EPS 4520-01 - INNOVATION ODYSSEY

Academic Period:

Fall 2025

Section:

Title:

INNOV ODYSSEY:THE SILICON VALLEY INSIDER

Meeting Patterns:

Locations:

Can be several values or empty

Start Date:

Monday, August 25, 2025 Date format can be changed

End Date:

Friday, December 12, 2025 Date format can be changed

Instructor Name:

Stephen Brand

Instructor Email:

sbrand@babson.edu

Academic Unit:

EPS - Entrepreneurship

Academic Level:

Undergraduate

Maximum Credits:

Delivery Mode:

In-Person

Allowed Grading Bases:

Graded

Section Status:

Closed

Enrollment Count:

Section Capacity:

Description:

EPS4520 Innovation Odyssey: Silicon Valley Insider 4 General Credits Faculty: Stephen Brand Application Acceptance required prior to registration for this course. Initial Application Period: March 10 – March 31, 2025 Rolling Application Period (to fill open spots): April 1 – April 7, 2025 Program Fee: TBD Program fee is paid to Glavin Office – program fee includes accommodations, breakfast, group ground transportation, program planned meals, and cultural excursions. Not included: tuition, flight, additional meals and personal expenses. Pre-Requisite: FME1000 & FME1001; MOB1010 and/or EPS1000 (Ugrad Transfer Students) Silicon Valley and the surrounding Bay Area is known for being the foundation of many iconic companies from startups to some of the most recognized technology brands in the world. The area is a tapestry of innovative people who collaborate, innovate, and build entrepreneurial empires. While entrepreneurship can be seen throughout the world, many developing entrepreneurial ecosystems are inspired by the beginnings of technology revolutions that have driven the world economy and were started in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area. This immersive and experiential travel course is designed to give Babson students the chance to learn about how Silicon Valley started, the people who keep it going today, and how they can think about the kinds of companies they want to join or start as their careers develop. They will also meet and experience some of the unique places to explore in the Bay Area. Over the last decade, the epicenter of entrepreneurial activity in the region has expanded to San Francisco. So, this trip will include both Silicon Valley and the tech hub in San Francisco. The course will begin with prep-work during the spring semester and summer virtual meeting - prior to the trip. It will continue through the fall as they work on experiential learning projects, that will be shared with the companies we meet during our visits. This will be an experiential course filled with: - Meetings with some of the innovators of today and yesterday - Getting inside tours of companies that are icons of innovation and entrepreneurship. - Engaging in learning and public events that exemplify what it might be like to live in the Silicon Valley – Bay Area innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. - Changes for students who have ventures to pitch their ideas and get feedback from experts and investors. Mandatory Pre-Travel Dates: Logistics Session #1: Planning Meeting: Monday, April 28, 5PM - 6PMET (in-person) (before class #1) Class #1: Tuesday, Monday, April 28, 6PM - 8PM ET (in-person) Class #2: Tuesday, Tuesday, July 8, 6PM - 8PM ET (online) Class #3: Tuesday, Tuesday, July 22, 6PM - 8PM ET (online) Logistics Session #2: Pre-departure Orientation: Tuesday, July 29, 6PM - 7PMET (online) (before class #3) Course Travel: Thursday, August 14 - Saturday, August 23, 2025 Class Dates: Friday, August 15 - Saturday, August 23, 2025 Mandatory Post-Travel Dates: Class #4: (TENT) Tuesday, September 9, 6PM – 8PM ET (in-person) Class #5: (TENT) Tuesday, September 23, 6PM – 8PM ET (in-person) Class #6: (TENT) Tuesday, October 24, 6PM – 8PM ET (in-person)

HTML Description:

EPS4520 Innovation Odyssey: Silicon Valley Insider
4 General Credits

Faculty: Stephen Brand

Application Acceptance required prior to registration for this course.
Initial Application Period: March 10 – March 31, 2025
Rolling Application Period (to fill open spots): April 1 – April 7, 2025

Program Fee: TBD
Program fee is paid to Glavin Office – program fee includes accommodations, breakfast, group ground transportation, program planned meals, and cultural excursions. Not included: tuition, flight, additional meals and personal expenses.

Pre-Requisite: FME1000 & FME1001; MOB1010 and/or EPS1000 (Ugrad Transfer Students)

Silicon Valley and the surrounding Bay Area is known for being the foundation of many iconic companies from startups to some of the most recognized technology brands in the world. The area is a tapestry of innovative people who collaborate, innovate, and build entrepreneurial empires. While entrepreneurship can be seen throughout the world, many developing entrepreneurial ecosystems are inspired by the beginnings of technology revolutions that have driven the world economy and were started in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area.

This immersive and experiential travel course is designed to give Babson students the chance to learn about how Silicon Valley started, the people who keep it going today, and how they can think about the kinds of companies they want to join or start as their careers develop. They will also meet and experience some of the unique places to explore in the Bay Area. Over the last decade, the epicenter of entrepreneurial activity in the region has expanded to San Francisco. So, this trip will include both Silicon Valley and the tech hub in San Francisco.

The course will begin with prep-work during the spring semester and summer virtual meeting - prior to the trip. It will continue through the fall as they work on experiential learning projects, that will be shared with the companies we meet during our visits.

This will be an experiential course filled with:
-   Meetings with some of the innovators of today and yesterday
-   Getting inside tours of companies that are icons of innovation and entrepreneurship.
-   Engaging in learning and public events that exemplify what it might be like to live in the Silicon Valley – Bay Area innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
-   Changes for students who have ventures to pitch their ideas and get feedback from experts and investors.

Mandatory Pre-Travel Dates:
Logistics Session #1: Planning Meeting: Monday, April 28, 5PM - 6PMET (in-person) (before class #1)
Class #1: Tuesday, Monday, April 28, 6PM - 8PM ET (in-person)
Class #2: Tuesday, Tuesday, July 8, 6PM - 8PM ET (online)
Class #3: Tuesday, Tuesday, July 22, 6PM - 8PM ET (online)
Logistics Session #2: Pre-departure Orientation: Tuesday, July 29, 6PM - 7PMET (online) (before class #3)

Course Travel: Thursday, August 14 - Saturday, August 23, 2025
Class Dates: Friday, August 15 - Saturday, August 23, 2025

Mandatory Post-Travel Dates:
Class #4: (TENT) Tuesday, September 9, 6PM – 8PM ET (in-person)

Class #5: (TENT) Tuesday, September 23, 6PM – 8PM ET (in-person)
Class #6: (TENT) Tuesday, October 24, 6PM – 8PM ET (in-person)

Format:

In-Person Can be several values or empty

Session:

Full Session Can be several values or empty

Elective:

Elective Abroad (UGrad), Advanced Elective (UGrad) Can be several values or empty

Program:

Advanced Experiential (Ugrad), Advanced Management (UGrad) Can be several values or empty