Digital Trends (Week 11)

Question 1

What is the Silicon Valley Ecosystem?

Answer 1

A tech hub fostering innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship, fueled by venture capital, talent, and supportive infrastructure

Question 2

What makes Silicon Valley a successful place to start a business?

Answer 2

–> High research Capacity

–> Industry Actors (Investors)

–> Socio-Economic Aspect
(Talent, dynamic labour market, Incentives and culture of employee ownership)

–> Socio-Cultural Aspect
(Flat structure and regenerative ability and highly networked)

Question 3

Access to Funding: Venture Capitalists vs. Angel Investors

Answer 3

Venture Capitalists:
–-> Raise a large amount of capital from institutional investors

-–> Before investing, evaluate a deal with extensive due diligence

Angel Investors:
–-> Typically well-connected, wealthy individuals

–-> Generally use their own money and face few constraints

–-> Often more suitable for startups that start out small

Question 4

Challenges for Silicon Valley

Answer 4

–> Critical view of digital tech’s societal impact

–> Certain company practices
called into question

–> Increasingly unaffordable
housing

Question 5

Selected Trends Identified by Gartner

Answer 5

–> AI

–> Hyper automation

–> Practical Blockchain

–> Multi experience