Hi,

The past few weeks have been incredible — from Bali to Newport Beach to celebrating David’s birthday this weekend. I’m finally catching my breath… and feeling more energized than ever for everything we’re building.

If you’re an investor and would like to speak or judge at one of our upcoming events —Founders Bay Breakfast, Founders Bay AI Pitch Night @ Intercom—just hit reply to this email. We’d love to have you involved.

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

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

Ten summers ago, I said “I do.”
I had a 5, 10, and 15-year plan.
A mapped-out life.

I thought if I planned everything just right — love, work, purpose — I could stay in control.
That if I stuck to the roadmap, I’d be safe.

And for a while, that worked.
Until it didn’t.

Because life doesn’t follow perfect timelines.
Startups don’t.
People don’t.

Some of the best moments in my life didn’t come from the plan—
they came from showing up.

This summer, I’m learning something I wish I’d known all along:
Control doesn’t create safety.
Certainty doesn’t create peace.

I used to hide behind walls —
walls I built to keep things together,
to protect me and my kids.
They made me feel stronger… but also alone.

And now, those walls are starting to come down.
Not because I have all the answers—
but because I finally trust the road ahead… even if I can’t see all of it.

Behind the scenes, Kris, David, and I are building something big.
There’s no perfect roadmap. No guaranteed script.
We’re growing Founders Bay and SFVibe with vision, grit, and deep belief.
We’re launching our first fund - apply to join us as an LP.
The pace is intense. The stakes are high.
But we’re aligned—and we’re in it for the long haul.

And if you’re reading this, you’re part of it too.
This community isn’t just an audience—
it’s the engine.
The heartbeat.
The reason we keep going.

We’re not pretending to have all the answers…
and maybe that’s okay.
Because we’re living it fully.
We’re in the moment with ALL of you.
And that’s what gives it meaning.

So this summer, I’m saying: “I don’t know what the future looks like.”
Because when I stopped chasing certainty,
I found something way better:
Alive. Easy. Real.
An unexpected spark.
Too good to ignore.

A quiet reminder:

You don’t need to predict the future to enjoy the moment.
You don’t need to know where it’s going to trust what’s here.
And you don’t need certainty to feel rooted in something real.

With Love,

Mariane

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

Thursday, July 31 - 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM

​Women Who Lead: Branding & Fundraising Insights is a vibrant evening of connection, learning, and inspiration—hosted by Mariane Bekker from Founders Bay. This event brings together ambitious women from across the startup and creative worlds to talk honestly about what it takes to build a standout brand and raise funding with purpose and confidence. 💪

Tuesday, August 5 - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

​Building a startup often means making big technical decisions with limited resources—so what if you could get expert input from a seasoned CTO? In this special session of Founders Bay Expert Office Hours, Mike Biglan, CEO and Founder of Twenty Ideas, brings over 20 years of product development and technical leadership experience to help early-stage founders make smart, scalable tech choices.

Wednesday, August 6 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​The relationship we have to our business can bring up a lot of the same patterns as our romantic relationships - and how we handle it all determines our success. Dr. Jessica is both a tech founder herself and a relationship coach. Here, we will look at the unconscious patterns that play out in your relationships. Stop sabotaging your success and use a simple, time-tested framework to reveal your relational blind spots and walk yourself back to a centered, grounded, wise self.

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.

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. 🎶💬

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.