This winter break, 33 other UQ students and I made our way to Singapore, one of Asia’s biggest startup hubs for 4 weeks of learning, exploration, and entrepreneurial growth.
Shanghai, a city where the past meets the future, was the destination for an unforgettable study immersion program that left a permanent mark on me. As I boarded the plane, I was filled with anticipation, eager to experience the blend of long-lasting Chinese tradition and innovative technology that defines this bustling metropolis
It feels so surreal that just shy of a month ago, I arrived in the bustling and almost alien metropolis of Shanghai. From the moment I stepped out of People’s Square station, I was instantly enraptured by the city’s frenetic energy and imposing skyline.
San Francisco stands as the epicentre of global tech and innovation, yet the separation from life in Brisbane often remains untold. At its core, our month-long Startup AdVenture in San Francisco (SF) has shown me what I like to think of as the physicist’s holy trinity of distinctions: speed, density and volume.
At the dawn of 2024, I ventured across continents to Silicon Valley, a hub of innovation and inspiration, for an immersive month-long experience that reshaped my mindset significantly. Throughout the UQ San Francisco Startup AdVentures trip I learnt alongside a San Francisco-based startup for four weeks and had the opportunity to dive-in to everyday San Francisco life.
The land of the free and the home of the brave – the age-old saying that has defined America for generations. For many years, I perceived this as a self-aggrandising American-made claim; however, after returning from Silicon Valley, I feel I have a deeper understanding of this defining American characteristic and the potential it can unlock for entrepreneurship.
Having completed several Ventures programs and hackathons, agricultural science student Masaki Yamao had the entrepreneurship basics under her belt. Not wanting her experience to end there, Masaki applied for the Singapore Startup AdVenture to gain the knowledge required to run a startup, and in turn accepted an exciting opportunity as a Japanese translator.
In November 2022, I was incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to head to vibrant Singapore as one of 35 UQ students taking part in UQ Ventures Startup AdVentures. We were to spend a month placed with various startups around Singapore to get an insight into startup life, and gain valuable experience in this diverse, dynamic and lively hub.
