Leaning on Santa Clara University's Strategic Priority 2 of the Impact 2030 Strategic Plan - Solutions for Universal Good - Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is hosting a June 2025 Silicon Valley Immersion at Plug and Play to explore partnerships and connections between Santa Clara University and the innovative community of Silicon Valley during Plug and Play's June Summit.
Saeed Amidi founded Plug and Play, the ultimate innovation platform, in 2006. Since then, the Plug and Play portfolio has raised over $9 billion and has gained invaluable support alongside Plug and Play’s network of over 10,000 startups. With 30+ locations worldwide and 400+ VC Partners, Plug and Play has extended Silicon Valley’s expertise across the world.
The following faculty, staff, and alumni will serve as a delegation representing Santa Clara University attending the Summit:
- Fatemeh Davoudi Kakhki, Associate Professor, General Engineering and (by courtesy) Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Fiona Ji, Associate Teaching Professor in the Management Department
- Sriram Sundararajan, Faculty in Leavey School of Business Marketing Department & Managing Partner, Hypergrowth Labs, USA
- Takeshi Moro, Associate Professor, Art & Art History Department
- Tao Li, Associate Professor of Information Systems and Analytics & Program Director, MSBA, Information Systems & Analytics
- Ryan Carrington, Teaching Professor, Art & Art History Department
- Chris Norris, Executive Director of Ciocca Center and Executive Director of Sustainable Business Institute
- Cindy Cooper, Program Director, Ciocca Center
- Hallie Bodey, Sr. Program Manager Center for Global Law and Policy & Sr. Program Manager for Public Interest J.D. Law Program (Former Program Director, Ciocca Center)
- Filip Orth, SCU Alumni & Principal @ ZAKA VC & Head of North America @ Cleevio
Together, we will attend sessions that will predict the future of innovation in Silicon Valley and around the world, focused around themes like AI, New Materials & Packaging, Bioprocessing for Food and Beverage, and Retail. Individually, we will also have meetings with other attendees and attend other sessions tied to our personal work. We look forward to building more connections to Silicon Valley and are grateful to our partners at Plug and Play for hosting us on this fabulous experience.