Silicon Valley × Shenzhen
Go inside Shenzhen.
See how innovation happens.
A seven-day, six-night immersion for founders, investors, and technology leaders. Follow the products, people, and supply chains shaping Physical AI—and discover where global opportunity begins.
November 10–16, 2026 Shenzhen, China 30-person cohort
Physical AI Companies
& Manufacturing
Founders & Operators
to Scale
and Opportunities
WHY SHENZHEN
Physical AI Is the Lens
Shenzhen is the system behind Physical AI.
We go beyond individual companies and products to understand the system that makes them possible — talent, engineering, supply chains, manufacturing, capital, and the speed of iteration that turns ideas into products at scale.
Silicon Valley Intelligence×Shenzhen Execution=Physical AI
7Days · 6 NightsImmersive Shenzhen Deep Dive
30 PeopleCurated Global Cohort
20+Company & Ecosystem Visits
10+Executive & Technical Deep Dives
5Private Networking Experiences
Program Overview
Seven days inside a
high-velocity innovation machine
Arrive November 10 and depart November 16. The five-day core program is curated around member backgrounds and host availability, so every stop answers a real question for the group.
DAY 0101
Arrive, settle in, and get ready to go inside.
Welcome to Shenzhen
Land in Shenzhen, meet the delegation, and settle into the hotel before an immersive week inside the city’s technology ecosystem.
DAY 0202
What happens when technology becomes part of everyday life?
Discover Shenzhen
Begin with the cohort, experience drone delivery, autonomous mobility, 3D printing, and robotic retail, then continue the conversation over a curated welcome dinner.
DAY 0303
How did Shenzhen create global category leaders?
Category Leaders
Explore how leading companies turn engineering capability into globally recognized products, brands, and systems—then meet founders, operators, and investors over dinner.
DAY 0404
Where is the next Physical AI frontier—and what is underneath it?
Embodied AI
Go inside the companies and technical stacks moving AI beyond the screen, from sensing and autonomy to motion, manipulation, and deployment.
DAY 0505
Which founders, products, and technologies are about to break through?
The Next Wave
Meet the next generation across consumer AI, robotics, vision, drones, mobility, energy, healthcare, and neural interfaces—followed by a product show and social night.
DAY 0606
What does Physical AI depend on—and how does it scale?
Decode the Shenzhen Machine
Trace the path from components and PCBs to prototypes, small batches, mass production, sensing, and power—then close the week together on the water.
DAY 0707
How will you carry the experience—and the connections—forward?
Until Next Time
Depart Shenzhen with a clearer view of where Physical AI is going, a practical ecosystem map, and relationships that continue beyond the mission.
Shenzhen Ecosystem
Learn from companies that have
already built at scale.
Category-defining companies offer a lens into how product, engineering, manufacturing, and global ambition come together.
01
DJI
Aerial robotics & intelligent imaging
A Shenzhen-born global leader integrating flight control, computer vision, precision hardware, and advanced manufacturing.
02
BYD
Batteries, electric mobility & manufacturing
An integrated technology company spanning batteries, electric vehicles, electronics, and large-scale manufacturing.
03
Insta360
Computational imaging & creator hardware
A category-defining camera company combining optics, AI-powered imaging, software, and creator-first product design.
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04
Bambu Lab
Desktop manufacturing & 3D printing
A fast-growing 3D-printing company known for turning complex manufacturing technology into an accessible product experience.
05
EcoFlow
Portable power & smart energy systems
A smart-energy company building portable power, home backup, solar, and connected energy-management systems.
06
XPENG
Intelligent mobility & embodied AI
An intelligent-mobility company extending its AI and engineering capabilities across EVs, robotics, and autonomous systems.
Illustrative ecosystem companies. Specific visits are subject to scheduling and final confirmation.
The BFC Difference
A deeper mission,
built around context
A strong innovation mission is not about filling a calendar. It is about making every conversation answer a real question.
Fieldwork, not reports
Enter companies, labs, and production floors. Understand Shenzhen through real products and real decisions.
The right room, not a crowd
A small cohort creates space for candid conversations and meaningful connections between members.
Connection, not tourism
We match conversations to business goals, turning a short visit into the start of long-term collaboration.
Who Should Join
The right people make
the mission go deeper.
01
Founders searching for their next growth curve
02
Investors focused on robotics, AI, and deep tech
03
Innovation, product, and global expansion leaders
04
Industry and professional partners entering Shenzhen
Before departure, we learn each member’s goals and tune the visits and introductions accordingly.
The Delegation
Confirmed Attendees
Meet the leaders joining the Silicon Valley delegation inside Shenzhen’s Physical AI ecosystem.
Confirmed attending
Ian Gunther
Mission Leader · Stanford alumnus · Entrepreneur · Creator · Former Team USA gymnast
Ian Gunther is a Stanford alumnus, entrepreneur, content creator, and former U.S. national team artistic gymnast. A four-time NCAA team champion and 10-time NCAA All-American at Stanford, Ian also competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Beyond athletics, he has built a massive social media presence, with 2M+ YouTube subscribers and billions of views, helping bring gymnastics to a global digital audience. He studied Product Design and Sustainability Science & Practice at Stanford.
4×NCAA team champion
10×NCAA All-American
2M+YouTube subscribers
Confirmed attending
Dr. SiMing Li
Co-Organizer · Silicon Valley technology leader · AI · Supply chain · Logistics
Dr. SiMing Li is a Silicon Valley technology leader with deep experience across AI, technology products, supply chain, and logistics. A graduate of Tsinghua University, she has worked extensively within Shenzhen’s technology and manufacturing ecosystem, building long-standing relationships with founders, operators, and industry leaders.
As co-organizer of Inside Physical AI, SiMing connects the delegation directly with Shenzhen’s ecosystem—from embodied AI and emerging products to components, rapid prototyping, supply chains, and advanced manufacturing—offering an insider’s view of how ideas move from prototype to scale.
Request an Invitation
Ready to enter
the Shenzhen system?
Share a little about yourself. The BFC team will follow up by email to learn about your interests and travel needs.
QUESTIONS?contact@bayareafoundersclub.com
Before You Go — FAQ
What does the program fee include?
The seven-day, six-night package includes premium hotel accommodation, curated group lunches and dinners, the full program, private company and factory visits, closed-door sessions, official local transportation, BFC concierge support, and access to the delegation community.
Can participants from outside the United States join?
Absolutely. This is a global program, and participants from any country or region are welcome to apply. We expect a diverse international delegation of investors, founders, executives, researchers, and industry leaders.
What if I don’t need hotel accommodation?
We offer a special program-only rate for participants who arrange their own accommodation. Please contact the BFC team for pricing and details.
Do U.S. passport holders need a visa for China?
Depending on your itinerary, U.S. passport holders may be eligible for China’s 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy. This is a transit policy rather than general visa-free entry, so the itinerary generally needs to follow Country/Region A → Mainland China → Country/Region B, with A and B being different countries or regions. Eligibility also depends on the entry/exit ports and itinerary. Participants should confirm the latest requirements before booking travel.
What about participants with passports from other countries?
Visa requirements vary by nationality. Some passport holders may qualify for visa-free entry or other exemptions, while others may need to obtain a Chinese visa in advance. We recommend checking the latest requirements based on your passport and itinerary.
Do I need a technical background?
No. The program is designed for investors, family offices, founders, executives, researchers, and technology leaders. You don’t need to be an AI or robotics engineer—what matters is a serious interest in understanding the Physical AI ecosystem and engaging with the cohort.
Why is the program application-based?
We are intentionally keeping the delegation small and curated. Applications help us understand each participant’s background and goals, create a complementary group, and facilitate more valuable conversations and connections.
What types of companies will we visit?
The mission focuses on the Physical AI ecosystem, including embodied AI, robotics, intelligent hardware, components, advanced manufacturing, prototyping, and supply-chain infrastructure. The goal is to understand the full journey from AI and robotics innovation to prototype and large-scale production.
Is this just a company tour?
No. The mission is designed as an immersive industry program, combining private company and factory visits, closed-door discussions, curated meals, expert conversations, and high-level networking. The goal is not simply to see products, but to understand how Physical AI is actually built and scaled.