Fact Sheet

What is Joint Venture?

Joint Venture Silicon Valley is a think tank created and supported by the major sectors (business, government, labor and academia). Through the Institute for Regional Studies, the organization provides research assessing the Valley's challenges and opportunities; Joint Venture is also a platform where leaders develop shared priorities and take collaborative action.

Stakeholders

The organization brings together established and emerging leaders from business, government, academia, labor, and the broader community to spotlight issues and work toward innovative solutions.

Sponsored Initiatives

Joint Venture serves as a fiscal sponsor for small, high-impact projects addressing regional priorities such as food recovery, economic development, and wireless communications. By providing 501(c)(3) status and expert administrative support, Joint Venture enables partners to secure funding, ensure regulatory compliance, strengthen financial management, and reduce risk.

Board

Joint Venture’s board of directors includes county supervisors and other officials, mayors and other city officials, corporate CEOs, university presidents, heads of labor organizations and leaders of community organizations. The board is co-chaired by one leader from the public sector and one from the private sector.

Executive Leadership

Russell Hancock has served as President & CEO of Joint Venture Silicon Valley since 2003. He also serves as president of the Silicon Valley Institute for Regional Studies.

Rachel Massaro is Vice President and Director of Research for the Silicon Valley Institute for Regional Studies where she has served since 2009.

State of the Valley Conference

The State of the Valley conference is Silicon Valley’s annual “town hall” meeting. It is held the first quarter of each year for a day of dialogue and discussion about the region’s challenges and opportunities. Some 1500 of Silicon Valley’s influential leaders attend the conference in person and via livestream channels.

Silicon Valley Index

Published annually since 1995, the Silicon Valley Index is a detailed report that measures the strength of the region’s economy and community health, highlighting challenges and providing an analytical foundation for leadership and decision making.

Silicon Valley Poll

The Silicon Valley Poll is an extensive public opinion survey placed in the field annually by Joint Venture and its research arm, the Silicon Valley Institute for Regional Studies. Carried out in partnership with The Mercury News and Bay Area News Group, the Poll tracks recurring questions probing how residents feel about the general direction of the region and their stance on a range of policy and planning questions. Each year the poll also poses timely and topical questions about current events.

Events

Aside from the State of the Valley conference and the Silicon Valley Poll Briefing events, Joint Venture regularly convenes public events, workshops, and seminars, often in partnership with other public and private organizations, to inform the community about important research, analysis, and issues.