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A Personal Invite To Our Upcoming Events
Mariane Bekker
February 06, 2025
Hi,
This week, I’m still coming down from the Quarter Century Tech GigaParty (huge shoutout to TheAgentic for sponsoring!). It was a night that redefined what tech events should feel like — energy, connection, and a culture shift in real time.
But no time to rest—because tomorrow, we have a full day of events planned for you
🚀 First up: Our Virtual Fundraising Bootcamp → Sign up here
So many of you come to me for fundraising advice, and I get it — raising money is hard. That’s why we put together this bootcamp with incredible speakers who will break down what actually works.
🚗 Then: Our Tesla Engineering Party → Sign up here
Cybertruck test drives. A DJ. Dancing. Insane food. Need I say more?
🔥🔥 I’m excited to share some news: Founders Bay is growing! I’m delighted to welcome Kristopher Floyd as our new General Partner!
Kristopher and I have been collaborating for the last few months, and if you were at the GigaParty, you already know the kind of energy he brings.
A former USMC officer, Kristopher has spent over a decade in tech, not only as a startup founder but also by leading GTM strategies, productizing R&D, and driving innovation through consulting and design thinking. He’s also a certified futurist and foresight expert, perfectly aligned with our mission to shake up the old system and build something entirely new.
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…
If the System Doesn’t Work for You — Build a New One
For years, tech has followed the same script.
🚹 Not very diverse — mostly the same voices at the top.
📉 Serious, exclusive, transactional
🎵 No connection to music, art, or culture
That was just the way it was. If you didn’t fit into the system, your only option was to fight for a seat at the table — or be left out completely.
But what if the table was the problem?
What if, instead of trying to squeeze into a space that wasn’t built for the rest of us, we built something new?
Enter the GigaParty
Half tech. Half music. A first-of-its-kind experience where:
✅ Investors and founders weren’t just talking deals — they were actually connecting.
✅ Artists and DJs weren’t left out —they were center stage.
✅ Inclusivity wasn’t an afterthought — it was the foundation. Women founders, women investors, women DJs, women creators, and underrepresented voices weren’t just present, they were leading.
✅ The room wasn’t exclusive — it was expansive.
We didn’t just throw a party. We changed the rules.
Because when you make something so good, so undeniable, so magnetic — the old way starts to look obsolete.
For years, tech has been about optimization. But what’s the point of optimizing if there’s no joy? No energy? No soul?
Tech is changing. Culture is shifting. This community is leading it.
If you don’t like the system?
💡 Create a new one.
🔥 Make it so powerful the old one feels irrelevant.
🎶 And don’t forget to make it fun.
We’re just getting started.
Mariane Bekker
Founders Bay Upcoming Events
VIP Members Use Code: FBVIP1
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.
Summit Highlights
Understand the full fundraising process from start to finish.
Get practical tools and templates for investor readiness.
Practice your pitch and receive real-time feedback.
Learn directly from investors and successful founders.
Stay updated on trends in fundraising for 2025.
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.
Tuesday, February 11 - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join AI expert Anto Patrex, Staff @ xAI as he shares insights on artificial intelligence, automation, and business strategy. With experience at xAI, NASA, and Formula 1, Anto helps startups and tech leaders use AI to innovate and grow.
This session is a great chance to ask questions, gain expert guidance, and learn from real-world AI applications.
Wednesday, February 12 - 11AM - 12PM
Join Bret Waters, a seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur and Stanford professor, for a practical workshop on finding product-market fit. Learn how to make sure your product meets the needs of your customers and sets your startup up for success. In this workshop, you will:
Identify Your Customers: Discover who your ideal customers are and what they need.
Validate Your Ideas: Learn simple ways to test your business ideas before launching.
Build a Strong Value Proposition: Create a clear message that shows why your product is unique.
Thursday, February 13 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Discover how to turn LinkedIn into a powerful sales tool in this hands-on webinar. Learn to define your ideal customer profile, identify high-quality leads, and craft compelling messages that convert into booked demos.
We’ll also explore strategies for scaling your efforts, including automating outreach to maximize efficiency and impact. Perfect for sales professionals, founders, and anyone looking to supercharge their LinkedIn outreach and close more deals.
Saturday, February 15 - 9:00 AM - February 16, 9:00 PM
This high energy hackathon leverages the latest cutting edge tools and platforms, giving teams the opportunity to build agentic driven solutions with the potential to break out and become the next unicorns (or decacorns) in the space.
Tuesday, February 18 - 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Grow your business with Kristopher Floyd, a seasoned innovation and marketing specialist and advisor at 500 Global in San Francisco. With a proven track record with both Fortune 500 clients and early stage startups, Kristopher is here to share his expertise to help you succeed.
Thursday, February 19 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join us for a hands-on workshop where you'll learn how to create AI agents from scratch! We'll break down the key concepts in simple terms and guide you step by step—no advanced coding experience needed.
In this session, you'll discover:
✅ What AI agents are and how they work
✅ The basics of training and improving AI models
✅ How to build and test your own AI agent
Thursday, February 20 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join us for an insightful webinar designed to help startups unlock the power of CRM systems. This session will guide you through selecting the right CRM, conducting audits, leveraging end-to-end reporting, and maintaining pipeline hygiene.
Learn how to optimize sales processes, enhance team collaboration, and make data-driven decisions to accelerate growth. Perfect for founders, sales leaders, and early-stage teams looking to streamline operations and maximize impact.
Tuesday, February 25 - 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Join us for an exclusive Founders Bay Expert Office Hours session with Mohak Saxena, Investor at Race Capital and former AI leader at DataRobot. This is your chance to connect directly with a seasoned VC investing in early-stage tech infra, AI, and data startups.
Wednesday, February 26 - 11AM - 12PM
Are you interested in investing in the next big startup but don’t know where to begin? Angel investing is one of the most exciting ways to grow your wealth, support innovation, and gain access to high-growth opportunities before they hit the mainstream.
Join us for an exclusive event where we’ll break down everything you need to know about getting started as an angel investor, including:
✅ What angel investing is and how it works
✅ How to evaluate startup opportunities
✅ The benefits (and risks) of early-stage investing
✅ How to join an angel syndicate and access top-tier deals
✅ Practical steps to make your first investment
Thursday, February 27 - 12PM - 1PM
Founders, Investors and Operators, get ready to drop beats, not just code! 🎵
No equipment? No problem! In this hands-on AI-powered DJing workshop, you’ll learn how to mix tracks in minutes—without expensive gear or complicated theory.
🔹 What You’ll Learn:
✅ The basics of DJing — no jargon, just the essentials
✅ How AI picks tracks, syncs beats, and makes transitions seamless
✅ Hands-on mixing: create your first AI-powered DJ set in real time
✅ Pro tricks like removing vocals, auto-mixing, and song recommendations
Thursday, February 27 - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
We are hosting an exclusive dinner for Seed and Series A founders & VC, co-hosted by Mariane Bekker from Founders Bay.
We want to bring together some of the brightest minds in the startup ecosystem, fostering valuable conversations and potential partnerships.
What to Expect:
Networking: Connect with other funded founders & investors and share insights.
Innovative Discussions: Learn about best practices for scaling your startup
Great Food: Enjoy a delicious Mediterranean dinner while engaging with like-minded innovators.
Friday, March 14 - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join us for a morning of great food and smart conversations! ☕🥑 At this exclusive Founders Bay Breakfast, we’ll dive into how businesses can use AI in 2025 to stay ahead.
What to expect:
✅ Insights on the latest AI trends for enterprises
✅ Practical strategies for using AI to grow your business
✅ Networking with founders, tech leaders, and innovators
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.
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