What is a Data Scientist? What is it that they do that is now being automated? What are the new solutions out there that are bringing Data Science directly to domain experts? What is it changing?

Is it possible to build a business around Prediction APIs such as Google's or BigML's? And if so, how can you differentiate yourself from others who could use just the same APIs?

I recently came back from a 3-week long business trip to Silicon Valley and thought I'd share my experience, in the form of a list of recommendations, for those who are thinking about expanding/moving their startup to SV. Unfortunately, such trips are not always well motivated, but they're always costly.