Table of Contents

• Featured Events

  • Seed 2 Scale Summit📍Open Bar/ Cocktail Hour🍸 Ven …

  • AI INFRA SUMMIT 3

  • Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Securing your IP a …

• Upcoming Events

Hi Friends,

Apologies for the delay in getting this out. I was under the weather yesterday — pretty sure my body finally crashed after the whirlwind that was Gigaparty.

But wow… what a night.

Gigaparty was a massive success, and I can’t wait to share the full recap with you later this week, when I’m fully recovered.

Thank you to my co-hosts who worked tirelessly (David Carvalho, Kristopher Floyd, Kuzma (Frost) Ledenev), all our community partners, everyone who showed up, supported, and made it unforgettable. You brought the magic. 💫

Here are a few of our events happening this week:

• Seed 2 Scale Summit📍Open Bar/ Cocktail Hour🍸 Vently x Context Ventures

• Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Raising a Seed Round: Navigating Early-Stage Fundraising

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

Featured Events

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

Partners Form

Want to engage our partners for your next project? Fill out the form here.

• Need help scaling your startup operations? Work with Maria Pienaar of ScaleSpark to get a team of experts building and running your business infrastructure

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Raising a Seed Round: Navigating Early-Stage Fundraising

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.

Seed 2 Scale Summit📍Open Bar/ Cocktail Hour🍸 Vently x Founders Bay x Context Ventures [FOUNDERSBAY25 for 25% off][I’M SPEAKING]

Friday, May 2 - 4:30PM - 10PM

Founders Bay is partnering with Vently to throw this amazing summit. ​🚀Join us for a Seed to Scale Summit with Top Tier VC's from the Valley followed by a FREE Open Bar + a Live DJ Set. Vently presents you a night of connections, music, & curated experiences.

​VC Firms Attending: SignalFire, Menlo Ventures, General Catalyst, Mantis, TPG, & more

AI INFRA SUMMIT 3

Exclusive discount (35%) code: MBlim35

Join us as we take AI INFRA SUMMIT to new heights, diving into the fast-evolving AI infrastructure landscape. From dirt up to APIs, we’ll explore the interconnected layers driving next-gen deployments. With a focus on ecosystem & optionality, top industry leaders will shape the future of AI infrastructure. 

Whether you're an AI builder, enterprise leader, investor, or industry expert, this summit offers a full day of insights, collaboration, and networking—delivered in style.

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Securing your IP and Accelerating Innovation

Thursday, May 8 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

​In today’s digital-first world, startups face growing threats from every angle—phishing schemes, compromised software dependencies, and sophisticated IP theft tactics are no longer just enterprise concerns. As your company scales, protecting your assets—especially your code, data, and intellectual property—is critical to building trust with customers, partners, and investors.

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 - Raising a Seed Round: Navigating Early-Stage Fundraising, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Securing your IP and Accelerating Innovation, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Sales Prep & ICP Buildout: Maximizing Your Sales Strategy, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Building Secure AI Systems: Best Practices and Strategies, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Getting to 1M in ARR: Accelerating Your Revenue

Subscribe To VIP Access, get all the workshops above for free and get free tickets to: Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: Startup Legal Advice, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Relational Success for Founders, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Inbounds: Mastering the Art of Sales Engagement, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Changing the Landscape of GTM Tech, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Top Five Mistakes & Solutions for Early Founders, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Sales Reporting: Measuring Performance for Better Decisions

Upcoming Events

🗓️ Tuesday, Apr 29

👉 FC SF • Founders Run & Coffee! (7AM-9AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join Founders Common for a weekly early morning run with founders, operators, and creatives! Afterward, hang out over coffee and meet new friends across the startup community.

👉 Cyber Resilience: Agentic Infrastructure and GenAI for Complete Protection and Compliance (8AM-10AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join an exclusive breakfast during RSA 2025 discussing how Agentic AI and GenAI transform cybersecurity protection and compliance. Network and exchange insights with leading industry professionals.

👉 Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: Startup Legal Advice (10AM-1PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
💬 Get 1:1 startup legal advice with expert Arohi Kashyap covering issues like incorporation, fundraising, IP, and AI data law. Perfect for founders needing fast, practical legal guidance.

👉 Threat Modeling Connect RSA 2025 Meetup: Tacos, AI Security & Threat Modeling (2PM-4PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Meet security experts and AI enthusiasts over tacos while diving into AI security and threat modeling conversations. A fun, casual RSA side-event just steps from the conference!

👉 Fintech : Connections Over Coffee. (4PM-6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Connect with fintech founders, professionals, and investors over casual coffee meetups. Stay ahead of industry trends through meaningful conversations in a relaxed atmosphere.

👉 Security Uncorked (5PM-7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Relax at a happy hour focused on security professionals — with wine, food, and good company. Unwind after RSA sessions with peers who “get it.”

👉 RSA CyberForce & Conference SF (HYBRID) (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A hybrid event featuring startup pitches, VC panels, and networking with food and drinks. Perfect for founders and investors interested in the cybersecurity space.

👉 HopSec Trivia Night: Brews, Bytes, and Bragging Rights (5PM-10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Test your cybersecurity knowledge at a trivia night featuring brews, appetizers, and brainy competition. Hosted by Qwiet AI, VulnCheck, and NetRise.

👉 Data For AI Presents: The Open Source Afterparty (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Dive into AI, data infrastructure, and machine learning innovation at this lively open-source afterparty. Connect with tech leaders from StarTree, Nvidia, Daft, Datastrato, and more.

👉 AGI Builders Meetup SF (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A gathering for AI builders and researchers to share the latest on AGI challenges and progress. Expect tech talks, idea exchanges, and light refreshments.

👉 Burners Investing for Good PITCH NIGHT (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Following on the spirit of Burners coming together for the unveiling of Marco Cochrane's R-EVOLUTION at Embarcadero Plaza, COVEN and Kinlia have teamed up to bring founders and funders together for one night to spotlight Burner-inspired projects–both nonprofit & for-profit ventures.

👉 Stripe x IVP Supper Club | AI x RSA Edition (6PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 An intimate dinner connecting early-stage founders with top investors and experienced peers. Get real tactical advice on PLG, GTM, fundraising, and scaling strategies.

👉 AI Vibe Coding Demo Night ~ w/ Chroma & Jam.dev (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Meet 100+ builders at Chroma HQ showcasing live demos from Replit, Jam, Chroma, and others. Free food, drinks, and a chill vibe for coders and creators.

👉 THREE YEARS OUR MAYOR: George Moscone and the Making of Modern San Francisco (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate the launch of a new book chronicling George Moscone’s lasting impact on San Francisco. A night of storytelling, city history, and community.

👉 Foresight Neuro Salon Series: Lightning Round @ Frontier Tower (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore the latest in neurotechnology with quick talks and breakout sessions on ethical BCIs, mental health tech, and longevity. Hosted by the Foresight Institute with snacks and drinks.

👉 After-Hours Security Sync with Modus Create, StackHawk, and GitHub (6:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Unwind with drinks and conversations about the latest security and tech developments post-RSA. Connect casually with developers, leaders, and innovators.

👉 Women in Hardware Dinner @ Studio 55 (SoMa) w/ Fellow (6:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A smaller, curated dinner for women in hardware engineering and entrepreneurship. Share a 3-course meal with 30 amazing peers in an intimate setting.

👉 RSAC Afterparty: The Next Chapter with Recorded Future (7PM-10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate the next era of Recorded Future’s threat intelligence platform with cocktails and conversations. A chance to mingle with top cybersecurity leaders post-RSA.

🗓️ Wednesday, Apr 30

👉 AI-ssential Breakfast: RSA (9AM-11AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Relax over breakfast and coffee while discussing AI agents and the future of AppSec. Step away from RSA chaos and network with peers at a calm, focused event.

👉 Open Future Forum Co-working - Wait List (10AM-11AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join the waitlist to access office space at the Open Future Forum during RSA week. This is a waitlist only, not a confirmed reservation.

👉 UK House: AI & Cyber Security - Balancing Risks and Rewards (10:30AM-12PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join UK innovators for a roundtable on the challenges of securing AI while maximizing its opportunities. Learn how technical leaders balance innovation and security in real-world deployments.

👉 OWASP Gen AI Security Project - Agentic Security Open Workshop (2PM-5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Dive into the emerging field of Agentic Security with OWASP’s GenAI Security Initiative. Join an open workshop designed around real workflows from builders, defenders, and decision makers.

👉 AI, Security + SciFi Bites & Cocktails during RSAC25 (5PM-9:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Enjoy an evening connecting applied AI, cybersecurity, and sci-fi ideas, from the practical to the philosophical. Drinks, bites, and expansive conversations guaranteed.

👉 Realtime AI Meetup (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Fireside chat with Justin Uberti, creator of WebRTC and Head of Realtime AI at OpenAI. Hear about the evolution of real-time human-computer interfaces and swap stories with fellow builders.

👉 Keys to Security: Dueling Piano Party at RSAC (5:30PM-10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Cyera, Qwiet AI, and NetRise invite you to a high-energy night of dueling pianos, signature cocktails, and security camaraderie. Let loose and sing along after a packed RSA day!

👉 OWASP Gen AI Security Community Networking Event (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Network casually with fellow attendees of OWASP’s LLM and GenAI Security Summit. Enjoy drinks and bites just a short walk from RSA.

👉 Surreal: Interfaces (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Gather with designers, developers, and researchers shaping the next generation of human-AI interaction across modalities like voice, video, and copilots. Featuring speakers like Siri co-founder Adam Cheyer and others.

👉 Build IRL Showcase + 30 Club Bazaar 🎉 (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate in-person communities and clubs making the Bay Area vibrant. Meet groups spanning art, science, Go, and beyond, and find your next IRL passion project.

👉 AI Agents in Sales (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore how AI agents are transforming sales — and the hard truths about deploying them. Learn what breaks, what works, and what’s next for AI SDRs at AWS GenAI Loft.

👉 Insight After Hours: RSA 2025 (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Insight Assurance, Vanta, and Cognisys host a private networking night for cybersecurity pros. Relax and connect over premium food, drinks, and deep conversations.

👉 Passwordless Party (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join the Passwordless Party at Spin SF, featuring games, ping pong, swag, and prizes. Hosted by Yubico during RSA, it's pure fun off the show floor.

👉 AI & Tech Networking in San Francisco (7PM-10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Monthly networking event connecting startups, investors, and AI innovators. Build relationships, validate ideas, and scale your projects with strategic connections.

🗓️ Thursday, May 1

👉 MCP AI Hackathon – San Francisco Edition (9AM-5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join Fondo, Octolane, and Snowflake for a one-day hackathon exploring cutting-edge use cases of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) in AI. This event brings together developers and builders to collaborate, experiment, and showcase AI projects in a fast-paced, high-energy environment.

👉 Meet AI Spokesperson and Attend AI Video Workshop at Sparknify Press Conference (11AM-12:30PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Witness the debut of ultra-realistic AI Spokespersons delivering press announcements at this groundbreaking event. Join Sparknify’s kickoff to the Human vs. AI Tech Fair & Film Festival and experience the future of AI-driven storytelling.

👉 Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Raising a Seed Round: Navigating Early-Stage Fundraising (11AM-12PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
💬 Get practical strategies and expert insights to successfully raise your startup’s seed round. This workshop covers pitching, investor targeting, term sheets, and navigating the early-stage fundraising landscape.

👉 Mastering AI to Deepen Connection | Entrepreneur Business Live San Francisco (4PM-6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Connect with entrepreneurs and startups through powerful talks and vibrant networking sessions. Expect to learn from top speakers while building relationships that support your entrepreneurial journey.

👉 UK HOUSE: Briefing on AI Cyber Security Standard (4:30PM-5:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Hear directly from the UK Government about efforts to set global cybersecurity standards for AI models and systems. This international briefing invites discussion on future collaboration opportunities.

👉 Sip & Serve RSAC Afterparty (5PM-7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Mix networking, tech innovation, and fast-paced ping pong action at this RSA-week happy hour hosted by Heavybit and Tailscale. Expect crafty drinks, good conversations, prizes, and chill vibes off the Moscone floor.

👉 Invisible or Amplified? How AI Could Shape the Future of Marginalized Groups (5PM-7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore how AI impacts marginalized communities, either by reinforcing biases or offering empowerment. Hosted with StartOut, Columbia Venture Community, and Applied AI Association, this event sparks critical conversation on AI and social equity.

👉 AI x Entrepreneurship: Innovation with a Climate Conscience (5:30PM-7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join an insightful panel on leveraging AI to drive climate solutions during SF Climate Week. Learn how entrepreneurs are using emerging AI tools to tackle urgent environmental challenges.

👉 Waiting for the Dust to Settle: Creating Value Despite M&A Uncertainty (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Gain actionable strategies for thriving in a volatile mergers and acquisitions environment. Leading experts will share insights on value creation, sustainable growth, and M&A opportunities despite market turbulence.

👉 Prompt to Product: Vibe Coding with Canva Devs (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Code alongside Canva Developers using AI tools like Cursor and Replit to build innovative projects in just an hour. Celebrate creativity and teamwork with live demos and a night of "good vibes coding."

👉 B2B AI Summit: Founders, Funders, and the Future of Enterprise Tech - Presented by Runa Capital, Z Potentials & J.P. Morgan (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join top founders, researchers, and investors for a panel on emerging trends and opportunities in enterprise AI. An exclusive evening of conversations, networking, drinks, and small bites awaits.

👉 The AI Foundry Kickoff (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Ramon
💬 Celebrate the launch of The AI Foundry community series focused on real-world AI innovation. This initiative connects startups, investors, academics, and government leaders in San Ramon.

👉 The VINE: The Video Industry Networking Event (6PM-8PM)
📍 Oakland
💬 If you work in video, join this dynamic networking event featuring "Voices of the Vine" open mic for creatives. Pizza, wine, and the opportunity to promote your projects await all video industry professionals.

👉 Festa AI (Startup): Stress-Free Wedding Guest Communication (6PM-11PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Festa AI automates wedding guest communication, answering questions and managing RSVPs instantly via text. Say goodbye to guest chaos and hello to streamlined updates, registry reminders, and insightful guest analytics.

👉 Agentic Commerce After Hours (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Relax and connect with AI builders and designers before Stripe Sessions and Config Week. Hosted by Browserbase, Stripe, and others, this chill meetup offers drinks, pizza, music, and good conversations.

👉 Illuminate - May (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Illuminate brings together founders and community leaders for inspiring 5-minute lightning talks. Enjoy food, drinks, and vibrant networking at this free event hosted at NEON.

🗓️ Friday, May 2

👉 MCP and A2A Hackathon - AWS Edition (9:30AM-7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Win big at this hackathon by competing for prizes and showcasing your best AI product. Connect with fellow AI engineers, meet investors, and build with sponsor APIs to enhance your creations.

👉 AI INFRA SUMMIT 3 (10AM-5PM)
📍 Mountain View
💬 AI INFRA is where engineers, investors, and visionaries shape the future of technological deployment. Dive into topics like data centers, cloud APIs, and how to build scalable AI infrastructure.

👉 CAA NorCal Entrepreneur and Investor series: AI Agent (3:30PM-7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join experts discussing the latest AI trends and how they impact entrepreneurship and investment opportunities. Great for founders and investors aiming to stay ahead in the AI ecosystem.

👉 Tech Start Up Founders Gatherings (READ Description) (4PM-6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A founder-led gathering focused on genuine, valuable connections instead of shallow networking. Build meaningful relationships with fellow entrepreneurs navigating startup challenges.

👉 Seed 2 Scale Summit📍Open Bar/ Cocktail Hour🍸 Vently x Context Ventures [I’m Speaking and hosting] (4:30PM-10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 ​🚀Join us for a Seed to Scale Summit with Top Tier VC's from the Valley followed by a FREE Open Bar + a Live DJ Set. Vently presents you a night of connections, music, & curated experiences. FOUNDERSBAY25 for 25% off.

👉 Mission Science Workshop Community Celebration & Fundraiser (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate science, food, and community with family-friendly experiments, wine tastings, and hands-on activities. Support the Mission Science Workshop’s programs while having a blast!

👉 Unhindered Pairings Exhibition Opening (5PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 This Afrobeat-driven art exhibition tackles issues like housing insecurity and mental health through creative expression. Join the opening night at KALW’s studio for a powerful blend of art, activism, and community.

👉 Grand Opening Korean BBQ Fusion Premium Founders and Investors Dinner (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Jose
💬 Celebrate the grand opening of a luxury Korean Fusion restaurant while networking with investors and startup founders. Limited free tickets for qualified attendees, with premium cocktails and cuisine on the menu.

🗓️ Saturday, May 3

👉 lazy hack @ Entrepreneurs First (9AM-6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Build tools to make life lazier in this casual hackathon featuring pajama dress codes, lunch, and side talks. Expect a relaxed, fun environment with creativity and surprises like "PowerPoint karaoke."

👉 Founders Running Club :: San Francisco (9:30AM-11AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join fellow founders, investors, and operators for a casual morning run followed by coffee and networking. Paces vary and pets, friends, and family are welcome.

👉 15th annual Youth Arts Summit (1PM-4PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate emerging young artists across visual and performance arts at this inspiring summit. Attend workshops, view exhibitions, and support the next generation of creatives.

🗓️ Sunday, May 4

👉 CoCreate Conference (San Francisco) (10AM-5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join fellow designers, founders, and builders for a day of small group discussions and keynotes. Brought to you by the team at Design Buddies and UXGO!

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.