It was always burning since the world’s been turning. Seriously, this is what the Siliconeer team has been listening to on repeat ever since the new administration has taken the helm of this big beautiful compa— we mean country.

Day in and day out, the headlines make us wonder whether it makes sense to continue our path in this country or move to a more stable one. The one question we keep asking ourselves: what is going on in the land of “opportunity?” No, we are genuinely asking because we can’t seem to figure out, and we don’t want to be spreading fake news. Suddenly, “immigrant” is the new bad word? There is a $100K requirement on H1-B visas? Constant Supreme Court run-ins, the famous unreleased files, or a slap on free speech, every day is an entertaining rollercoaster going through headlines and tweets. As we write this editorial, the government is currently shutdown, something we haven’t witnessed since 2018. Amidst all the uncertainty, one thing is certain. This is the most entertaining news cycle we have seen in ages and there is still three years of this administration left.

The best thing we witnessed, however, is the slap on Disney’s face. When Jimmy Kimmel was suspended, the people spoke out, and Disney lost close to $5 billion in stock market value with subscriptions falling in protest.

That is the power of people becoming a collective voice. The immigrant community is no different, especially South Asians.

Siliconeer has always been fortunate enough to witness the resilience of the South Asian community. We are entrepreneurs, innovators, creators, builders, leaders… the list is truly endless. We have no limits, and we dream despite the speed bumps placed.

We have plenty to celebrate. So, speed bumps and confusing headlines aside, the Siliconeer verse has been buzzing in this well-lit world:

We kick off with the future. Janam Gupta and Vansh Gupta talk about the evolution of Silicon Valley and the new landscape for startups. The entrepreneurial hustle is making a comeback.

Speaking of hustle, the world we live in today is filled with endless scrolling and constant hustle. However, cultural moments like Garba and Cricket connect us to our roots. Khushi Mehta shares a reflection on her connection.

Another connection we witnessed is the one between the Silicon Valley and the Silicon Savannah. What began as a Silicon Valley student challenge is now transforming STEM education in Kenya, where 4,800 students and 20,000 trained teachers are proving that innovation thrives anywhere.

Speaking of innovation, we hear three South Asian Silicon Valley legends talk about the Cyber-Physical future. Dr. Ronjon Nag, Suhas Patil, and Chandrakanth Patel all share their vision of the world tomorrow.

Building tomorrow’s world comes with responsibility. San José State University brought together experts to tackle AI’s most pressing question: How do we build it responsibly? Meghna Paul reports on the second annual Responsible Innovation in Artificial Intelligence Conference.

The conferences don’t end there. Dushyant Patel shares his experience at The Open Atlas Summit 2025 held at the India Community Center. The event brought together immigrant entrepreneurs and professionals who reflect on their challenging but rewarding immigrant journey.

This momentum doesn’t stay within the borders. All the way across the continent, we see India showcasing innovation and progress on sustainable energy efforts.

We also witnessed a piece of India, here. With ongoing festivities and a historic Bhagwat, Bay Area was culturally shining.

Other shiny things we saw are the 2026 Kia Sportage which isn’t your typical eco-friendly compromise. It’s a statement that sustainability can be spirited and gets the coveted “Sign on it” rating for the first time ever.

See, we have plenty to celebrate, and we are just getting started. These next few months are some of the most festive months for many communities. Indians will be celebrating the festival of prosperity and wealth, good over evil. We continue to be triumphant, and we continue to be proud of our roots and culture.

So, although we didn’t light the fire, we are lighting up for the festive season. In fact, Diwali has officially been recognized as a holiday in the Golden State. We really have plenty to celebrate. Maybe, we did light a fire, after all.

Siliconeer wishes all its readers a very Happy Diwali!

Image: Shutterstock.