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- A personal invite to our upcoming events + Meet the Woman Who Manages $3.7 Trillion
A personal invite to our upcoming events + Meet the Woman Who Manages $3.7 Trillion
Mariane Bekker
April 10, 2025
Hi,
I just got back from Florida where I spoke at the Family Office Impact Investing Conference — and one thing is clear: family offices around the world are pouring serious resources into building a more sustainable, diverse, and equitable future. We also announced that with SFVibe we’re throwing a block party with the chainsmokers! 🎟️ Buy your ticket here and use promo code “Vibe” for a discount!
We’ve just unlocked something special for the next Gigaparty, and I don’t want you to miss it.
📅 April 24 | San Francisco
🎉 5 immersive floors of AI, art, live music & tech
💼 2,000+ founders, engineers & investors
💥 New speakers just added from Context VC, LG Technology Ventures, Blackrock, TPG, Race Capital, and SignalFire — representing over $11.8 trillion in assets
🎧 DJs: Justin Kan (co-founder of Twitch), Arielle Zuckerberg (Mark’s Sister), a robot DJ
🎟️ Buy your ticket here and use promo code “Fiona” for a $15 discount (use the browser)!
🔥 And this just dropped...
Meet the Woman Who Manages $3.7 Trillion
Imagine being told your voice didn’t matter—then going on to manage $3.7 trillion.
That’s the story of Fiona Ma, California’s State Treasurer and one of the most quietly powerful women in government today.
The daughter of Chinese immigrants, Fiona was raised in the shadow of cultural expectations, and the weight of underrepresentation. She didn't come from wealth or legacy—but she fought her way into rooms where few women of color had ever stood, and then started building systems that actually worked for the people outside them.
Fiona is the first woman of color AND the first CPA to hold the office of California State Treasurer. Today, she oversees more than $3.7 trillion in banking transactions — a job most people will never fully understand, but all of us rely on.
Before this role, she served in the California State Assembly, authoring 60+ bills that became law—many focused on health, housing, and small business equity. She pushed through legislation banning toxic chemicals in baby products, setting a precedent for federal reform. And today, she also sits on the Vatican’s Council for Inclusive Capitalism (yes, that Vatican) and is running for California Lieutenant Governor.
But none of that came easily.
She had to fight stereotypes. Navigate male-dominated institutions. And prove, again and again—not just as a woman, not just as an Asian American, not just as a CPA—but as a leader of real consequence.
That’s resilience.
That’s what it takes to shape systems from the inside.
And that’s why I’m so excited to welcome Fiona Ma as a featured speaker at the upcoming AI Rabbit Hole Gigaparty Tech Summit on April 24th in San Francisco.
She’ll be joining me for a fireside chat on unlocking state funding for founders & VCs.
🔗 RSVP: https://lu.ma/gjtpkqe1?coupon=FIONA > Use code FIONA (web browser only) to get $15 off — today and tomorrow only!
Featured Events
Want us to sponsor an event or partner together? Contact us here
Tuesday, April 15 - 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: 2-Hour Block Legal Advice is a chance for startup founders to get direct legal guidance from experienced professionals. Whether you have questions about setting up your business, protecting your ideas, handling contracts, or staying compliant with the law, this session will help you understand the essentials.
Wednesday, April 16 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join Younus Aftab (CEO) and Larry Chao (Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer) of TrustMe.AI for a hands-on session designed to help startup leaders tackle real-world security and compliance challenges head-on.
Thursday, April 17 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join us for a virtual workshop tailored for startup founders looking to optimize their marketing, sales, and customer service using HubSpot’s free CRM. This session will guide you through essential tools and strategies to automate workflows, manage customer relationships, and generate leads, helping you grow your startup efficiently.
Thursday, April 17 - 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
AI Founder Pitch Night is the perfect event for entrepreneurs building AI-powered startups. Whether you’re looking for funding, expert feedback, or connections, this is your chance to showcase your idea to investors, mentors, and fellow founders.
Thursday, April 24 - 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM
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!
Follow the White Rabbit into FIVE FLOORS of futuristic Wonderland filled with 2,000+ founders, visionary VCs, AI engineers, and tech trailblazers, all converging for a night of innovation, curiosity, and creativity.
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
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.
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.
Friday, May 2 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Good relationships are key to building a strong startup. In this workshop, you will learn how to build trust, handle tough conversations, and work better with cofounders, teams, investors, and advisors. Strong relationships help your startup survive challenges and grow faster.
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!
🚀 Elevate Your Access with A Membership Tiers!
Price: $19/month $9/month Unlock a range of benefits to supercharge your networking and event participation:
| $99/month $49/month For those seeking the ultimate in networking and support, our VIP Access tier offers unparalleled benefits:
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Don’t miss out on these exciting new offerings! Upgrade your membership today and take your involvement to the next level.
Subscribe To Growth Access and get free tickets to: Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Fund & Management Co. Budgeting Strategies
Subscribe To VIP Access, get all the workshops above for free and get free tickets to: Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Fund & Management Co. Budgeting Strategies, Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: 2 Hour Block Legal Advice, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Securing your IP and Accelerating Innovation, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Free Hubspot for the Startup, AI Founder Pitch Night, Down the AI Rabbit Hole GigaParty, Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: Startup Legal Advice, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Raising a Seed Round: Navigating Early-Stage Fundraising, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Relational Success for Founders
Mariane Bekker, 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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