Bay Meadows

In the center of Silicon Valley, San Mateo is percolating with disruptive new companies, alongside industry leaders. Being a hotbed of innovation also means there is a wellspring of entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs here, seeking resources for learning and mentors to help them grow.

And San Mateo is rich in education for 21^st century innovators. Below are just three examples of the vibrant learning culture centered on entrepreneurship … and they’re all practically in Bay Meadows’ backyard!

Next Gen of Makers: Nueva School
Some of the coolest makers of all are studying and creating right at Bay Meadows. Nueva School is a private high school located at Bay Meadows. Among notable programs for Nueva’s gifted student body is its “Design Thinking & Engineering” curriculum. Each year, students present the culmination of their year-long research into personal passions known as the Quest project. From veterinary medicine to programming, martial arts to mixed media, the subject matter of the projects on display is stunning.

Working with their advisors and Nueva Quest teachers to identify and craft their own personal in-depth inquiry in a self-selected area of evolving passion or in pursuit of a deep question, they may elect to pursue one field of study over four years or to frame and complete a series of different Quests, each taking one or more years.

Nueva partnered with IDEO and Stanford’s d.School to develop the Design Thinking & Engineering program and Innovation Lab. Visit Nueva School for highlights from previous Quest projects >

Food and Bev Innovators: KitchenTown
Simultaneous with technology’s ascent, food production has become ripe for disruption. Look no further than the wildly successful culinary incubator KitchenTown that opened in San Mateo in 2014.

This unique culinary compound is dedicated to helping grow local food manufacturers so they could scale. With the current zeitgeist around locally-made, retailers such as Whole Foods are on the hunt for exactly the products that KitchenTown companies create.

And KitchenTown’s calendar is packed with workshops for newbie food producers. Up next is a “Packaging and Food Innovation” workshop, Tue. July 19, 6-8 PM. Led by Oakland-based industrial designer Jake Teitelbaum, the workshop focuses on Design Thinking and how it applies to food packaging. Jake has helped bring products to life for numerous brands, including Kraft, McDonald’s, Quaker Oats and Gatorade.Sign up for the workshop here >

Because the World Needs More Heroes: Draper University
Among the biggest names in start-up education is Draper University. Located in the refurbished former Benjamin Franklin Hotel in downtown San Mateo, Draper University is a residence and online program for bright young minds looking to pursue an entrepreneurial path. The University describes itself as “An unconventional world-class school for the brightest young entrepreneurs from around the world.”

Founder and venture capital guru Tim Draper says, “We built this school because the world needs more heroes.”

Draper University focuses on building entrepreneurs from the ground up. Not by teaching them about what other entrepreneurs have done, but through experiential learning geared to helping students understand through daily, practical experience and a rigorous course of study.

Draper is currently accepting applications for its Fall 2016 program. Learn more here >

Businesses expanding or relocating within Silicon Valley, San Francisco or the greater Bay Area need look no further. Bay Meadows has 5 new office buildings conveniently located on Caltrain. Station 4 will be the new headquarters for SurveyMonkey, which will occupy the building in mid-2016. Station 3 is under construction and now leasing. These state-of-the-art buildings feature floor to ceiling glass, bike storage, expansive floorplates and locker room facilities. All Bay Meadows Station buildings will have access to 18 acres of open space, a social street featuring coffee shops, restaurants, bocce court and plenty of outdoor gathering spaces. The buildings are minutes from the Hillsdale Caltrain Station and proximal to SFO. It’s just 10 minutes to Palo Alto and SFO and 25 minutes to San Francisco!