KAPNA × Silkroad Innovation Hub: Bay Area Retreat
In December 2025, KAPNA organized a three-day in-person retreat for researchers, founders, and venture capital partners. The event aimed to provide researchers with a practical introduction to the Bay Area innovation ecosystem while fostering connections between academia and industry.
The retreat featured:
- Guest talks from founders, venture capitalists, and legal experts
- A mentored pitch competition
- Visits to local start-ups and innovation hubs
- Outdoor activities and informal networking
The program offered opportunities for participants to engage directly with founders and investors, explore the start-up ecosystem, and connect with peers and mentors in a collaborative setting.
This retreat was made possible with the generous support of Silkroad Innovation Hub, who not only hosted the event but also helped organize it seamlessly and connected our members with the local innovation community. We are grateful to all our panel speakers and presenters for sharing their insights, and to the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in San Francisco for their warm welcome as well.
A few reflections from participants say it best ⬇️ — it was truly an incredible experience.
Kazakh Association of PHDs in North Ameria 