Ventures Ventures
Site search

San Francisco Startup Adventure

Unique entrepreneurship experiences based at some of San Fran's best technology startups

The San Francisco Startup Adventure is a four-week international learning experience specialising in innovation and entrepreneurship.

San Francisco is widely known for global technology innovation and disruptive business, the experience with young businesses there allows students to gather intelligence on the latest trends and enhance their own innovative capabilities.

Selected student entrepreneurs will be mentored by some of San Francisco's most influential technology startups. Learning and observing energetic and experienced innovators, students will learn first-hand the process of founding, investing and growing an early stage business in the global startup ecosystem.

Travel restrictions update

The University has cancelled all international travel. This means that Startup Adventures are deferred until further notice. In the interim, Ventures have now opened applications to Virtual Startup Adventures. Find out more details on the Virtual Startup Adventures and apply today. 

Please check the UQ coronavirus advice page for the latest travel advice. 

Last updated 22 September 2020.

San Fran Fast Facts




California is home to many of the world’s biggest companies' headquarters including Apple, Google, Facebook, Tesla and Uber.



There are 62 unicorns in California collectively worth US$2 trillion.



San Francisco boasts the largest local pool of quality resources including capital, talent, investors, mentors and scaling experience.
Sourced from San Francisco Landing Pad: Land in the Bay: The Australian entrepreneur’s guide to the San Francisco Bay Area

Our innovation partners in 2020

Meet our 2020 adventurers

Alexander Blyth
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Andy Lee
Bachelors of Business Management/Science
Ankit Ghosh
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Anna Fueldner
Master of Business
Darren Fu
Bachelors of Engineering (Honours)/Science
Eva Bunker
Bachelors of Business Management/Arts
Farah Zoelkefli
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Finn Larson
Bachelor of Commerce
Georgina Poniewierski
Bachelors of Business Management/Commerce
Jasmine Bromley
Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics (Honours)
Lea Lai Van
Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Eloisa Guerrero Castro
Master of Tourism Leadership
Moe Amanzadeh
Doctor of Philosophy
Rachael Dagge
Bachelor of Health Sciences
Robert Hardgrove
Bachelors of Engineering (Honours)/Information Technology
Saksham Gupta
Master of Business
Saurabh Kumar
Masters in Global Management
William Jeremijenko
Bachelor of Mathematics
Zerlina Goodman-Lahz
Bachelors of Engineering (Honours)/Business Management

Your startup adventure starts here

The prep begins with a workshop at UQ Idea Hub, including an introduction to entrepreneurship in San Francisco, cultural preparation and hot tips for making the most of your time in San Francisco.

Week 1
Arrive in San Francisco, and meet with local startups. Start building a relationship with your mentor — one of the local founders, who you’ll shadow during your experience. The first week is also a great time to attend all the extra workshops we’ve organised.
Week 2
Now’s your chance to meet all the movers and shakers in the local San Francisco entrepreneurship community and start dreaming big. Participate in workshops and panel sessions with CEOs, service providers and Australian government representatives.
Week 3
Continue to hustle with matched startups in between guided tech tours, a raft of opportunities to rub shoulders with local startup personalities and checking out all of the hottest local startup venues. Now it’s time to farewell your mentors, new colleagues and sponsors with a wrap-up event.
Once you’re back home, we’ll all catch up to chat about the program, your experiences and to share all our tips for leveraging the global contacts you have made.

So you want in?

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in the program, you must:

  • be enrolled and taking classes in a UQ degree program.
  • have completed at least six units at UQ in your current UQ program
  • have previously participated in an Idea Hub program or UQ Weekend of Startups
  • be available for the entire program
  • have a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.0

Your obligations

You are expected to participate in the full program and to attend all additional networking and development activities.

You will be bound to confidentiality and will be clearly informed of your legal and performance obligations.

Download guidelines