Hi,

I'm excited to personally invite you to our BIGGEST event yet — our upcoming Down the AI Rabbit Hole Tech GigaParty @ Temple —as well as our additional events in April and May. We now have over 500+ investors attending including: SignalFire, Blackrock, LG Technology Ventures, Alumni Ventures, 500 Global, Race Capital, TPG, Plug and Play, Context VC, Boost VC, Boost VC,, Pachamama Ventures, DraperU Ventures and more!

RSVP HERE: https://lu.ma/gjtpkqe1?coupon=FOUNDERSBAY25

This is the perfect opportunity to come together, meet new business partner and friends, and connect with other amazing founders and investors. If you’d like to attend the Tech Gigaparty celebration for free, you can join our VIP membership!

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

But before I share more about our events, I want to take a moment to express how i’m feeling this week…

The lonely deer wandered — very sad, very hurt

The lonely deer wandered — very sad, very hurt —
until it found warmth, and a home.
When the deer returned — stronger, lighter, healed —
the wounds it once bore no longer defined it.

After my divorce, I didn’t know where I belonged.
I carried heartbreak in silence.
Built while breaking.
Smiled while surviving.

There were moments I wasn’t sure I could keep going.
But I did.

And then — I found you.
This community. This forest.
Of founders and misfits, builders and believers.

The ones who stayed after the panels.
Who showed up for each other — even when it wasn’t easy.
Who reminded me that strength doesn’t always look like certainty —
sometimes, it looks like simply being here.

We built more than companies.
We built connection.
Quiet understanding.
The kind of presence that says, “I see you. Keep going.”

Together, we created something sacred.
Not just a network. Not just community.
We built a home.

This Thursday, all of us will meet at Temple SF.
Some are fundraising. Some are rebuilding.
Some are burned out. Some are bursting with ideas.

And all of us — like the deer — are still here.
Because healing isn’t always quiet.
Sometimes it looks like showing up,
breathing deeper,
and remembering we don’t have to carry it alone.

Down the AI Rabbit Hole is more than an event.
It’s the return.
The exhale.
The homecoming.

If you’ve been wandering,
we saved you a spot.

See you in the forest.
See you in the rabbit hole.

In the deers forest the sky is now clear

With Love,

Mariane Bekker

🎟️ RSVP for Down the AI Rabbit Hole
Use code FOUNDERSBAY25 for 25% off (browser only)

Founders Bay Upcoming Events

Down the AI Rabbit Hole Tech GigaParty @ Temple [Investor Panels, Pitches, Demos, DJs w/ SignalFire, Blackrock, Plug & Play] (Use discount code: FoundersBay25 for 25% off)

Subscribe to a VIP Access Membership and attend for free

Thursday, April 24 - 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM

Thursday, April 24 - 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM

We are almost sold out! Embark on a one-of-a-kind adventure down the rabbit hole at the official afterparty for the AI Rabbit Hole 2025 conference — a night where reality bends, imagination thrives, and wonder awaits at every turn!

⭐ Panels with VCs from Blackrock, LG Ventures, SignalFire, Plug & Play, TPG, Boost VC

🏛️ Fireside with Fiona Ma, CA State Treasurer ($3.7T AUM)

💸 Billion-dollar family offices in the room

🎤 Tech Pitch Roast with VCs & comedians (Forbes, WaPo)

🎧 DJ sets from Justin Kan (Twitch), TITANICSEND, & a humanoid robot DJ

 🌌 5 immersive floors of tech, music, art & connection

The AI Rabbit Hole 2025 [FBAY30 for 30% off]

30% off - FBAY30

Thursday, April 24 - 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

​🎩🤖 Venture through the looking glass and into the whimsical world of AI Wonderland!

​Join us in San Francisco for a tea party of innovation, where algorithms dance, machines chatter, and ideas twirl in a curious mix.

​For Founders, Engineers, Investors and Corporate Leaders

Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: Startup Legal Advice

Tuesday, April 29 - 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Need quick legal guidance to navigate your startup journey?
Sign up and you'll be assigned a 15-minute 1:1 session with Arohi Kashyap, a seasoned attorney specializing in Startup Law, Technology Law, Data Privacy, and Cross-Border Transactions.

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Raising a Seed Round: Navigating Early-Stage Fundraising

Thursday, May 1 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Join us for an in-depth virtual workshop designed to guide startup founders through the essential steps of raising a seed round. Whether you're looking to raise capital for the first time or refine your fundraising approach, this session will equip you with the strategies and insights needed to attract investors and secure the funding you need.

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Securing your IP and Accelerating Innovation

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

​In today’s digital-first world, startups face growing threats from every angle—phishing schemes, compromised software dependencies, and sophisticated IP theft tactics are no longer just enterprise concerns. As your company scales, protecting your assets—especially your code, data, and intellectual property—is critical to building trust with customers, partners, and investors.

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Sales Prep & ICP Buildout: Maximizing Your Sales Strategy

Thursday, May 14 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Join us for a focused virtual workshop designed to help founders and sales leaders optimize their sales strategy. Learn how to build an effective Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), refine your sales process, and align your outreach to attract the right customers. This session will provide practical tools to maximize sales conversions and streamline your approach for long-term growth.

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Building Secure AI Systems: Best Practices and Strategies

Thursday, May 20 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​AI is growing fast — and so are the risks. In this workshop, you’ll learn why building secure AI systems is important, what threats to watch for, and how to protect your projects from common mistakes. We’ll break down complex ideas into simple, real-world strategies you can use right away.

Founders & VC Go to The Chainsmokers

Sunday, May 25 - 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Grammy-winning and chart-topping duo Alex Pall & Drew Taggart bring their signature sound to The Midway. From breakout hits like #Selfie to multi-platinum anthems like Closer, Don’t Let Me Down, and Something Just Like This, The Chainsmokers have dominated charts and festival stages worldwide. Their fusion of indie, progressive, and pop continues to push boundaries, making them one of the most influential acts in electronic music.

​We will be hosting the main room inside Midway with DJ David Carvalho and the SFVibe DJs!

​🎟️ MUST BUY TICKET HERE: https://www.tixr.com/groups/midwaysf/events/the-chainsmokers-block-party-138712

​➡️ USE PROMO CODE “VIBE” FOR A DISCOUNT AND CHANGE TO WIN AN EPIC PRIZE!

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.