About AI Valley
A high-ambition community where builders grow together—with a special focus on first-gen and immigrant founders and engineers.
Want to lead initiatives? Apply to join the Core Team →
Who We Are
AI Valley is a community for visionary builders rooted in supporting exceptional first-generation and immigrant talent.
Founded in 2025 by Victor Su-Ortiz, a first-generation graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University–Silicon Valley, AI Valley began with a clear mission: create a community where ambitious first-gen and immigrant builders could access the networks, resources, and opportunities that accelerate careers and companies.
What started as a few local hackathons has grown into a global ecosystem of 2,000+ ambitious members spanning multiple cities and continents.
We're not a generic networking group or a mass community. We're building a high-signal environment for people who are serious about execution, contribution, and long-term impact.
Our community has launched 100+ projects and startups, with members going on to join and found companies shaping the future of AI.
Inclusive by values. Selective by ambition.
Meet Our Team
The passionate builders behind AI Valley, working to create opportunities for ambitious founders and engineers from all backgrounds
Nickita Khylkouski
Director of Digital Communications
High schooler and cybersecurity enthusiast who has done penetration testing for companies up to $6.6B in scale and grown social media accounts to nearly 100k followers. At AI Valley, runs our Twitter presence and helps with outreach and partnerships.
Daniel Kim
Growth
At AI Valley, I secure partnerships and provide marketing support for events. Always excited to innovate and build!
Our Impact
Community in Action
Moments from our hackathons, events, and gatherings
Our Principles
The core values that guide everything we do
Hover overTap a principle to explore
Our Initiatives
Programs designed to accelerate ambitious builders and create lasting impact
Curated Connections
Strategic matching with mentors, collaborators, and peers who elevate your journey and accelerate your growth.
Skill-Building Labs
Hands-on workshops, talks, and sessions across tech, entrepreneurship, and creative disciplines.
Opportunity Hub
Direct access to jobs, grants, scholarships, and competitions curated for ambitious builders.
Showcase & Share
Platforms for exceptional work—present projects, performances, and ideas to a community that cares.
Cross-Discipline Gatherings
High-signal events where creators from different fields meet, spark ideas, and forge collaborations.
Ongoing Support Circles
Small accountability groups for sustained growth, feedback, and long-term impact.
Help Build AI Valley
Join the core team and lead real initiatives
We're looking for ambitious individuals who are serious about building, learning, and contributing. As a founding member, you'll have the opportunity to:
- •Lead high-impact initiatives and programs
- •Shape the community's mission and direction
- •Build meaningful connections with ambitious builders
- •Create long-term impact for first-gen and immigrant founders and engineers
Partner With Us
Organizations can sponsor events, provide mentorship, or collaborate on initiatives to support the AI community.