Tech Tuesdays @ UCLA Anderson: From Rome to Silicon Beach (Student Guest Blog)
Today’s student guest blog comes from Matteo Bastreghi, who came to UCLA Anderson all the way from Rome. Read on to learn more about his tips on how to take advantage of being in Los Angeles if you’re interested in Tech.
Guest Student Blogger:
Matteo Bastreghi
Hometown:
Rome, Italy
Undergraduate Institution:
Universitá di Roma Tre
Pre-Business school:
Marketing/TechnologyMBA Summer Internship: Hyperloop (Transportation) &
Watertower (Venture Capital)
Post-Anderson Goals:
Tech & Transportation
After moving to LA last year, I have quickly found out that Venice Beach is not only one of the best spots on the planet for people watching but also home to one of the fastest growing tech communities in the world. Right next to the the beach, the iconic Venice sign and some of most talented street performers (including my personal favorite), there is Silicon Beach, where some of the hottest startups have established their headquarters. During the summer, I had the opportunity to feel the excitement of the area on a daily basis as I have been working for Hyperloop Transportation Technologies and Watertower Group — both located only a few blocks away from the heart of Silicon Beach.
The proliferation of accelerators and incubators all around the city as well as the solid offer of early-stage capital are contributing to making LA an increasingly important tech hub. Also tech giants like Google and Facebook have opened new offices here to take advantage of the growing community of tech talent. Most importantly, UCLA Anderson students are best positioned to make the most of these opportunities as they can benefit from the unique set of entrepreneurial resources offered by the Price Center for Entrepreneurship and the endless networking opportunities brought by the professional clubs.
Even if recruiting for startups is typically just in time, it’s a good idea to start the networking game soon and keep in touch with contacts throughout the year until the right opportunity arises. There are plenty of occasions to rapidly create your network, starting from the frequent mixers offered by the Entrepreneur Association to the industry-specific events organized by other professional clubs, like the visit to the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator with the Energy Management Group (see a club photo below!). I also found very valuable taking classes from the entrepreneurial specialization, such as Entrepreneurship and Venture Initiation (EVI) and Business Plan Development, that turned out to be a great preparation for my conversations with entrepreneurs. Similarly, competitions like Knapp and MIINT helped me get in the startup mindset. There is a lot to get involved with from day one and often the best resource are your Anderson classmates, an exceptional group of supportive and talented students. And chances are that the next great entrepreneur of Silicon Beach is sitting right next you!
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