Hi,

🎉 Big news! We're bringing back the GIGAPARTY on April 24 — and you're the first to hear about it. We’re doing a limited pre-sale just for this community that ends TOMORROW — so you can grab your ticket before we open it up to the public. Last time, we sold out completely.

This time, we’re going “Down the Rabbit Hole” with an Alice in Wonderland theme — and we’re the official after-party for MadHats.AI, so expect to see some of the top AI founders, investors, and operators in the room. If you join as VIP, you’ll get a free VIP Gigaparty ticket!

🎟️ Get your ticket here »

🥂 This Week, we have 2 in-person events: Exclusive Founders/VC AI B2B Breakfast and 🏒 Founders & VCs Night at the Sharks Game – Private Suite Experience. If you join as VIP, you get to attend both for free!

✨ New in This Edition: Founder Story of the Week
Each week, we’ll feature an inspiring founder in our community.
This week, we’re spotlighting someone transforming healthcare from the inside out, scroll to the end to read it.

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…

This week, my son turns five. I wrote him a letter I wasn’t sure I’d ever share. But then I remembered how many of us are quietly carrying things while building. If you're in that place, maybe this is for you too…

Dear Liam,

You’ve already overcome more in your life than many people do in a lifetime.

At one, you still couldn’t lift your head.
While other toddlers were racing ahead, we were searching for answers — quietly worried, gently hopeful.

After weeks of appointments and uncertainty, we learned you had cerebral palsy.
And with that came a possibility that crushed me: you might never walk.

Around that same time, life at home was crumbling.
It became clear to me that the best thing I could give you wasn’t perfection —
It was peace
And, that meant making really hard decisions.

While you were learning to smile, I was learning how to survive.
While you were learning to take your first steps, I was learning to stand again.
While your world was just beginning, mine was quietly breaking and rebuilding at once.

We do therapy now. You and me.
You with your little backpack and big questions.
Me with my quiet grief and relentless hope.
We are healing.
We are growing.
Together.

You didn’t take your first steps until you were three.
But now —
You walk.
You dance.
You climb without fear.
You fall, and you get back up again.

You do all the things they said you might never do.
And last week, the doctor said that you made so much progress that you’ll run and walk like any other kid soon enough.
You’re proof that timing doesn’t define strength — persistence does.

And while the world may see me as a founder and a builder—
you just call me Mommy.

You didn’t get the picture-perfect family.
But you got a mom who will never stop fighting for you.

And while I’ve launched companies, raised capital, rebuilt my life —
you are the most meaningful thing I’ve ever created.

Happy birthday, Liam.
You are my reason.
You are my heart.
You are my miracle.

I love you to the moon and back,
Mommy

Featured Events

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

Founders Bay Breakfast: B2B AI Strategies @ Luxury Noe Valley Residence

Friday, March 28 - 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

​​We’re hosting an exclusive breakfast at a stunning private residence in Noe Valley, co-hosted by Mariane Bekker and Kristopher Floyd from Founders Bay, Paul Jun, Managing Partner at Depth Capital Ventures, Jeni Chang from Founder Institute and Lilia Shirman, Managing Partner at Falcon Peak Capital.

​​This event is designed for top investors founders to explore how AI can drive B2B innovation and growth. Over a curated breakfast, engage in meaningful discussions, gain actionable insights, and network with fellow founders & executives shaping the future of B2B AI.

🏒 Founders & VCs Night at the Sharks Game – Private Suite Experience

Friday, March 28 - 7:30PM

​​​Join us for an unforgettable evening of connection, community, and hockey!

​We’ve reserved a private suite at the SAP Center for an exclusive founder & VC gathering during the San Jose Sharks vs. New York Rangers game. Come enjoy great conversations, good food, and an electric atmosphere — all from the comfort of a luxury box.

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Structuring Operations for Scale

Friday, March 28 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Scaling a business requires strong, efficient operations. This workshop will help you build systems that support growth, streamline workflows, and reduce bottlenecks. Learn how to create processes that keep your business running smoothly as it expands.

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Mastering the Perfect Pitch Deck

Monday, March 31 - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

​Learn how to create a compelling pitch deck that grabs attention, tells your startup’s story, and wins investors. This workshop, led by Jeni Chang, will guide you through the essential slides, key messaging, and best practices to make your pitch stand out.

Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: Digital Transformation & AI Strategies

Tuesday, April 1 - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Join us for an exclusive expert office hours session focused on Digital Transformation and AI Strategies. As businesses navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape, leveraging AI-powered solutions can drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation. This session is designed for founders, executives, and decision-makers looking to understand how AI can be integrated into business operations, enhance customer experiences, and create a competitive edge.

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Backward Approach to Entrepreneurial Success

Wednesday, April 2 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Most entrepreneurs are told to start at the beginning, but the smartest ones start at the end. This workshop will teach you the backward approach to success—a strategy used by top business leaders to visualize their end goal first and then reverse-engineer a clear, strategic path to achieve it. By planning with the outcome in mind, you can avoid common pitfalls, stay focused, and build a business that aligns with your long-term vision.

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Digital Marketing Essentials For Founders, an introduction to the BASE3 Model

Thursday, April 3 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Marketing can be overwhelming for founders who are unsure where to invest their time and budget. This workshop, led by Wendy Louise Wilder, introduces the BASE3 Model, a practical framework designed to help startups make data-driven marketing decisions. By focusing on audience segmentation, key performance metrics, and strategic decision-making, founders will learn how to optimize their marketing efforts for sustainable growth.

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - New Era: Latest Advances in Longevity Biotech, Drug Discovery, and AI

Friday, April 4 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Join us for the Founders Bay Virtual Workshop featuring Monica Isgut, PhD, as we explore the latest breakthroughs in longevity biotech, AI-driven drug discovery, and the future of healthcare innovation. With rapid advancements in machine learning, computational biology, and biotechnology, the way we approach aging and disease treatment is transforming faster than ever. This session will provide key insights into how AI is reshaping research and accelerating new therapeutic discoveries.

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Common GTM Mistakes Made by Startups—and How to Avoid Them

Wednesday, April 9 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Bringing a product to market is one of the biggest challenges for startups. Many founders struggle with finding the right customers, setting the right price, or scaling too soon. This workshop will break down the most common Go-To-Market (GTM) mistakes startups make and provide clear strategies to avoid them. Learn from real-world examples and expert insights to build a strong, successful launch plan.

Women in Sustainability: Networking, Innovation, Leadership, Impact, Solutions

Friday, April 11 - 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

We’re hosting an exclusive breakfast for Women founders hosted by Mariane Bekker, CEO of Women Founders Bay.

​Join a dynamic gathering of professionals, changemakers, and thought leaders at the Women in Sustainability Breakfast. This event is designed to foster meaningful connections, inspire innovative ideas, and empower leadership in the sustainability space. Attendees will gain insights into emerging sustainable solutions, discuss the latest trends, and explore ways to create impactful change within industries and communities.

Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: 2 Hour Block Legal Advice

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.

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 - Structuring Operations for Scale, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Mastering the Perfect Pitch Deck, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Backward Approach to Entrepreneurial Success

Subscribe To VIP Access, get all the workshops above for free and get free tickets to: Founders Bay Breakfast: B2B AI Strategies @ Luxury Noe Valley Residence, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Structuring Operations for Scale, Mastering the Perfect Pitch Deck, Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: Digital Transformation & AI Strategies, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Backward Approach to Entrepreneurial Success, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Digital Marketing Essentials For Founders, an introduction to the BASE3 Model, New Era: Latest Advances in Longevity Biotech, Drug Discovery, and AI, Common GTM Mistakes Made by Startups—and How to Avoid Them, Women in Sustainability: Networking, Innovation, Leadership, Impact, Solutions, Women in Sustainability: Networking, Innovation, Leadership, Impact, Solutions, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop: Securing the Unseen: AI, Cyber Threats & the Battle for Trust

🚀 Breaking Healthcare Barriers with Dr. Payal Bhandari, M.D.

The future of healthcare is here! Dr. Payal Bhandari, M.D. is on a mission to transform the way we diagnose, treat, and reverse autoimmune diseases. With over 20 years of experience, she has built a career challenging the status quo of traditional medicine and embracing AI-powered, precision healthcare.

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.