Are Born

My visit to the Plug and Play Tech Center further catalyzed my shifting aspirations. It’s a place that has incubated startups like Dropbox, a reminder that unicorns are not just mythical creatures in this valley — they are real, and they started small.

“Why not me?” became a mantra that carried me forward.

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Pitching and Learning

In Silicon Valley, the lifeblood is not just in its behemoths of tech, but in the thriving culture of sharing and collaboration. Pitching at Hero City was as nerve-wracking as it was exhilarating, offering feedback and camaraderie in equal measure.

It was in the casual collisions — in cafes, in parks, across the sprawling campuses of tech giants — that potential collaborations sparked.

The Ultimate Lesson

What I learned from my Silicon Valley experience was the limitless nature of ambition. Age and background do not matter if an idea and a passion drive you forward.

In Silicon Valley’s nurturing ecosystem, everyone is rooting for your success.

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Golden Nuggets for Aspiring Startups

For those who dream of their own startup success stories, here are a few golden nuggets:

1 — Stay Inspired: Surround yourself with stories of success and failure. They are the fuel for your entrepreneurial journey.

2 — Collaborate and Share: Embrace feedback and join forces with others. Giants like Apple and Microsoft sprang from partnerships.

3 — Dream Big: Let your imagination be your guide. The sky is not the limit — it’s just the beginning.

As I continue on my journey, fueled by the transformative power of IoT, I invite you to stay tuned for more insights and reflections.

View at Medium.com

How The Silicon Valley Trip Changed My Life Career

Any Startup Founder Should Take This Trip at Least Once in Their Lifetime

Image created using Canva by Author

My journey to Silicon Valley in 2016, as part of the MDEC delegation’s Silicon Valley Immersion Program, was pivotal.

Initially, my aspirations were aligned with becoming a CTO in a large corporation, and the thought of entrepreneurship hadn’t crossed my mind.

But this visit entirely reshaped my view of what’s achievable, and I emerged with a newfound belief in the power of a grand vision and a relentless attitude.

  1. Witnessing the Cradle of Tech Giants: The most exhilarating part of my trip was seeing the headquarters of legendary companies like Hewlett-Packard, GE, Cisco, Apple, Google, and Facebook. Being in the birthplace of the technology I use daily filled me with awe and inspiration. It was a stark reminder that today’s startups could be tomorrow’s global leaders.
  2. The Computer History Museum Experience: My visit to the Computer History Museum in Mountain View was enlightening. It charted the evolution of computers from vacuum valves to the first PCs and Apple computers, highlighting Silicon Valley’s central role in our digital revolution. This journey through technology history underscored the region’s deep-rooted culture of innovation.
  3. From Humble Beginnings to Unicorns: Silicon Valley is the birthplace of numerous unicorns. Knowing that companies like Dropbox, PayPal, LendingClub, Guardant, and Hippo started in modest settings, often in places like Plug and Play Tech Center, was incredibly motivating. It made me realize that with perseverance, even small beginnings could lead to monumental achievements.
  4. A Unique Startup Ecosystem: Pitching to investors at Hero City, Draper University was nerve-wracking and enlightening. The feedback was constructive, and the camaraderie was palpable. In Silicon Valley, ideas and innovation are currencies of their own. The ecosystem here is unique — it’s a melting pot of creativity and collaboration where age or background doesn’t define your entrepreneurial potential.
  5. Inspiring Atmosphere and Culture: Perhaps the most impactful aspect of my trip was the visits to the Google and Facebook campuses. These places felt like microcosms of innovation, buzzing with energy and ideas. The environment was conducive to sparking and refining new concepts, reminding me that innovation thrives in the right surroundings.

In conclusion, my journey to Silicon Valley was transformative.

It shifted my career trajectory towards entrepreneurship and led to the creation of my startup, FAVORIOT.

The Valley taught me that any vision could turn into reality with determination and the right environment.

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How Silicon Valley Changed My View on the World of Startups

The visit to Silicon Valley companies changed my view about the world of Startups. Many started with a humble beginning. Technology was born here. Anything seems possible!

At the end of the 2016 visit, I had the opportunity to visit Silicon Valley with the MDEC delegation in the Silicon Valley Immersion Program. This trip transformed the way I look at entrepreneurship – “Anything is possible” and “Have a grand vision, and you can turn it into a reality” attitude.

I have never thought in my whole life to become an entrepreneur. All I think was to become a CTO in any big corporate organisation – that’s all. However, that business trip changed my whole life! On my return home, I decided to build a Startup in IoT – and that’s how FAVORIOT was born in early 2017.

The Inspiring Logos

For a first-time visitor, I was excited watching the Logos of famous companies on buildings, offices, parks, and shops – it’s the everyday hardware and software that we used back home. Hewlett Packard, GE, Cisco, Apple, Google, Facebook are among the logos that inspired me. My heart was beating fast to be at the place where the technology or product that I used daily was born!

The History

For any computer enthusiasts, the Computer History Museum at Mountain View is an excellent place to visit. You can see how computer history began here, starting with the vacuum valve to integrated circuits and the first PC and Apple computer. What you see in photos can now be seen physically, and that already amazes me. Imagine the power of our computers and smartphones begin with a small step from the brilliant minds of the inventors and innovators of Silicon Valley. For a first-time visitor, I was excited watching the Logos of famous companies on buildings, offices, parks, and shops – it’s the everyday hardware and software that we used back home. Hewlett Packard, GE, Cisco, Apple, Google, Facebook are among the logos that inspired me. My heart was beating fast to be at the place where the technology or product that I used daily was born!

Birth Place of Unicorns

Many Unicorns started with a humble beginning, and some started at Plug and Play Tech Center. For example, Dropbox started from within a small cubicle in Plug and Play, and it has now valued at USD 10 Billion. Other examples are PayPal, LendingClub, Guardant, Hippo, and many others. Seeing that logos on their walls made you believe, “If they can do it, why can’t we?“

Plug and Play

Pitching Valley

We had the opportunity to pitch in front of investors at Hero City, Draper University. It was a very nerve-wracking experience – even though we had practiced the pitch many times before arriving in Silicon Valley. It seems to pitch is like an everyday thing here, and you can either pitch on an official platform or pitch to an individual investor after the event. Personally, the term “pitch” is synonymous with a short talk to convince investors about your Startup.

Sharing Culture

Almost all the people we talked to here are amicable and keen to listen to our ideas and give constructive feedback. They are more than willing to recommend us to other parties if they see their peers or friends benefit from our solutions.

Startup Ecosystem

The place is always bursting with new ideas, and no one seems to get worried if their ideas get stolen or not. Maybe it’s because many of these ideas are not unique to them, and they would instead share with others so that they can help to improve the ideas further. There are so many Startup Founders and Investors, and you might be lucky if you happen to have lunch or dinner in a restaurant and meet them.

The highlight of the visit is the walk-around on Google and Facebook Campus. It’s like a small Google or Facebook city!

Google Campus
Facebook Campus

Anything is Possible!

The energy, enthusiasms, and excitement made you believe that your ideas could soar higher and conquer the world. Age doesn’t matter anymore – anyone can start their entrepreneurship journey with a small cubicle or co-working space. Ideas can spark quickly and maybe can fuse with other ideas to make it better. The conducive Startup ecosystem of supporting each other made you believe that you are not alone in this world, and everyone here seems to be open enough to help you.

I will share the rest of the entrepreneurship journey in another article – why I choose the Internet of Things (IoT) as our business focus and why we build the first IoT solution that we think can conquer the world!

Silicon Valley USA 2016 Trip