On a “dreek” misty morning we headed out of San Francisco and off to Stanford for a team session. We find its essential on these programmes to build in decompression time when members of the group can step away from the intense “always on” of Silicon Valley, digest learnings and re-focus on the days ahead. For this activity there can be no better location than Stamford the birth place of so many of the technology that we see around us today.

Once re-centred we drove to Sand Hill Road to meet with Heidi Roizen of DFJ ventures. As introduction Sand Hill Road is centre to many of the most successful VCs in the Valley and Heidi after spending time in Edinburgh is a huge supporter of Scottish entrepreneurialism. She delivered what can only be described as a Masterclass on what she as a VC looks for, how to pitch and how the investment market works.

To make life easy for us she was able to point us at the “must read” book for every business owner, The Magic Box Paradigm- a framework for StartUps

Back to San Francisco where I step away from my role as “van driver” to host the official launch of Scottish Business Network in North America. The event took the standard format of three pitches and networking. We were hosted magnificently by RBS Silicon Valley Solutions in their down town offices attracting over 50 guests. This may well have been the largest ever gathering of Scottish Entrepreneurial talent in Silicon Valley with the WeAreTheFuture group joined by a visiting party Investing Women led by Jackie Wearing; local Execs, Investors, Scottish Development International and Entrepreneurs – the Californian Scottish Ecosystem.

I opened by introducing Scottish Business Network our goals and successes. Pitches were delivered by Gordon Coulter, Bruce Walker and Rebecca Pick, we then as a group discussed the pros and cons of developing the network in the States. The group agreed that by collaborating we should take this intuitive forward. But more importantly those entrepreneurs who pitched received local support, introductions and encouragement from a group brought together through their common bond with Scotland.

The launch of Scottish Business Network in the US will go down as one of my proudest moments in business, but only if we now see through the agreed steps to build out and support the network. If you are based in the US or are a Scottish company looking to develop your presence in Silicon Valley, then get in touch and we will start making connections for you.

Time for a late night Uber back to the AirBnB, to sleep…….