As I stared into the amber glow of office buildings, tech campuses and high-rise apartments of Silicon Valley, the dots of distant homes shrouding America’s biggest sprawling tech zone, I felt a sense of awe. It wasn’t just the scale; it was the precision, the serene intensity that surrounds the neon signs and LED displays announcing the latest in tech innovations and startup launches. I knew I was in the right place at the right time.

I’m Abdelbasset Meghraoui, CEO and founder of Survision, and a Data Science and Artificial Intelligence student at the École Supérieure en Sciences et Technologies de l’Informatique et du Numérique (ESTIN) in Algeria. This journey, from a lecture hall in Bejaia to the boardroom of a Silicon Valley accelerator, was catalysed by a single question that radically changed my life’s trajectory:

“When you wake up in the morning, ask yourself — am I working on my own dreams or someone else’s?”

That question was the spark. It pushed me from theory into practice, compelling me to participate in every hackathon I could find. One of the most meaningful was Micro Hack #1, an event focused on Algeria’s unique data challenges. My team secured third place, and through the vital support of Itihad Group’s business accelerator, we were invited into their incubation programme. After months of development and building our MVP, I convinced three investors (Itihad Group Business Accelerator; Zone Agency; CM Consulting) to join the journey.

That’s how Survision was born — a market research platform that leverages a network of uberized, on-demand collectors to revolutionise how in-person data is gathered across the region. But building the product was only the first step. To build a company, I had to learn to think bigger.

Learning Across Borders

Our first taste of the international stage was at Web Summit Qatar, as part of the Alpha Startups Programme. It was a turning point. Meeting global entrepreneurs and seeing how startups from vastly different ecosystems were solving universal problems shifted my perspective. I began to understand how global exposure isn’t just about networking; it’s a tool to reshape your mindset and reimagine what’s possible for your own venture.

This experience led me to apply for ASEP — the Algerian Startup Expedition Program. Organised by Algeria Venture and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups, and Micro-Enterprises, ASEP is a bridge connecting Algerian founders to global tech hubs. I was fortunate to be selected for the USA cohort, and what followed was nothing short of life-changing.

Silicon Valley: Where Vision Meets Execution

Our first stop was San Francisco. Visiting the hallowed grounds of Intel, NVIDIA, Apple and Google was more than inspiring; it was empowering. A surprising insight came from conversations within these giants: many now prefer to hire entrepreneurs as managers. They actively seek out people who have experienced the full cycle of building, failing, learning and growing. They value the resilience and resourcefulness that comes from building something from scratch.

At Stanford University, the startup energy was infectious, a palpable current running through campus. But the most actionable takeaways came from our workshops and pitch sessions at Alchemist Accelerator and TechWadi. We had hands-on sessions on growth strategies and fundraising with seasoned experts like Yousra Gaballah, Zamir Shukho and Sabrina Mekhalfa, VP of Finance at Sephora Americas.

One crucial insight emerged from our discussions with VCs, a lesson for every emerging startup ecosystem.

For a mature startup ecosystem to exist, you first need mature classical IT companies.

These established tech firms are often the first believers. They have the capital, industry knowledge and risk appetite to back tech-first startups. Once they start writing cheques and making acquisitions, business angels and institutional VCs naturally follow — because they see proven market potential and viable exit opportunities.

Boston: Where Science Meets Society

Our journey then continued to Boston, a city that offers a powerful contrast with its intimate scale and historical weight. The echoes of the past on the Freedom Trail feel just steps away from the modern energy of Quincy Market. Here, we visited MIT, including the cutting-edge MIT.nano facility and the Plasma Science and Fusion Center. In Boston, I witnessed what happens when a society truly believes in deep-tech ideas, even without any short-term guarantee of commercial success. The relentless, decades-long pursuit of knowledge, supported by a culture that invests heavily in research and infrastructure, was a masterclass in building an innovation-led economy.

A meeting with the Boston City Hall Innovation & Tech Team showed us how public institutions can act as powerful enablers for forward-thinking initiatives. It reinforced a key cultural observation: the US invests in social intelligence before academic intelligence. Children are raised to think about their impact on future generations, and that long-term perspective influences every decision, from personal choices to corporate strategy.

The Bigger Picture: A Message for Africa

This journey gave me more than tools and connections — it gave me conviction.

Africa, and Algeria in particular, is not lacking in academic intelligence or technical talent. Our universities produce brilliant engineers and scientists. What we need is movement. We need the collective push to believe in ourselves, in our ideas, in the next generation and in our power to build globally relevant solutions from our local ecosystems.

We cannot build in isolation. Programmes like ASEP, which facilitate exposure, and platforms like Survision, which aim to solve local problems with global-standard technology, are how we start. We are doing more than just learning — we’re creating, connecting and contributing. And we’re just getting started.

As my trip concluded, the receding views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the hum of city lights beneath a vast, open sky left a final, lasting impression. They will continue to spark new waves of inspiration, reminding me of the potential that is unlocked when you dare to look beyond your own horizon.

To my fellow founders in the Algerian and African startup ecosystems, my message is simple: get exposed. Travel. Learn. Share. We have what it takes — we just need to believe it, collaborate to build it and act decisively to achieve it.

Key Takeaways for Emerging Ecosystems

• Exposure is a Strategy: International exposure isn’t a luxury; it’s a core strategic tool for founders to benchmark their ideas, understand global standards and expand their vision.
• Nurture Your First Believers: A thriving VC scene doesn’t appear in a vacuum. It is often built on the foundation of a mature local tech industry whose leaders become the first angel investors and champions for the next generation.
• The Entrepreneurial Manager: Top tech companies value the founder mindset. Experience in building, failing and iterating is a prized asset, suggesting that startup experience is a powerful career accelerator.
• Invest in the Long Game: The Boston model shows the power of a societal commitment to long-term R&D. Supporting deep-tech and scientific research, even without immediate profit, builds a foundation for future industries.