Hi All,

I wanted to personally invite you to a few upcoming events & workshops:

Workshops:

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

This year, we’re channeling our gratitude into action.

We’re working with UCSF Children's Hospital to support the UCSF Cerebral Palsy program, the same program that supported me and my son during our hardest chapter.

Even the smallest gift — the price of a cup of coffee — can change a child’s world.
Help us reach our $3,000 goal. Truly, even $5 makes a difference.

We’re also hosting a Food + Clothing Drive at our Founders Bay Thanksgiving Celebration.
Join our potluck, bring what you can, and help us support families who need a little extra warmth this season.

A huge thank you to David Carvalho, who is leading both initiatives with so much heart

Together, we can make this season a little warmer for someone else.

There are things in life you can talk about easily —
your work, your wins, your career, your events, your community.

And then there are the things you can’t talk about at all.

For me, that thing was my son’s cerebral palsy diagnosis.

When Liam was one, at a routine checkup, our whole life changed.

Not slowly.
Not gently.
In one breath.

The doctor paused — that heavy, world-splitting pause — and said:

“You need to see a neurologist as soon as possible.”

That moment rewrote our entire future.

I didn’t know then how long it would take me to say the words out loud.
Or that for years, I would be unable to research his condition without falling apart.

I would open an article, read two lines, feel my chest tighten, shut the laptop, and whisper, “Not today.”
Not today lasted months.
And then years.

Even now, writing this, I’m crying — not because of fear anymore,
but because the love is so deep it hurts.

When your child has a disability, you learn a truth you never expected:

Grief and love come together.
They don’t alternate.
They sit side-by-side in your chest, every minute of every day.

You feel grateful.
And heartbroken.
Strong.
And exhausted.
Hopeful.
And terrified.

You celebrate the smallest milestones like miracles.
And mourn the ones that come easily for other kids.

You live with two truths:

I wouldn’t change my child for the world.
But I would change the world for my child in a heartbeat.

When Liam was diagnosed, we were living in Hawaii.
There were no specialists.
No physiotherapists.
No support.
Just waitlists and silence.

So we moved back to the Bay Area in one week —
because when your child needs help, you move mountains without thinking twice.

But even here, doors kept closing:

Daycare said they couldn’t accommodate him.
The school district said he wasn’t “delayed enough.”
Specialists said he needed urgent care.
Paperwork said “wait.”

Every door opened halfway, then shut again.

And through it all, I kept going —
working, parenting, and showing up for everyone.

But the truth?

There were nights I cried quietly in the bathroom so no one would hear.
Mornings when I sat in my car, forehead against the steering wheel, calming myself down before walking in.

Parents of kids with disabilities carry an invisible weight —
a kind of love and grief that’s impossible to describe.

You don’t need a child with cerebral palsy to understand this story.

Everyone in our community has lived their own version of
the moment everything changed.

Maybe it was a diagnosis.
Maybe a divorce.
Maybe immigration.
Maybe losing someone you love.
Maybe a dream shattering.
Maybe a phone call that split your life into “before” and “after.”

Every one of us has a chapter we don’t talk about.
A chapter we can’t research without crying.
A chapter we survived in silence.

My story is cerebral palsy.
Yours may be different.
But the feeling — the ache, the fear, the resilience — is universal.

And that’s why communities like ours matter.
Because behind every founder, parent, builder, or creator
is a human carrying something heavy.

Community doesn’t make the pain disappear —
but it makes it survivable.

UCSF was that community for us.
Their neurologists, therapists, and specialists saw Liam, understood him,
and gave him the care every child deserves.

They changed his trajectory.
They changed our lives.

And now Liam — despite early doctors telling us he might never walk —
is walking, running, climbing, laughing,
and being the little rascal every kid deserves to be.

If you’d like to support,  we created a donation page for the UCSF Cerebral Palsy program — the same program that helped us when we had nowhere else to go.

As we head into Thanksgiving, I keep coming back to this truth:

Liam has taught me that life can break you open and still give you miracles.

And the older I get, the more I realize this:

The hardest seasons don’t take everything from you.
They reveal the things that truly matter —
the people who stay,
the love that carries you,
the tiny moments that keep you from falling apart.

If you’re carrying something heavy right now, I hope you feel seen.
I hope you feel held.
I hope you know you’re not walking through it alone.

And if your season is lighter, I hope you look around with a softer heart —
because somewhere nearby, someone is fighting a quiet battle you know nothing about.

May this Thanksgiving meet you exactly where you are —
with gentleness if you’re breaking,
with warmth if you’re healing,
and with hope if you’re ready for it.

From my family to yours —

Mariane Bekker

PS: If you’d like to say Hi, here are some events I’m speaking at this week.

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

Thursday, November 20 - 11:00 AM –12:00 PM

​In this high-impact session, veteran startup leader and investor Larry Udell, Founder of the LES Silicon Valley Chapter, draws on his extensive experience launching, scaling and advising tech companies to reveal how founders transform bold ideas into enduring success. You’ll gain an inside view of the pivotal decisions, growth inflection points and mindset shifts that mark the journey from founder to fortune.

Friday, November 21 - 11:00 AM –12:00 PM

​In today’s competitive startup landscape, your personal brand is one of your most valuable business assets. As a founder, how you show up on LinkedIn can directly shape your company’s visibility, reputation, and growth opportunities. In this session, Diandra Escobar, Founder of Distinctiva, will share proven strategies for building an authentic and influential LinkedIn presence that drives real business outcomes.

Friday, November 21 - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

​This Thanksgiving season, we’re gathering the startup community for an evening of connection, gratitude, and collaboration. Join us for the Founders & VC Thanksgiving Dinner at Focus Innovation Studio — a warm, open event where founders, investors, and friends of the innovation ecosystem come together to share stories, ideas, and a festive meal.

Wednesday, December 3 - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

​Get ready to pitch your startup to leading investors and venture capitalists at the next Founders Bay Virtual Investor Pitch Session.

​This online event connects early-stage founders with seasoned investors eager to discover the next wave of high-impact startups. Whether you’re raising your pre-seed or Series A round, this is your opportunity to showcase your vision, traction, and growth potential to an audience that matters.

​Each selected founder will have a few minutes to present their pitch deck, followed by live feedback from investors and startup mentors.

Thursday, December 4 - 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

​Start your morning with inspiration, connection, and community at the Women Founders Breakfast — a gathering designed to bring together women leaders, innovators, and investors who are shaping the future of entrepreneurship. Hosted at Focus Innovation Studio, this breakfast offers a relaxed and empowering space to share insights, exchange stories, and build meaningful relationships with fellow founders and supporters in the startup ecosystem.

Thursday, December 4 - 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

​Aboard the Seafair Grand Luxe, a $40M, 228-foot megayacht moored on Biscayne Bay, guests will witness a world first - Robot Fight Club live on a megayacht, beneath the lights of the Miami skyline.

​This high-energy event fuses sound, art, and innovation, culminating in the unveiling and live auction of Mr. Collage’s one-of-one BMW i8, a striking fusion of engineering and creativity that embodies the spirit of modern chaos.

​The evening brings together founders, investors, and creators shaping the future of the experiential economy.

Sunday, December 7 - 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Local artisans & vendors, activity stations, festive cocktails, games, and delicious bites!

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UCSF BENIOFF CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL - DONATE HERE

Mark your calendars! Get ready to splash into the holiday spirit this December at our Splash Holiday Market! Enjoy a festive day filled with local vendors, photo ops, and activities for both kids and adults to enjoy. From holiday crafts and games to delicious bites and seasonal drinks, there’s something for everyone! Tis the season of giving, benefitting the community and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, all donations will go back to the children in need. Together we make a difference, and there’s no better way to give back than by giving from the heart!

Don’t miss out on the most festive event of the season!

Wednesday, December 10 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​In this session, you’ll discover how to identify scalable growth channels, attract your first users, and convert early adopters into loyal advocates. Through practical frameworks, case studies, and actionable insights, you’ll learn the same lean tactics top growth marketers use to test, iterate, and achieve explosive results on minimal budgets.

Thursday, December 11 - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

​In this Founder Deal Lab, we’ll explore proven strategies for converting pilots into multi-year partnerships. Learn how to align technical outcomes with business impact, build strong internal champions, and design pilot structures that set your startup up for expansion.

​Jin Kang, Global Head of Forward-Deployed Engineering & AI GTM at AWS, will share insights from working with startups and enterprise teams worldwide — breaking down how founders can successfully navigate complex sales cycles and scale enterprise adoption.

Friday, December 12 - 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

​Hosted by Mariane Bekker, Managing Partner of Founders Bay, this exclusive breakfast brings together AI executives, founders, and innovators for a morning of meaningful connections and future-focused conversations. Over coffee and freshly baked bagels, attendees will discuss the latest trends shaping AI infrastructure, automation, and enterprise adoption.

​Held at the Tesla Showroom on Van Ness, the event offers a one-of-a-kind setting where innovation meets design. Guests will have the opportunity to test drive Tesla vehicles and enjoy an exciting Tesla light show, creating an unforgettable backdrop for networking and collaboration.

Thursday, December 18 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Building a startup is hard—but building one without a clear go-to-market engine is even harder. In this hands-on Founders Bay workshop, fractional GTM & sales leader Laura Garrison will walk early-stage founders through how to validate their sales motion before investing heavily in tools, people, or processes. You'll learn how selling early—and selling simply—can dramatically increase your odds of traction and product-market fit.

Thursday, December 18 - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

​Celebrate the season with an exclusive evening of fine dining and high-impact conversations at the Founder/VC Holiday Dinner in San Francisco. This invite-only gathering brings together visionary founders, venture capitalists, and tech leaders to connect over shared insights, emerging trends, and the future of innovation in AI, frontier tech, and startups.

Wednesday, January 14 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Led by Ellisha Blechynden, Principal Attorney at Blechynden Legal, this workshop will cover essential considerations for founders, from entity selection and ownership agreements to equity allocation and protecting intellectual property. Ellisha brings extensive experience helping startups navigate the legal and strategic complexities of launching and scaling a company.

Thursday, January 15 - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

​Founders Bay presents The Guadalupe Method, a grounding workshop designed to help founders build with clarity, steadiness, and genuine connection. Led by Jason Corder—two-time TEDx speaker, community-builder, and founder of Agencee—this session explores how rooting yourself in the city you’re building in can transform both your leadership and your company’s trajectory.

Tuesday, January 20 - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

​Join us for an exclusive evening designed for founders who have raised $1M+ for their current company. This private dinner brings together a select group of high-growth founders, with limited spots reserved for aligned investors looking to connect in a meaningful, intimate setting.

​Enjoy curated conversations, shared learnings, and a panoramic penthouse view—perfect for building relationships that move companies forward.

​This dinner is proudly supported by Fidelity Private Shares.

​Fidelity Private Shares is an all-in-one equity management platform that helps you maintain a clean cap table, an organized data room, and a clear equity story. 

​Members of the Founders Bay community will receive 20% off of any paid cap table subscription plan. You can see an overview of their product here, or you can contact David Santana at [email protected] for more information.

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. I’m also Head of Developer Relations at You.com, and we just raised $100M to grow our AI Search Infrastructure!