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- A Personal Invite To Our Upcoming Events
I hope you're back in the groove after the holidays and that your year is off to a fantastic start.
I'm excited to personally invite you to our BIGGEST event yet — our upcoming Quarter Century Tech GigaParty —as well as our additional events in January and February.
This is the perfect opportunity to come together, kick off the new year, 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 for 50% off!
🚀 Exciting News! We’ve just open-sourced TheAgenticBrowser — a state-of-the-art AI agent that automates browser interactions through natural language commands. Automate browser tasks like web navigation, scraping, research automation, form filling, and more—all via natural language commands. 👉 Ready to explore its potential? Dive into the source code: https://github.com/TheAgenticAI/TheAgenticBrowser
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 in the new year….
Are You Scared to Start? Don’t Wait to Try It
A year and a half ago, I found myself at a crossroads. I had a dream but was too scared to start, wondering if I could really make it. My goal felt impossible: to build a big enough audience so that I could empower underrepresented voices in the tech industry
Everywhere I looked — newsletters, social media, private founder/VC events — it was the same success stories: mostly well established founders or investors managing millions or exiting companies for over $100M. With less than 20% of tech influencers being women, and as a newly divorced single mom and a woman of color, I didn’t see myself represented and did not have a massive network to lean on. I kept asking myself, Is there any room for someone like me?
But waiting around wouldn’t create the change I wanted to see. So I took the leap. With just 2,000 followers and a big dream, I set out to amplify underrepresented voices in tech. Along the way, I grew Women Founders Bay into the largest and most active community of female tech founders in the Bay Area, now supporting over 500 startups.
I also launched this newsletter to spotlight events and resources for underrepresented founders. What began as a small project has evolved into a thriving community of 32,000 subscribers, with 16,000 LinkedIn followers. Together, we’re reshaping tech— promoting diversity, celebrating women founders, and revealing opportunities that once went unnoticed.
So I’d like to ask you one question, what’s your impossible? If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that your circumstances don’t define you — they prepare you. So, what’s the impossible dream you’ve been putting off because the space feels too crowded, or because you don’t see people like you leading the charge?
I’m here to tell you: you belong here. You can do this. Take the first step. Experiment. Fail. Try again. The space you dream of exists—you just have to create it.
Whatever your goal is—whether it’s launching a product, writing your first post, or growing your community—don’t wait. Start now. The world needs your voice.
Because when you start, you don’t just change your life — you change the world.
Founders Bay Upcoming Events
January Special: One Day Only!
🎉 As a thank-you for being part of our community, I’m offering you 1 month of Growth and VIP Access for 50% off ($9 or $49)! This gives you access to all of our workshops and events for FREE!
Friday, January 31 - 5PM - 2AM
Celebrate the first 25 years of the 21st century—and glimpse the next 75!
Join 2,000+ founders, VCs, and tech visionaries for an unforgettable evening of futuristic experiences, forward-thinking conversations, immersive art, cutting-edge demos, and non-stop music.
VC Funds Attending: Khosla Ventures, Signal Fire, Mantis VC, TPG Capital, Blackrock, 500 Global, Darwinian Ventures, Nima Capital, Imagine Global, Yunity
Be the First to See These AI Innovations
Embodied AI: Witness the unveiling of Foundation’s humanoid robot—spinning tracks as the world’s first robot DJ!
AI-Powered Streaming Platform: Discover Gigaverse, a cutting-edge platform that uses AI to bring your community to life.
Enterprise AI Tools: Get an exclusive look at powerful new AI solutions by TheAgentic—redefining innovation for the enterprise.
Are you interested in being a sponsor? Email me at [email protected]!
Thursday, Jan 16 - 11 AM - 12 PM
Grow your startup with the 0 to $1M - Early Stage Sales Workshop for Founders. This workshop is made for entrepreneurs who want to increase their sales and reach their first million dollars.
Thursday, Jan 16 - 2PM - 3PM
What does it take to make your AI startup stand out in the eyes of top investors? Join George Bandarian, General Partner at Untapped Ventures and a pioneer in AI venture capital, for this exclusive workshop designed to help founders perfect their pitch, position their startup strategically, and attract the right investors.
Friday, Jan 17 - 11AM - 12PM
Ready to bring your AI idea to life? Join us for this hands-on workshop, where we’ll walk you through the essential steps to build a Generative AI Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Whether you’re an early-stage founder or a product manager, you’ll learn how to define your use case, choose the right tools, and launch a functional prototype.
Friday, Jan 17 - 9AM - 7:30PM
AI is changing the game across almost every industry, and nowhere is this more apparent than the Healthcare industry. Healthcare will be experiencing profound changes and acceleration in the days to come. The SF HealthTech Summit is the place to see what's on the horizon.
Friday, Jan 17 - 6PM - 9:30PM
🔥 Are You Ready to Feel the Heat? 🔥
Join us for an unforgettable night of fiery fun, bold flavors, and intense competition! We’re turning up the heat with a spicy showdown where founders and investors face off in a Hot Sauce Challenge like no other.
If you’re an investor and would like to participate. RSVP here: https://lu.ma/50lkvre7
Wednesday, Jan 22 - 5PM - 8PM
AI Agents are transforming the way B2B companies work, driving new levels of efficiency, productivity, and innovation.
At this Pitch Night, 10 innovative startups will showcase how they’re shaping the future of B2B with AI. Join us to see cutting-edge ideas, connect with founders, and explore the exciting potential of AI in business.
Thursday, Jan 23 - 10AM - 11:30AM
We’re hosting an exclusive dinner for Women AI founders at a beautiful Cow-hollow mansion, co-hosted by Mariane Bekker, CEO of Women Founders Bay, Rabadi Real Estate, and TheAgentic.
This event brings together leading voices from the world of AI, venture capital, and technology to explore the latest investment trends, breakthrough technologies, and the transformative role of women in shaping the future of AI.
Thursday, Jan 23 - 11AM - 12PM
Discover the proven framework for driving pipeline and efficiently acquiring new customers. In this first of a two-part series, we’ll reveal the foundational elements that fueled a $50M go-to-market (GTM) strategy.
Thursday, January 23 - 5:30PM - 8:30PM
Join us for an inspiring evening at Founders Bay and Rivian as we explore the transformative potential of AI for Good in 2025. You’ll hear from top investors & founders and get a chance to test drive a Rivian!
Friday, January 24 - 11AM - 12PM
AI is changing our world fast. Join our webinar to learn how AI autonomous agents are making a big impact in different areas.
What You’ll Learn:
New Trends: See the latest changes and innovations in AI autonomous agents.
Real-World Impact: Find out how these smart robots are helping in healthcare, finance, transportation, and more.
Ethical Issues: Talk about the right and wrong ways to use AI.
Future Outlook: Hear from experts about what’s next for AI.
Thursday, January 28 - 9AM - 11PM
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.
Tuesday, January 28 - 5:30PM - 8:30PM
Are you a startup founder looking to raise money to grow your business? Want to improve your pitch and meet top investors? Join us for an evening of learning, networking, and getting feedback at the Founders Bay Talk Series: Mastering Fundraising for Startups.
Workshop 1: Building Your Fundraising Story & Marketing to Investors
Learn how to tell your startup’s story in a way that attracts investors.
Discover marketing and sales tips to keep investors interested.
Use data to make your story stronger.
Improve how you communicate and present your ideas.
Workshop 2: Structuring Your Pitch Deck for Maximum Impact
Find out what makes a great pitch deck.
Learn design tips to make your deck look good and easy to read.
Customize your pitch deck for different investors.
Avoid common mistakes and make your pitch stand out.
Get hands-on help with your pitch deck (optional).
Wednesday, January 29 - 11AM - 12PM
Starting a new business is exciting, but choosing the right legal structure is crucial for your startup’s success. In this one-hour workshop, you'll learn how to select and set up the best business entity for your startup, with a special focus on C-Corporations (C-Corps).
Wednesday, January 29 - 5PM - 9PM
Join us for the AI Innovation Summit x AIO Pre-Launch Party of the world’s first All-In-One AI platform for restaurants!
We'll have an evening of networking, game-changing product demos and restaurant AI Insights.
C-Suite Panel - 2025 and the road ahead
Dave Faugno, Co-CEO, 1Password
Gary Hicok, Vice President, Nvidia
Jukka Alanen, Managing Partner, Rebellion Ventures
Jessica Kramer, Operating Partner, Techne Infiniti Ventures
Tuesday, February 4th - 9AM - 12PM
Get a 15 minutes 1×1 with me. With extensive experience as an investor, engineer, and community leader, I offer personalized advice to help your startup succeed. Here’s how I can assist you:Fundraising Strategy: Technical Guidance, Co-Founder Matching, Talent Recruitment, Personal Branding
Wednesday, February 5 - 11AM - 12PM
Starting or investing in a startup is exciting, but understanding the details is crucial. Our "Effective Due Diligence Strategies for Founders & Investors" workshop helps both founders and investors learn how to evaluate businesses effectively. Whether you want to invest in a promising startup or seek investment for your venture, this workshop gives you the insights you need to make confident decisions and build trustworthy relationships.
Friday, February 7 - 10AM - 5PM
This bootcamp is for early-stage founders who want to learn the fundraising process. You’ll get practical advice, hands-on experience, and learn from industry experts and founders who’ve successfully raised funds. By the end of the day, you’ll have the knowledge, tools, and confidence to fundraise for your startup.
Friday, February 7 - 6PM - 10PM
🎉 Join Us for the Engineering Leadership Soiree at Tesla! 🚗✨
Network and celebrate with the brightest minds in the industry at an unforgettable soirée filled with innovation, meaningful connections, and world-class entertainment. Here’s what awaits you:
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.