Business Validation with a Silicon Valley VC – Workshop Delivered by Cristina Cismaș and Morgan Slain within the UBB Student i-Lab Program (03–05.12.2025)

Between 3–8 December 2025, the UBB i-Lab program continued its series of events dedicated to developing students’ entrepreneurial skills through a set of workshops focused on validating business ideas, pitching techniques, and understanding how Silicon Valley investors think. The activities featured special guests Cristina Cismaș, professor at Santa Clara University, and Morgan Slain, venture capitalist investor and entrepreneur with successful exits in Silicon Valley.

Business Plan Validation and Pitching Workshop (03.12.2025, Room 120, 17:00–18:30)

The first session offered participants the opportunity to present their projects in front of an informed audience and to receive personalized feedback from the guests. Cristina and Morgan analyzed the structure of the pitches, the logic of the business models, and the market potential of the ideas, providing clear recommendations on directions for improvement. The best presentations were selected and recognized with certificates attesting to the entrepreneurial potential of the teams.

During the workshop, students gained practical insights into: how venture capital investors evaluate startups and make investment decisions; rapid techniques for validating the product and the market; effective fundraising strategies, building relationships with investors, and preparing a term sheet.

CEBSS Research Presentation – Entrepreneurial Education (04.12.2025, Room 118, 14:00–15:30)

In an academic setting, the guests presented contemporary perspectives on how universities in Silicon Valley integrate entrepreneurial education across various disciplines. They discussed the operation of Santa Clara University’s startup accelerator, the ways in which students are involved in real projects and investments, as well as best practices for developing a university ecosystem connected to the global innovation network.

The session encouraged interdisciplinary dialogue and the exploration of new research directions regarding the teaching of entrepreneurship and supporting student success.

Storytelling and Pitch Delivery Workshop (04.12.2025, Room 120, 15:50–17:20)

The second session was dedicated to building a persuasive narrative around the business idea. Participants learned how to define the problem in a way that creates emotional resonance, how to craft memorable solutions, and how to clearly differentiate their value proposition.

Through practical exercises and direct feedback, Cristina and Morgan demonstrated the importance of storytelling techniques in capturing investors’ attention and turning a pitch into a compelling and memorable presentation.

Business Plan Validation & Video Elevator Pitch Workshop (05.12.2025, Room 120, 09:40–14:00)

During this activity, the teams delivered extended pitches and received detailed evaluations of their business model, operational strategy, and financial components.

Through this series of activities, students had the opportunity to understand the real journey of a startup—from validation and storytelling to professional pitching and investment preparation—directly from the perspective of a Silicon Valley investor.