Silicon Valley tour the gift of a lifetime

Each September, a select group of high-achieving, entrepreneurial students from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, embarks on a journey that few their age will experience. The Vanguard programme is a curated study tour through the fast-paced, idea-driven, relentlessly ambitious world of Silicon Valley, delivered by the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE).

Over seven packed days, students from undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across a wide range of disciplines immersed themselves in a region widely considered the global capital of start-ups. In one week, they experienced 25 site visits where they sat around boardroom tables with investors, questioned start-up founders on their strategies and explored innovation labs.

This year’s programme included a private visit to Substack, where students heard firsthand from co-founder Hamish McKenzie about his career journey and the platform’s creation and rise. They were hosted for a day at Allbirds, the sustainable footwear brand co-founded by Kiwi Tim Brown. Across the week, they also connected with investors, start-ups and trailblazing University of Auckland alumni now embedded in Silicon Valley companies, offering honest insights about what it takes to thrive globally.

CIE Director Darsel Keane co-led the trip alongside Business School senior lecturer Dr Deb Shepherd, who also serves on the board of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and is Chair of Soul Capital, a social impact investment firm.

Keane says it’s the combination of access and reflection that makes the programme so impactful.

“Every time I travel with our students, I’m reminded of the power of experiential learning to shift mindsets. This journey wasn’t just about site visits or speakers, it was about unlocking potential, raising aspirations and building a sense of belonging in the global innovation community. I’m incredibly proud of the way our students show up. They’re reflective, driven, and deeply committed to creating positive change. It’s a privilege to walk alongside them as they explore what it means to think big, dig deep and make an impact.”

The trip, formally known as the Vanguard Entrepreneurial Leaders Expedition, is by invitation only. Students undergo a competitive selection process to take part in what many describe as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which takes months of planning and preparation for the CIE team to pull together. It's made possible by the vision and generosity of philanthropist and entrepreneur Tony Falkenstein, who has supported the programme for three years now. Last year, Falkenstein confirmed his commitment to fund it for five more years.

“My thinking is entrepreneurship is the key to economic prosperity, which is why my philanthropy is so focused in that direction. To me that means paying it on to the next generation of students. The Vanguard Programme is one way I can do that.”

Falkenstein joins the group each year in Silicon Valley, taking part in sessions and helping lead conversations.

From the halls of Stanford University to the bustling co-working spaces of the Bay Area, this programme lifts the students’ aspirations and expands their thinking. Keane says it’s not about copying Silicon Valley. It’s about helping students see that they have what it takes to lead, innovate and create impact, right here in Aotearoa and around the world.

“It’s been interesting to note the changes in Silicon Valley over the last year with the impact that AI has had on types of ventures, and team sizes and to speculate how soon those trends will reach New Zealand.”