A new and modern approach to education
InnovaLab teaches high school students on how to thrive in a tech driven world
After leaving my MIT position as an entrepreneur in residence, I decided to join InnovaLab as a co-founder and CEO to build on the amazing work Raquel Costa spearheaded. InnovaLab has had great success teaching high school students about the impact of technology into their lives and on how to develop future-proof skills.
Our current product is a 10-day Innovation bootcamp in Silicon Valley where high schools students learn about Innovation and technology directly from professionals on the trenches (in contrast to the traditional approach on relying on teachers and parents as mentors). The combination has proven to be really successful and we’re not shy to brag that we found a way to change students lives and prepare them for a world that is constantly changing.
If you know students in high school who are curious to learn about how technology will affect their lives, please encourage them to take a look at the programs we offer at http://www.innovalab.us. No previous knowledge of tech and entrepreneurship is required.
Listed below is a snapshot of our latest programs which were only possible due to the hard work of our team and the generosity of many of our friends in the Silicon Valley ecosystem. As we sail the company in uncharted waters, we believe our goal in changing education as we know it has only begun.
Silicon Valley Culture and The Next Tech Trends
What have students learned in this session?
“How tech is going to affect my future and the types of tech there are in present time.”
“I learned that the culture of Silicon Valley is one that encourages intelligent risk-taking and that persistence is an essential attribute to any startup.”
Human Centered Design Workshop
What have students learned in this session?
“I learned the importance of applying human centered design to nearly any problem I face. That is, it’s applicable to many more scenarios beyond just creating potential startups.”
“What we learned about design thinking, and how to develop a product was very interesting and important for a career, and also a new way to think about problems and how to solve them.”
The future of education
What have students learned in this session?
“Our discussions about the future of education made me realize how fast changing our educational system is and how much focus many multinational companies and startups are putting in the development of new teaching approaches and innovations.”
The art of networking
What have students learned in this session?
“The networking session emphasized the importance of using empathy even in a professional environment and showed me a rather admirable characteristic of Silicon Valley.”
“Simple but useful tips to how to establish and maintain contacts.”
Understanding what is behind cloud computing and everyday AI
What have students learned in this session?
“I learned about machine learning, the importance of AI, Google Cloud and many stories of superation.”
“Coding is very useful to know.”
Amazon Go / CafeX visit
What have students learned in this session?
“That technologies do not need to be complicated to disrupt industries.”
“How automation is threatening jobs anywhere.”
Designing processors workshop
At Intel HQ
What have students learned in this session?
“Now I have at least, an idea of how chips and processors work.”
“How to work in groups.”
Understanding automated vehicles
At Samsung HQ
What have students learned in this session?
“I learned that the world of technological innovations will soon impact other fields of society such as legislation in a greater way. I also learned that the process of creating and testing new technologies in often controversial.”
“How autonomous cars and LIDAR work. And how behind every automated system and algorithm there is a human decision maker.”
Storytelling / Improv workshop
What have students learned in this session?
“I learned that the skill of storytelling is one that is applicable and valuable in any environment, whether it’s academic, casual or professional.”
“That good stories makes space for business to grow.”
Art of Pitching workshop
What have students learned in this session?
“How to do a good pitch/ sell an idea.”
Visit at Stanford SLAC particle and X-Ray accelerator
What have students learned in this session?
“I learned on how basic research is important to everything we do today and how this research might not be used for decades.”
Tour and Admissions session at Stanford
What have students learned in this session?
“I am tremendously grateful for the opportunity of having an info session with the admissions office of Stanford and getting to know a little bit more of its campus and its historical aspects during the tour.”
“How holistic the whole admission process is. Having good grades is not enough.”
Mentoring sessions
What have students learned in this session?
“Today I learned that many successful entrepreneurs begin their career with a simple and often idealistic goal such as ending inequality or putting a brick in the world and that these motivations should never be underestimated. I also learned that, although your socioeconomic condition does play a significant role in shaping your future, anyone through much effort and education can write his/her own path and change the world.”
“I learned that technological advancements are shaping the world and the different areas of studies in a much faster pace than I imagined.”
“You don’t have to have a goal in mind too early, and you don’t have to stick to your “planning”, you kind of improvise along the way and don’t miss any opportunities.”
“I learned a little more about the process of investing in startups and about why international companies see so much potential in Brazil even after an economic crisis.”
“I learned what investors see in entrepreneurs and startups.”
The future of medicine and biodesign
What have students learned in this session?
“I learned why technological innovations are slower in the field of healthcare.”
“I learned that radiologists might be challenged by artificial intelligence soon but doctors won’t be replaced (yet).”
Berkeley Tour and Private Admissions Presentation
What have students learned in this session?
“Berkeley is a hard school to get in!”
How Accelerators Work
What have students learned in this session?
“I learned that companies regardless of their success need some kind of guidance in order to either maintain their status or elevate it.”
“How SAP is the structure behind many industries and how they use their network’s value to their advantage.”
Autodesk Gallery Visit and 3D modelling workshop
What have students learned in this session?
“I discovered yet two other fields that has already been and will continue to be greatly affected by technological advancements, which is architecture and engineering. This discovery just emphasizes the fact that no matter what I decide to do with my professional life I will inevitably be surrounded by technology.”
The future of genetic engineering
At Berkeley Innovation Genomics Institute
What have students learned in this session?
“How designing amazing biological structures is very accessible to us.”
“Sometimes technology is limited by our ethics, but that is not a bad thing.”
What’s your passion workshop
What have students learned in this session?
“Literally, I basically choose my future job today😂😂. It was super fun and also it helped me realize what I’m good at and what I need to improve.”
“Sometimes it’s good to look at yourself from an outsider perspective.”
Demo Day
What have students learned in this session?
“I learned that delivering a speech or engaging in any type of public speaking entails not only great diction, but also great hand gesture, facial expression and posture. I also learned that pitching, despite being theoretically simple, involves a lot of preparation and thoughtfulness even when it is a 30 second pitch. Additionally, I learned that as a teenager the best thing I can do is grab the opportunities and make the best out of them. If it weren’t for this lesson I wouldn’t have had such a transforming experience during the program.”
“The only language that investors understand is money.”
What the students say about the program
“The bootcamp was an amazing experience that I will carry for the rest of my life.”
“In a place so competitive and ambitious as the Silicon Valley, I was surprised to hear the word “empathy” so many times. Nowhere else will I ever be able to find such a place, where collaboration gives birth to innovation and where creativity emerges from generosity.”
“I must say that this program exceeded all of my expectations and that I am immensely grateful for all the knowledge I obtained and all the friendships I made during these past ten days. It might sound cheesy, but I will forever remember this remarkable experience and the unique people I met.”