MSc BIS Field Trip

Silicon Valley

2025

The Diary

Where business dreams come true...

The FHNW organizers welcome you to the diary of the Silicon Valley 2025!

Prof. Dr. Knut Hinkelmann

Dr. Uri Nahum

Prof. Dr. Andreas Martin

The MSc BIS Field Trip 202 to Silicon Valley Diary structure is such that for each company/university presentation there is an article, followed by its authors (i.e. students to whom the visit was assigned), and some photos taken during the talk. For each extra activities only photos are shown. Presentations are shown in chronological order from the first event to the most recent one.

Enjoy, and let yourself inspire!

Silicon Foundry • 02.09.2025

Silicon Foundry is an innovation advisory firm—now under Kearney—that specializes in facilitating innovation between large corporations and emerging startups or tech ventures. Their slogan: “Anticipate change. Navigate what’s next.”

Acting as an extension of corporate teams, Silicon Foundry supports its members in:

• Scouting and evaluating emerging tech trends and startups.

• Driving strategic growth via innovation partnerships, corporate venture capital, pilot programs, and M&A.

• Delivering tailored insights that help corporations stay agile amid market shifts.

https://sifoundry.com

Authors:

Roger Matter

Cansu Kertmen

Swisscom• 03.09.2025

Description

Link

Authors:

Chiara Kühne

Ismael Giosué Liuzzi

Econoventure • 03.09.2025

Description

Link

Authors:

Nadia

Jan Spörri

Stanford University • 03.09.2025

Description

Link

Authors:

Fabienne

Marc

AIEA Lab • 04.09.2025

The purpose of the Swisscom Outpost in Silicon Valley is to aim to drive innovation by collaborating with startups and tech partners. They focus on selecting companies that align with Swisscom's goals and have demonstrated successful partnerships, particularly in cloud-native solutions and IT infrastructure. The identified solutions are then either transferred to internal business units, or customers.

Emerging technologies such as cloud services and telecom innovations are critical for Swisscom’s future. The Outpost plays a vital role in Swisscom’s digital transformation strategy by staying ahead of trends and overcoming challenges in technology scouting and adoption. The introduction of the outpost in 1998 was a significant milestone in Swisscom’s history.

When the internet bubble burst, many telecommunications companies retreated, but Swisscom remained resilient and adapted to the changing landscape. This foresight allowed Swisscom to witness and influence the rise of innovative startups and rapid technological advancements, especially following the introduction of the iPhone in 2007. Being present from the beginning of this new era, Swisscom positioned itself as a key player in driving and shaping the future of communication technology and was recently even recognized by Brand Finance as the third strongest brand worldwide.

https://www.swisscom.ch/