Global Founder Bridges to Silicon Valley
Every country has a way in. This is a directory of the organizations, chambers, associations, and government hubs that connect founders and tech talent from around the world to San Francisco and Silicon Valley. If you are relocating, scaling, or just visiting, start here.
Italy
Europe
Italy's presence in Silicon Valley is coordinated through official innovation hubs and a long-standing professional network of Italian founders, engineers, and executives.
Taiwan
Asia
Taiwan's engineering and semiconductor community has one of the deepest footprints in Silicon Valley, anchored by two long-running professional associations.
Nordics
Europe
The Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark) share a single innovation house in the Bay Area, giving Nordic founders one landing point in Silicon Valley.
France
Europe
French Tech has an active San Francisco chapter connecting French founders, investors, and engineers to Silicon Valley.
Germany
Europe
Germany's Silicon Valley presence runs through GABA, a transatlantic business network with a dedicated Founders' Hub for European founders.
Israel
Middle East
Israel's founder community in Silicon Valley is one of the most active, spanning collaboration networks, executive forums, and women-led entrepreneur groups.
India
Asia
The Indian founder and operator community in Silicon Valley is anchored by TiE, the world's largest entrepreneur network with roots in the Valley.
Japan
Asia
Japan's Silicon Valley presence includes a long-standing business network and a government-adjacent platform helping Japanese SMEs land in the Bay Area.
China
Asia
The Chinese professional community in Silicon Valley has been organized for decades through HYSTA and SVCACA, two of the region's oldest ethnic tech associations.
Greece
Europe
The Greek and Cypriot tech diaspora is organized through a global innovation network with a presence in Silicon Valley.
Pakistan
Asia
The Pakistani founder community in the Bay Area is organized through OPEN Silicon Valley, part of the OPEN North America network.
Africa (Pan-African)
Africa
The pan-African tech community in Silicon Valley is coordinated through the African Diaspora Network, which mentors African founders and connects them with U.S. investors.
South Korea
Asia
Korea's official launchpad in Silicon Valley is KIC, a government-backed hub for Korean startups scaling into the U.S.
United Kingdom
Europe
The U.K. maintains multiple bridges into Silicon Valley, from the SVC2UK trade mission to university-run hubs and specialist AI founder programs.
Spain
Europe
Spain has one of the most active soft-landing infrastructures in Silicon Valley, spanning a startup center, a chamber of commerce, and immersion programs.
Netherlands
Europe
The Dutch bridge to Silicon Valley is coordinated through the Consulate General in San Francisco, an accelerator, and an active Dutch-American community.
Switzerland
Europe
Switzerland's Silicon Valley presence runs through Swissnex, the country's official science, innovation, and exchange office.
Vietnam
Asia
The Vietnamese tech community in the Bay Area spans a growing founder network, a business association, and a semiconductor-focused foundation.
Brazil
Latin America
Brazil's bridge to Silicon Valley is anchored by BayBrazil and a student-driven organization out of Stanford and Berkeley.
Latin America
Latin America
The broader Latino tech community in Silicon Valley is organized through several networks and accelerators serving founders, operators, and small business owners.
Canada
North America
Canada's Silicon Valley presence spans a founder-focused nonprofit, a physical landing pad, and a government-run trade accelerator.
Ireland
Europe
Ireland's bridge to Silicon Valley combines a global diaspora leadership group with the government's trade agency.
Poland
Europe
Poland's Silicon Valley connection grew out of the U.S.–Polish Trade Council and now organizes Polish STEM talent and scaleups.
Ukraine
Europe
The Ukrainian tech community in Silicon Valley grew rapidly after 2022 and is organized through Ukrainian Valley.
Philippines
Asia
The Filipino tech community in Silicon Valley is organized through FASTER, a nonprofit spanning STEM and the arts.
Singapore
Asia
Singaporeans working in Silicon Valley organize through SingaporeConnect, a South Bay-based community.
Indonesia
Asia
The Indonesian professional and student community in the U.S. is organized through PERMIAS.
Pan-Asian
Asia
Beyond individual countries, one of the largest pan-Asian tech associations bridges Silicon Valley with Asia broadly.
Frequently asked questions
What organizations connect Italian founders to Silicon Valley?
INNOVIT (the Italian Innovation and Culture Hub), BAIA (Business Association Italy America), and SVIEC (Silicon Valley Italian Executive Council) all connect Italian founders and professionals to Silicon Valley.
Is there a Taiwanese tech association in Silicon Valley?
Yes. TAITA-SV (founded 2003) and NATEA (founded 1991) are the two long-running Taiwanese engineering and technology associations in Silicon Valley.
Where can Nordic founders land in Silicon Valley?
Nordic Innovation House in downtown Palo Alto is the shared Silicon Valley home base for startups from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark.
What organization helps Indian founders in Silicon Valley?
TiE Silicon Valley, the founding chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (founded 1992), is the largest Indian founder network in the Bay Area and runs TiEcon.
Which organizations bridge Israel and Silicon Valley?
ICON (Israel Collaboration Network), IEFF, WeAct, and TechAviv all connect Israeli founders, executives, and women entrepreneurs to Silicon Valley.
Are there French tech communities in San Francisco?
Yes. French Tech San Francisco is the local chapter of La French Tech, connecting French entrepreneurs, executives, and investors in the Bay Area.
How do Korean startups access Silicon Valley?
KIC Silicon Valley (Korea Innovation Center) is a government-backed launchpad that connects Korean startups to Silicon Valley investors and tech companies.
Which organizations help Latin American founders in Silicon Valley?
Latinas in Tech, Manos Accelerator, Silicon Valley Latino, and the Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley are the main organizations. Brazil is also served by BayBrazil and Brazil at Silicon Valley.
What does the U.K. offer founders in Silicon Valley?
Silicon Valley Comes to the UK (SVC2UK), BridgeFellows for Oxbridge AI founders, and Imperial College London's Global USA Hub are the main U.K. bridges.
Is there a Spanish soft-landing program in Silicon Valley?
Yes. Spain Tech Center (founded 2011) has supported 700+ entrepreneurs, and the California Spain Chamber of Commerce and Desafía San Francisco offer additional immersion programs.
Building a bridge we missed?
If your organization connects founders from another country to Silicon Valley, we would love to include it. Send us a note and we will add it to the directory.
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