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Hi Mike! Here's my two cents: 1. I would try to find a technical co-founder. If you want to do a technical startup, there's often a lot more involved than just programming (including configuration and architecture). Of course, that's easier said than done. Let no one stop you from learning programming, if that's interesting to you, but it will definitely increase your odds of success if you have a co-founder who knows their stuff. 2. Would you recommend starting a startup in the Valley? No. Not if it's your first startup. My feeling is that nearly anywhere else is going to be cheaper. You'll be able to raise funding much more easily here when the time comes, but that's probably not going to happen right away. It's not as easy to raise investment as it might seem. That said, if you love it here, and it won't bankrupt you, go for it. But I would be wary. 3. What opportunities in the startup space are there with a BS in chemistry + MS in biology? There's always space for a good idea/execution, no matter the background. But -- the easy areas are crowded, the hard areas tend to fail because, well, they're hard. Looking at your domain, say Biology, are there areas that are under-served or poorly executed? But be careful, an easy answer to that might be hiding the devil in the details. It's a place to start, though. 4. What places should I visit while I’m here? If it was me, I would hang out on University Avenue in Palo Alto; find someone at Google to invite you to lunch; check out event sites, like meetup.com, for things going on. I don't know if that's good advice but it's my advice. Hope you have a great time on your trip, Mike! |