Exploring the Frontiers of Technology with SOM Alums in Silicon Valley

Over spring break, I guided 30 Yale SOM MBA students through an immersive learning experience in Silicon Valley. The trip was part of the course International Experience, which sends students to learn about business capitals around the world. Over a week, we visited venture capital firms, tech startups, big tech companies, and other organizations shaping the future of technology.

Our first stop was LG Technology Ventures, where we had the privilege of hearing from its CEO, Dong-Su Kim. Kim established LG Technology Ventures in 2018, drawing on decades of experience in innovation, R&D strategy, and venture investing. Under his leadership, the firm has built a thoughtful and effective model for corporate venture capital.

The visit also prompted me to reflect on my own intellectual journey. When I wrote my dissertation on corporate venture capital more than a decade ago, CVCs were often viewed as less mature participants in the venture ecosystem. Today, things have clearly changed—CVCs have become major players in venture investing, particularly in deep tech.

Next, we headed to the operations software development company Samsara, where chief marketing officer Meagen Eisenberg ’04 showed us around. Eisenberg spoke to us about AI, the future of marketing and software, and how organizations can navigate this massive technological shift. I appreciated her thoughtful perspective on how AI can be embedded into everyday work and decision-making, rather than treated as a distant or abstract technology, and the students were inspired by visiting with an SOM alum and seeing the incredible work she’s leading.

Investing in deep tech—biotech, climate tech, advanced materials, robotics, and frontier hardware—is an entirely different business ecosystem. A conversation with Mohan Iyer ’95, a general partner at the early-stage deep tech investor SOSV HAX, showed us why. Deep tech ventures often require long development cycles, significant capital investment, and tolerance for technical uncertainty. The path from idea to impact is rarely quick. Mohan told us that rigorous tech evaluation, patience and long-term conviction, and a passion for solving major global challenges are crucial to success in the field. Drawing on his decades of experience in innovation strategy and venture investing, he helped our students better understand how this industry really works.

When people talk about impact investing, they often use the phrase “double bottom line” to refer to the idea that investments can deliver top-tier financial returns while also generating meaningful social, environmental, or economic impact. On our last visit, we had the privilege of learning about DBL Partners, a pioneer of impact venture capital with an SOM connection—it was founded by Nancy Pfund ’82. We spoke with Pfund and two other SOM alums—Vincent Caruso ’20 and Jake Harris ’19—about the evolution of the field, the firm’s approach to deal sourcing, and how venture capital can be used to address urgent challenges. It was inspiring to hear how our alumni are using the tools of finance and venture investing to tackle global problems while building successful investment platforms.

A particularly meaningful session, both intellectually and in terms of alumni engagement, involved an in-depth tour of Google’s offices with four wonderful SOM alums who graduated in the past few years: Faye Feng ’22, Alice Chien ’22, Daniel Jimenez ’20, and Keerthana Kumar ’22. They shared the exciting work they are doing across different teams, told us how they’re applying AI in their day-to-day work, and offered thoughtful career advice to the students.

There were so many other highlights and exciting organizations visited during the trip. At Suki AI, students learned about applications for the technology in healthcare, and how new developments are reshaping clinical workflows. We also had a unique cultural and business visit to the home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. Students toured the stadium and learned how data and technology are influencing the business of sports.

There was plenty of time for socializing as well. We hosted a special Bay Area alumni dinner, bringing together about a dozen SOM alumni from the 1980s to the Class of 2025. The Yale Club of Silicon Valley even organized a reception that brought together dozens of alumni. It was a wonderful event, where we had the chance to connect with members of the Yale community working on a wide range of exciting initiatives in the region. Watching our current students interact with alumni across generations in such a meaningful way was fantastic. I came away from the trip reminded of how special the SOM community really is.