Hi,

I wanted to personally invite you to a few of our upcoming events & workshops:

From the moment I entered this world, I was told I didn’t belong.

It was during a brutal civil war in Lebanon.
We were Arab Christians — and that identity alone made us vulnerable.
Lines were drawn not just by religion, but by politics, fear, and history.

One night, our building was bombed.
We barely made it out alive.

We fled to Canada.
I thought maybe I’d finally belong.

But my last name — Abou-Jaoude — and my accent were mocked, even by teachers.
The Lebanese community said I was too rebellious.
The Canadian kids said I was too conservative.
Even at church, they asked:
“You’re Arab… is it the same Jesus?”
I didn’t fit into either world — too much for one, not enough for the other.

So I kept searching for a place to belong.

I thought maybe if I followed my passion for coding and became an engineer,
I’d finally find my place.

Throughout my engineering degree at McGill, I was one of the only women in the room.
One day, my math teacher looked at me and said:
“Women don’t belong here. They’re not good at math.”
The system didn’t just let him say it — it backed him up. Again and again.

But I stayed.
I kept building.
A career. A marriage.
Still chasing the sense of belonging I had never quite found.

Then I became a mother.

When my son turned one, doctors told me he had cerebral palsy.
They gave me a list of everything he might never do —
all the places he might never belong.

I looked at him — so small, so full of light — and whispered:
“No matter what, baby… you belong with me.
If the world won’t accept you, I’ll build a new world for you.”

That was the moment everything shifted.

I got divorced.
I changed careers.
And I started building my own lane.

It’s called Founders Bay.

And in this lane:
We don’t ask what school you went to.
We don’t care how much you’ve raised.
We don’t filter by who you know — or how polished you are.

You belong here.

We’re the outsiders.
The underestimated.
The misfits.
The ones who were never handed a seat —
so we built a new table.

If we’re not already connected, I’d love to hear from you — please follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram. Let’s connect!

Founders Bay isn’t just a platform — it’s a lane we built when we didn’t see one.
If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t belong in the startup world, this is your place.
No gatekeeping. No posturing. Just real community, real access, and real momentum.

Not part of our inner circle yet? You’re missing out on:

✓ Private WhatsApp Founder & VC Channel
✓ Free Access to All our Events Below for Free
✓ Monthly Investor Breakfasts and Dinners
✓ Weekly Expert Office Hours including with Mariane Bekker, Kristopher Floyd, Legal and CTO

Want us to sponsor an event or partner together? Contact us here

Thursday, August 7 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​With 30 years of experience performing and speaking on stage—plus a background in corporate training and leadership development—Clarisse helps founders move through nerves and deliver pitches that actually land.

Friday, August 8 - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM​

​​We’re hosting an exclusive breakfast at FOCUS Innovation Studio, co-hosted by Mariane Bekker and Kristopher Floyd from Founders Bay.

​​This event is designed for top investors founders to explore how AI can drive B2B innovation and growth. Over a curated breakfast, engage in meaningful discussions, gain actionable insights, and network with fellow founders & executives shaping the future of B2B AI.

Wednesday, August 13 - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Hosted by Mariane Bekker and Kristopher Floyd | Sponsored by Intercom

​Get ready for an unforgettable night of vision, innovation, and connection at Founders Bay AI Pitch Night — a gathering of the brightest minds building the future of artificial intelligence. Held at Intercom’s beautiful SF headquarters, this event brings together early-stage AI founders, top VCs, operators, and the wider builder community for an evening of rapid-fire pitches, lively discussion, and real opportunities to connect.

Sept 12–14, 2025

At the AI Developer Camp, hundreds of engineers, designers and entrepreneurs will gather to explore the frontiers of machine learning with the Gray Whale Ai platform. During our 48-hour idea competition, attendees will learn about the latest advancements in machine learning from the world's foremost experts in the field.

Friday, August 15 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Led by Darlene Harper, a seasoned Fractional CHRO who supports fast-growing startups through her firm Darlene Harper LLC, we’ll cover what to do (and what to avoid) in your first 10–50 hires. She’ll share real-world examples and practical tools that work for small teams aiming to scale with intention. This session is perfect for founders, early team leads, or anyone wearing the “HR hat” at a startup.

Wednesday, August 20 - 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

​We're kicking off the Step San Francisco with a fun and relaxed opening party hosted by Founders Bay. Join fellow founders, investors, and tech leaders for an evening of good conversation, music, and energy as we celebrate the start of an exciting week. 🎶💬

​At FUTURECRAFT 2035: Biotech Showcase, we're democratizing cutting-edge strategic foresight—previously reserved for Fortune 100 companies—and delivering it directly to biotech founders, visionary investors, researchers, and industry leaders.

Friday, August 29 - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

​Stephen will walk founders through the financial, legal, and strategic groundwork needed for a successful raise. From understanding your company’s valuation to setting up a clean cap table, you'll gain practical advice that helps you avoid common mistakes and speak the language investors expect. You'll also hear real-world insights from Stephen’s experience advising early-stage startups.

Hi! I'm Mariane Bekker, an investor and a tech executive with over a decade of experience building high-performing engineering teams at leading startups such as New Relic and Mindbody. I've led engineering through 5 acquisitions and 1 IPO. 

I’m the founder of Founders bay and Women Founders bay, connecting founders with expert guidance, events and funding opportunities in the Bay Area.