Hi Friends,
I wanted to personally invite you to a few events & workshops next week:
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, here’s what I’m feeling this week…
🎉 Why Founders & VCs Need to Dance More
If you're building something big — a company, a movement, a life — you've probably been told to grind.
To go all in.
To hustle harder.
But here’s the truth most people won’t say:
Play is a strategy.
And founders who don’t make time for joy, creativity, or connection?
They burn out.
They lose perspective.
They forget why they started.
That’s why we’re not just hosting another event.
We’re throwing the Brazilian Neon Party [FOUNDERSBAY coupon for 50% off] — a full-body reminder that creativity doesn’t live in pitch decks alone.
🎉 Why You Should Come:
✨ DJ David Carvalho’s birthday bash
🎧 Two rooms of music — from house to Afro House
🎷 Live saxophone by Jeff Straw
🌈 Professional neon face + body paint
💃 SF’s boldest founders, VCs, artists & friends — dancing under blacklight
After everything we’ve built this year — summits, pitch competitions, partnerships —
it’s time to recharge through joy.
To move.
To glow.
To celebrate the wild, weird, and brilliant ecosystem we’re co-creating.
So grab your crew. Wear something bright.
And come dance the stress out of your system.
🔥 This is the summer glow-up you didn’t know you needed.
🎟️ Get your ticket now → https://lu.ma/auodi1mz?coupon=FOUNDERSBAY
💸 Use code FOUNDERSBAY for 50% off
🗓️ Saturday, July 26
🕘 9PM–2AM
📍 Hawthorn SF
🎉 Hosted by: Mariane Bekker, Kristopher Floyd, David Carvalho, Alisia Blair
See you on the dance floor.
We’re building culture — and dancing in it.
🌺 Need a summer escape with high-speed WiFi and ocean views?
Luxury Private Villa | 180° Sunset Views | 3 Acres of fresh fruit trees
This private luxury villa in Kona (Big Island, Hawaii) is available for monthly rental. It’s the perfect work-from-paradise spot—quiet, scenic, and fully equipped for remote living.
👉 Book directly here or reply if you're interested.
Founders Bay Upcoming Events
Want us to sponsor an event or partner together? Contact us here
Wednesday, July 23 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join us for a hands-on workshop focused on using sales reporting to measure performance and make data-driven decisions. This session will teach you how to analyze key sales metrics, identify areas for improvement, and optimize your sales strategies. Whether you're a founder or sales leader, you'll gain practical insights into building and interpreting sales reports to drive success.
Friday, July 25 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join us for this practical virtual workshop designed to help early-stage founders build strong marketing strategies. We’ll introduce the BASE3 Model, a simple and effective framework to help you focus on what matters most when reaching your target customers.
Friday, July 25 - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Join us for an insightful evening at the AI Talk Series: AI in Healthcare Panel & Networking, where we explore the cutting edge of artificial intelligence in medicine. From early diagnostics to personalized treatment plans, AI is reshaping how care is delivered—and this panel brings together leaders at the forefront of that transformation. The event is co-hosted by Mariane Bekker and Kristopher Floyd from Founders Bay, who are passionate about driving thoughtful conversations around innovation and impact.
Brazilian Neon Body Paint Party [FOUNDERSBAY for 50% off]
Saturday, July 26 - 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM
✨ Join 300+ builders, artists and creators for an electric night of beats, body paint, and blacklight. This is your night to glow up.
It’s DJ David Carvalho’s birthday bash, and he’s spinning the hottest beats in the main room. The back room will feature Afrohouse by 611 Event DJs, Juca, M-D, Portero
Tuesday, July 29 - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
With a background as an investor, engineer, and community leader, I provide personalized support to help startups grow—offering guidance on fundraising, tech development, team building, co-founder matching, hiring top talent, and personal branding to position you for long-term success.
Wednesday, July 30 - 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Apply to the Bad Bitch Pitch: Female Founder Pitch Showcase, Hosted by Bad Bitch Empire, Women in AI, Founders Bay, and The Fourth Effect
Apply Here to Pitch: http://badbitchempire.com/founderpitch
Pitch your startup to top women-led communities in tech, AI, and investing for an opportunity to win $20K+ in investment, mentorship, and additional prizes to help you grow your business.
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.
Managing Partner, Founders bay
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.