Student Spotlight: Growing a Network in Silicon Valley
Francisco Besoain (MSSM ‘25) has been growing his network in Silicon Valley to unlock new opportunities
By Hannah Brelsford
Francisco Besoain (‘25) came to the Master of Science in Software Management (MSSM) program at the Integrated Innovation Institute (iii) at Carnegie Mellon University to enhance his undergraduate skills.
He completed his undergraduate education at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, earning a degree in industrial engineering. He has always had a desire to study abroad, but COVID-19 limited his opportunities during his undergraduate years. Once he was in a position to afford a master's degree, he decided it was time to take the leap and apply to the MSSM program.
Francisco was aware of the Bay Area's reputation before choosing to pursue the MSSM degree, and this was one of the reasons for his decision. However, he felt hesitant about moving there since he didn’t know anyone entering the program. Fortunately, his classmates quickly helped him feel at home. He understood that starting his journey in the Bay Area as a student, even without prior connections, would enable him to build a network that could jumpstart his career and elevate it to a new level.
“The program made me see what makes a good business and showed me how the Bay Area works because it is different from any other place in the world.”
The Fast Facts: A Summary of Francisco’s Time in the MSSM Program
Starting in a Startup 🚀
- Experience learning in a startup
- Showed him new opportunities for his career
Opening Doors in the Bay Area 🌉
- CMU-SV proximity to Big Tech in the Bay Area
- Guest speakers in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship course
- Collaboration with classmates from different disciplines
Networking 🤝
- Securing an internship through networking
- Software Engineer Intern at Zaimler
What’s Next 🎓
- A desire to stay in the Bay Area
- MSSM coursework deepens knowledge for success
Starting in a Startup
Before joining the iii, Francisco worked at a Fintech startup called Toku, where he had one of the best experiences of his life. This was not his first experience with a startup, so Francisco was already aware of what to expect in his role. His initial task was to begin developing new products to help the company pivot.
In 2022, while working for a startup, AI had not yet become a dominant force in the market. The company focused on developing an automated payment platform for businesses utilizing AI technologies. During his time there, he learned about the company from its early stages, including the initial phases of its AI work, and gained valuable experience in scaling the product. He witnessed the team grow from ten to 200 people and explored not only the technical aspects of the product but also the process of product discovery. This experience sparked new interests and ultimately influenced his decision to pursue a Master of Science in Management (MSSM) degree.
Opening Doors in the Bay Area
The MSSM degree has significantly connected Francisco to the Bay Area and has opened numerous opportunities for him and his classmates. Outside of campus, students have easy access to Big Tech companies. "In the Bay Area, you are so close to all the major companies, especially Google, which feels amazing. It also creates many opportunities beyond the campus." These connections provide industry experience that is difficult to find elsewhere.
In many classes, such as Innovation and Entrepreneurship, there are guest speakers throughout the semester. These speakers bring years of industry experience and share their insights on success with students as they begin their journeys in Silicon Valley.
“Every guest speaker in that class is a very successful person, and they share such incredible stories which are all so insightful.”
One of the most notable speakers for Francisco came from Mayfield, a venture capital firm. This experience opened his eyes to how they evaluate and invest in exceptional founders and how the firm has achieved its success.
These exchanges of information and learning happen not only between industry experts and students but also between each other.
MSSM students all possess technical experience, but they come from diverse backgrounds and have different skill sets. Francisco shared his thoughts on the experience, stating, “It has been pretty cool to learn alongside so many people from around the world.”
This exchange of information is highly valuable to him, especially since he has limited business experience. However, through the program, he has learned business techniques that he can leverage alongside his technical skills.
Whenever students are assigned to group projects, professors strategically form teams with members who possess different skill sets. This arrangement encourages students to challenge themselves by working across disciplines.
“One of my reasons for choosing this program is its location in the Bay Area.”
Networking 🤝
During his time at the iii, Francisco has gained valuable insights through his internship, which is a required component of the 16-month MSSM curriculum. This internship allows students to apply the skills they have learned in the classroom.
One evening, Francisco was looking forward to attending an AI event with a friend. However, when his friend couldn't go, he hesitated about attending by himself. After some encouragement, he decided to go to the event anyway. Although students were advised that networking could lead to internship opportunities, Francisco was skeptical about this advice.
At the AI event, Francisco met a representative from Zaimler, a company dedicated to helping businesses leverage their data through AI. This connection ultimately led him to secure his internship. Francisco is now a Software Engineer Intern at Zaimler. Such valuable networking opportunities are unique to the Bay Area.
What’s Next
Although Francisco had industry experience prior to enrolling in the MSSM program, the program helped him connect his practical knowledge to his coursework, deepening his understanding and enabling him to develop meaningful solutions.
Even if he decides to pursue a career in a purely technical field, he recognizes that collaborating with others enhances his skills and leads to stronger solutions.
The opportunities he has encountered in the Bay Area have made him eager to remain here for the next few years and continue in his current role.