Link to the Google Form "Get your questions answered by leaders/ operators u/Silicon Valley"

Filling this form should take 5-15 minutes, depending on how much detail you have time to include.

About this project & Why I created this form

I am u/aquarksagan. I am currently a A-Level STEM student who is creating a proposal to apply for a school travel grant. The grant is some money for a 1-2-week trip to one place I wish to go. I want to go to Silicon Valley to understand more about what tech leaders/operators there think about entrepreneurship and contemporary philosophies centred around technology and society. I want to understand what they did and chose that led them to their current position, and what they want to do next.

But not just that. I think other people around me would also have many questions for people and companies in Silicon Valley. Considering how many people who don't live in the US, like myself, barely have the chance to visit San Francisco in person, I'd like to know who and what you'd like to ask - so that I can ask for you if I get the travel grant.

Even though there are speeches and articles online of the leaders/operators at Silicon Valley, what happens is that their opinions can get diluted, or specific questions are not answered with enough context from their experiences. Therefore, I would like to talk to them in person.

With the help of your response, I will create an itinerary, which includes a list of places to visit and people to interview, plus the questions to ask them. Then I will present my itinerary to the scholarship committee, which will judge whether it is worthy of the grant. Meanwhile, I will reach out to the leaders/operators at Silicon Valley whom you request to interview.

After the trip, I aim to write about the interviews on my public blog (link in my profile) which is currently in development (I just started it in January). The interview answers and ideas collected on the way will be made available to the public. I'd love it if you request early updates on my itinerary and scholarship application. Feel free to leave your email/ social handle in Question 9 so that I could reach out!

What questions you could ask

Questions can be philosophical or practical. 

A list of themes are:
- Technology (e.g. AI)
- Careers
- Startups
- Investments
- Society
- Politics
- Economy
...

Do not hesitate to put in questions which you think may be surprising or provocative, as long as there is nothing explicitly insulting.

I will be choosing as wide a range questions as possible, as well as questions with more specificity, depth, and motivation - in order to reveal insights and stories that are difficult to obtain from online sources. 

The structure of this form
- Questions 1-2 are for you to express your questions.
- Questions 3-7 are fast questions that aim to understand a bit more about you and where your questions may be coming from.
- Question 8-10 are optional, asking about your other opinions, and if you'd like to support / follow up on my project.

Privacy notice

Note that you can choose to stay anonymous throughout this form. At the end of this form you can indicate if you are happy with publicising any part of your responses (other than your questions and messages).

Other ways you could support my project

If you are part of the leaders/operators at Silicon Valley, and would be happy to chat online or be interviewed in person, please reach out!

In addition, the grant will likely not be a full grant. So if you feel like contributing to my project financially, please reach out as well, and I could share with you my cost estimates later!

Thank you very much in advance for filling out the form. You could submit the form multiple times. -> this is the link to the Google Form again.

I’m pretty appalled at the amount of “on-site” ads that I see on LinkedIn. The comps also seem to have taken a dump, I often come across less base than what I’ve had in 2018 for example. Back then a sandwich didn’t cost $22 pre tax and you weren’t expected to tip 30% on takeout.

The only thing that seems to have gone down in price slightly are rents. Even if the drop is minuscule, compared to everything else it feels cheaper.

In 2018 it felt somewhat prestigious to be in SF. I remember Lers Ros for example, deep tenderloin, being packed every day. Brendas soul food would have a two hour wait.

There was that whole thing with tech shuttles, because people wanted to work on campus on the peninsula but live in SF for the nightlife and whatnot.

So unless it’s hundreds of thousands at FAANG, how are these new startups luring people to come to SF?

I just read that the founder of ego.ai was randomly attacked in the mission which left them blind in one eye. I figured I’d look at their ads and it was almost exactly what I expected. All the ads are “5 days, on-site, SF”, what I didn’t expect was the 50-100k comp. That’s well below the low income threshold of 104k?

So you’ve grinded, you’ve got your PHD, and… you move to SF for 50k? Where’s the motivation in that?

Edit: The ad I would have bet my life on would say “5 days on site”

https://imgur.com/a/QDdwd33

The person that posted it:

https://x.com/simulacronist/status/1885872145286492224

Could it be that Y combinator is behind this? I could not convince my previous boss to not rent a huge office on 11th and Folsom. Couldn’t decide if it was disturbing or funny when they called me one night to ask what to do because cars were being burglarized in front of it.

Seeking Help: January 13 incident around 9:30pm i280N near De Anza Blvd Area

Seeking any information that may be related to a father and husband being shot and killed on i280N near De Anza Blvd on his way to work on January 13 around 9:30pm. Here's an article for context:

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/south-bay/deadly-south-bay-freeway-shooting/3764602/?amp=1

Did you see any concerning dark colored SUVs on the road in this location around this time?

Did you witness what might have appeared to be a road rage prior to this location on i280N?

Do you know who may be involved?

If you have any information please contact the CHP tip line at 707-917-4491 or annonymously at Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers.

Did anyone see a road rage incident on Monday night, 1/13 around 9:30pm on i280N near San Jose/Cupertino? This resulted in a father and husband being shot and killed on his way to work. Any information is appreciated.

I just put together a list of my favorite unique/cool restaurants in Silicon Valley. (I've lived here my whole life). Hopefully, this might help some visitors. Also, I'd love to hear suggestions from others of cool/unique restaurants I've missed.

https://sojournswithsue.com/unique-and-cool-restaurants-in-silicon-valley/

Hi everyone,

I’ve been offered a role at a VC fund in San Francisco starting this summer after completing my bachelor’s degree. The fund manages around $2B in AUM, and the salary seems quite high (for me at least). However, as someone who has never been to SF not even the US, I’m seeking advice on a few key areas:

1. Cost of Living: Is it manageable even with a high salary? (And what is a high salary even in SF?)
2. Safety: How safe is the city ? I have heard a lot about drug addicts and so on…
3. Working Culture: What’s the working culture (WC haha) like in SF?
4. Social Life: How difficult is it to meet people and build a network in SF?

I’d really value any insights from those familiar with the city or working in the VC/startup space.

I have just started learning about how crazy some of the silicon tech billionaires are.

From Libertarian backgrounds they are more and more backing and encouraging fascist tendencies.

From longevity, to monopolising the social media landscape and trying to conquer space travel to probably enslave workers on the moon or something. These guys are crazy af.

Here's my wild take. If my premise has any substance to it then I think these guys should take massive doses of magic mushrooms. It would absolutely crush their egos and diminish their self belief which I think they really need.

I'm thinking Peter Theil, Elon Musk, JD Vance etc.

What do you think and have they already taken huge mushroom trips recently? If yes I guess my idea backfired.

Only partially meant to be a comic take.

Hello parents of this group, I am touring schools for my children and we recently moved here. We plan to send our children to private schools and we are both emigrants. We toured Bing(waitlisted), Windmill, Waldorf Los Altos, Ventana, Phillips brooks, Bowman, Heads Up Montessori and Greendell. I was the most excited about Ventana and Bowman but again not sure she’ll get in. Are there any parents here that send their kids to any of those schools? How’s your experience? Thank you

Hey, I recently moved here, and I’m not from IT. I’m curious—how do you guys entertain yourselves here? Okay, there’s hiking (the mountains are gorgeous), maybe going to a restaurant sometimes, and that’s cool. I don’t drink, so I’m not asking about bars or nightclubs, but I’m wondering—what else do people do for fun around here without driving a couple of hours away?

Do you go to retreats or networking events? That it? What do you enjoy? What do you think we’re missing here? What would help people warm up and have more fun?

I', not complaining! :) I’m curious because I want to bring something new here. If you wish to talk about it—please hit me up.

How much does Google know about activities employees perform on corporate laptops? Are there any cases where this caused real problems to employees?

When software engineer starts working at Google and receives a laptop, is it allowed to use the laptop for personal purposes? (for example working on pet projects, watching Netflix, and so on)

Hi! Any recs for a place to host a nicer corporate event where we could do passed apps and food stations for about 70 people? Looking for a cool vibe vs. white tablecloths. Thanks in advance!