Upcoming Founder & VC Events Happening This Week

Author

Mariane Bekker
May 26, 2025

Table of Contents

Hi Friends,

Hope your Memorial Day weekend is off to a great start!

I’m still buzzing from the VC/LP Summit + Chainsmokers Block Party we hosted yesterday. Over 8,500 people showed up. Fireworks lit up the sky, the dance floor was packed, and the energy was unreal.

We’ll be sharing photos soon, but if you want a sneak peek, check out my Instagram stories here (David Carvalho and Kristopher Floyd’s too)

Here are a few of our in-person events happening this week:

And join one of our workshop:

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

Subscribe to Founders Bay VIP today and get access to ALL of those for free:

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

Tuesday, May 27 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Join us for a dynamic virtual workshop focused on helping startups accelerate their revenue to reach $1M in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). This session will provide actionable strategies to optimize your sales, marketing, and customer retention efforts, ensuring sustainable growth. Whether you're in the early stages or scaling, you'll learn key methods to boost your revenue quickly and effectively.

Tuesday, May 27 - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

​Join us for an Exclusive AI Founders & VC Dinner, an intimate evening designed to connect top AI startup founders with leading venture capitalists. This private gathering brings together a curated group of innovators, builders, and investors at the forefront of artificial intelligence for meaningful conversations, shared insights, and lasting relationships.

Wednesday, May 28 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Join us for a dynamic virtual workshop focused on helping startups accelerate their revenue to reach $1M in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). This session will provide actionable strategies to optimize your sales, marketing, and customer retention efforts, ensuring sustainable growth. Whether you're in the early stages or scaling, you'll learn key methods to boost your revenue quickly and effectively.

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Tuesday, May 28 - 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM​

Join Light Dao and our community of conscious entrepreneurs and investors for a salon evening filled with connection, deep conversations, and a fireside chat with Mariane Bekker and Ruby Yeh, Co-Founder of Light Dao.

Friday, May 30 - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

​Join us for an insightful session with Natasha Walstra, founder of NearPoint Strategies, as she shares her proven methods for optimizing your LinkedIn profile and building authentic connections that drive real results. Drawing from her global experience at companies like Carbon and Forbes Books, Natasha has developed a unique approach to personal branding and social selling that empowers even the most hesitant professionals to thrive on LinkedIn.

Thursday, June 5 - 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Join us for a founder-investor breakfast gathering designed to kickstart your day with real conversations, croissants, and warm intros.

​Hosted by Startup Intros at Digital Garage, this event brings together early-stage founders, investors, and ecosystem builders for high-signal networking in a relaxed, coffee-fueled setting.

Thursday, June 5 - 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

​The most intimate founder and investor vip dinner experience "Bo$$ Bites" returns to SF! If you are a seed to series A founder (industry agnostic but tech focus) in high growth mode, keep reading below!

Hosted by Justworks and produced by Kamp—the team behind the most talked-about founder events in the country—Bo$$ Bites SF brings together a handpicked group of venture-backed founders, investors, and execs for a unforgettable evening that moves the needle.

Tuesday, June 10 - 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

​Join us in San Francisco for an exclusive in-person event designed specifically for innovative founders and startup leaders interested in migrating to the U.S. through O-1 or EB-1 visas. Gain expert guidance on how to navigate the U.S. immigration process, break into the American tech and startup ecosystem, and position your venture for success in Silicon Valley.

🚀 Elevate Your Access with A Membership Tiers!

Price: $19/month

Unlock a range of benefits to supercharge your networking and event participation:

  • Early Event Previews: Get the scoop on events happening 2 weeks ahead.

  • Discounted Conference Tickets: Enjoy significant savings on top conferences.

  • Free Workshops: Receive free access Founders Bay workshops.

  • Premium Content: Stay informed with our exclusive newsletter content tailored for founders and VCs.

  • Community Access: Join Founders Bay exclusive Founder & VC Circle.

$49/month

For those seeking the ultimate in networking and support, our VIP Access tier offers unparalleled benefits:

  • Early Event Previews: Get the scoop on events happening 2 weeks ahead.

  • Free Conference Tickets: Get complimentary tickets to key conferences and events.

  • Monthly 1x1 Office Hours: Benefit from a complimentary personalized monthly session with Mariane Bekker and legal experts.

  • Free Workshops: Receive free access Founders Bay workshops.

  • Personal Branding Session: Enjoy a complimentary strategy session to enhance your personal brand.

Don’t miss out on these exciting new offerings! Upgrade your membership today and take your involvement to the next level.

Upcoming Events

🗓️ Monday, May 26

👉 Seats of Success: Immigrant Entrepreneurs Table (6PM–8:30PM)
📍 Mountain View
💬 This event is designed exclusively for immigrant entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized business owners who are working hard to grow their companies and businesses—often without the community support they truly need.

👉 Latent.Space SF meetup (6:30PM–9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A casual gathering for AI and tech folks to meet, mingle, and talk shop without the pressure of formal presentations. Great for making new friends and sparking fresh ideas in an informal setting.

🗓️ Tuesday, May 27

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

👉 Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Relational Success for Founders (11AM-12PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
💬 Good relationships are key to building a strong startup. In this workshop, you’ll learn tools and strategies to lead better and stay aligned with your team and partners.

👉 Hack Night at GitHub (4PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join us for an exciting evening of hacking, networking, and innovation hosted at GitHub and presented by Weaviate. Meet fellow developers, explore AI ideas, and build something great together.

👉 Unicorn Battle in Silicon Valley (5PM-8PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Ten top startups pitch to elite VCs, corporate funds, and tech leaders from Tesla, MAANG, and Berkeley. A global event series with alumni who’ve raised over $1B in funding.

👉 Celebrating AAPI Women in Cross Border Business (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with GlobalSF and hear from inspiring women leaders driving innovation across borders. Enjoy a panel discussion and networking cocktail focused on opportunities in the Asia Pacific market.

👉 Exclusive AI Founders & VC Dinner @ Four Season Penthouse (5PM-8PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 San Francisco
💬 A private dinner connecting top AI founders and leading VCs in an intimate, off-the-record setting. Share insights, build relationships, and explore collaboration in AI’s fast-moving landscape.

👉 Private VC / Startup Wine Tasting Mixer (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A curated wine tasting mixer for high-growth startups and investors hosted by Open Future Forum and Bay Bridge Ventures. Network with fellow founders and featured VCs in a relaxed, premium setting.

👉 Hacking Agents AI Meetup - May (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 Santa Clara
💬 Dive into the future of AI with presentations and coding sessions focused on agent-based systems. Connect with developers and enthusiasts building cutting-edge AI applications.

👉 What Matters In the Age of AI: Parenthood & Policy (7PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A timely panel exploring how AI and tech innovation intersect with fertility, family, and public policy. Hear from experts in healthcare, education, and technology on shaping the future for families.

🗓️ Wednesday, May 28

👉 Implementation in Business | San Francisco (10AM-12PM)
📍 Online
💬 Are you curious about how artificial intelligence can revolutionize your business operations? Learn practical strategies for integrating AI into your workflows and staying competitive in the digital economy.

👉 Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Getting to 1M in ARR: Accelerating Your Revenue (11AM-12PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
💬 Join us for a dynamic virtual workshop focused on helping startups accelerate their revenue to reach $1M in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). Learn proven techniques to grow sales, improve retention, and hit key milestones faster.

👉 AI Agent World Tour in SF (4:30PM-9:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 We’re bringing together the builders, researchers, and doers working on AI Agents in Production in the most lo-fi way possible. Expect deep technical dives, collaborative discussions, and emerging ideas that shape the agentic future.

👉 All Things Web at Vapi (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 What’s new in Voice? A lot. LLMs are rapidly transforming the Voice AI space—come hear from builders at the forefront and network over snacks and drinks.

👉 AI Investing In 2025 (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 We are Open Future Forum. This event connects VCs and founders focused on AI agents with top investors to discuss trends and funding strategies for 2025 and beyond.

👉 AI Talks at Qlay with Co-Founder @ Encord (YC W21) and Sr. Director @ Anywhere (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join us for an exciting gathering in San Francisco that connects enterprise leaders with leading startup founders! Learn about current AI innovations from experts driving real-world adoption.

👉 SF DEMO NIGHT 🚀 (w/ The GenAI Collective) (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Every month, we raise the bar – and in May, we’re taking it even higher. Ten top-tier teams will demo cutting-edge tech live, with voting, networking, and high-energy founder/investor interactions.

👉 Marin Sunset Group Hike! (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore the beauty of Marin County on a special after-hours sunset hike and birdwatching experience. Hosted by REI and Bay Area Ridge Trail, this nature escape blends wellness and connection.

👉 Founders & Funders: AI with Mark Goldberg (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Hear from Mark Goldberg, GP at Chemistry, on what it takes to build fundable, long-lasting AI companies. Ideal for founders navigating the fundraising landscape in 2024.

👉 YPOSF May Happy Hour (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 YPOSF brings together young professionals for a casual happy hour and networking event. Great opportunity to expand your circle and meet like-minded peers from across industries.

👉 Greylock Change Agents: Evaluating Agents with Braintrust (6PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Part of Greylock’s speaker series, this event explores how leading startups evaluate AI agents in production. Join the conversation with Braintrust's founder Ankur Goyal on best practices and frameworks.

👉 AI Dev Tools Night (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Mintlify hosts a night focused on AI developer tools, with talks from experts at Sourcegraph, Chalk, Rootly AI, and more. Network with builders and learn what’s powering the next-gen AI stack.

👉 Collapsing Startup Time: What AI Acceleration REALLY Means for Founders & Investors - Light DAO Salon (SF) (6PM-9:30PM) [I’ll be speaking]
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join Light DAO for a fireside chat and salon exploring how AI is collapsing startup timelines. Featuring Mariane Bekker, it’s an evening of honest conversation and community among impact-driven founders.

👉 AI For Marketers #25 (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Learn how to supercharge your marketing efforts using Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney. Engage in talks and meet other marketers exploring the AI frontier.

👉 📚 Short Story Symposium [public] (6:30PM-7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join a cozy discussion group unpacking short fiction by authors like Ted Chiang and Ursula K. Le Guin. The aim is to use speculative stories to better understand today’s world through imagined ones.

👉 ai + health demo night #005 (6:30PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore how machine learning is transforming healthcare, from clinical workflows to biosensors. This demo night focuses on real-world implementations, with an open mic for builders to share.

👉 Founders' Olympics: Tech Chess Tournament @ The 1097 (7PM-10:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate the launch of the Tech Games newsletter with a high-stakes chess tournament for tech founders. It’s part of a global competition across SF, NYC, and London—designed to crown the sharpest minds in tech.

🗓️ Thursday, May 29

👉 Insights from AI Product Builders (5:30AM–7:30AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A practical panel for AI founders, engineers, and PMs diving deep into building successful AI products. Learn directly from operators about scaling features like chatbots and voice, and what tools they swear by.

👉 Stanford Founders Demo Day | Spring 2025 (8AM–6:30PM)
📍 Stanford
💬 A full-day showcase of Stanford-affiliated startups across AI, SaaS, health, and more. Expect keynotes, real-time networking, and top-tier startup pitches.

👉 Dawn Patrol – San Francisco Edition – Coffee | Companies | Capital (8AM–10:30AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Morning gathering for founders to connect over coffee and conversations before the day gets hectic. Led by Jason, with interactive networking and no awkward small talk.

👉 AI Grid Tech Coffee Meetup (9AM–10AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Bi-weekly meetup for AI/ML professionals working on the power grid. Low-key and discussion-based with no sales or slide decks—just real talk from the field.

👉 Session 4: Multi Agent Workflows & Data Privacy in the Digital World (12PM–3PM)
📍 Oakland
💬 Hands-on training and foundational knowledge in AI and cybersecurity for underrepresented groups. Hosted by BRIDGEGOOD, this session focuses on socially impactful tech.

👉 Notion x TheCyberia Hackathon #001 (2:30PM–5:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Hackathon exploring behavioral cybersecurity and predictive AI solutions. Build, learn, and collaborate with other tech-savvy problem-solvers.

👉 Techstars San Francisco Spring 2025 Demo Day (3:30PM–7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate the latest batch of Techstars startups solving problems in adtech, legaltech, AI, and more. Featuring live Q&As and Google Cloud-supported innovations.

👉 12 (scrappy) AI Founders Talking First Customers (5PM–7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Invite-only meetup for early-stage AI founders figuring out how to land their first real customers. Honest stories, shared learnings, and tactical conversations in a relaxed lounge.

👉 AI/ML DevTools Demo Night w/ Rootly AI, LangChain, Cloudflare, Mintlify, and Factory (5PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Focused on AI/ML reliability, this event showcases real-world tools for monitoring and evaluating production models. Expect lightning demos and deep tech community networking.

👉 LBAN Bay Area Networking Reception (5PM–7:30PM)
📍 San Carlos
💬 Open networking event to build community around Latinx entrepreneurship and innovation. Meet founders, funders, and allies in a relaxed, welcoming space.

👉 Neurodiversity Employer Gala - Future of Work Summit (5PM–9:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate the close of Day 1 of the Neurodiversity Summit with a gala honoring inclusive employers and changemakers. A mix of recognition, networking, and community celebration.

👉 AMA with Emmett Shear, co-founder and former CEO of Twitch (5PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join a rare AMA with Emmett Shear, now building an AI alignment company called Softmax. We'll cover AGI, the future of AI, and what it's like starting over as a founder.

👉 AGI Builders Meetup SF w/ HumanLayer, Freestyle Cloud (5:30PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Tech-forward meetup for AGI enthusiasts, engineers, and researchers exploring the bleeding edge of artificial general intelligence. Expect deep talks and thoughtful networking.

👉 AI Agents + Full Stack Demo Night @Convex (5:30PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Learn from experts about building AI agents and full-stack apps in an evening of lightning talks and live demos. Food, drinks, and hands-on conversation included.

👉 AI AGENT VC Panel Palo Alto (5:30PM–8PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Hear from top VCs about what they look for in AI agent startups. Great for founders fundraising or anyone curious about what’s next in agent tech.

👉 Smarter Growth: Harnessing AI to Scale Your Business (11:30PM–1:15AM)
📍 Online
💬 Learn how to use AI to drive smarter decisions, streamline operations, and fuel business growth. Perfect for founders and execs looking to scale with tech.

🗓️ Friday, May 30

👉 Deep Tech Connections Networking Breakfast (8:30AM–10:30AM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Connect with top minds in deep tech—from founders and VCs to researchers and policy leaders. This exclusive breakfast is perfect for forging meaningful industry relationships.

👉 Tech Career Fair: Exclusive Tech Hiring Event (9AM–12PM)
📍 Online
💬 A virtual fair connecting diverse talent with startups and Fortune 500 companies across roles in tech and AI. Upload your resume and get noticed by top hiring teams.

👉 AWS MCP Agents Hackathon (9AM–7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Build multimodal AI agents with advanced reasoning and tool usage to win part of the $50K+ prize pool. A hands-on hackathon for innovators looking to push the boundaries of LLMs.

👉 Founders Bay Virtual Event: Personal Branding Meets Profit - Optimizing Your LinkedIn for Growth (10AM–11AM)
📍 Online
💬 Learn from branding expert Natasha Walstra how to turn your LinkedIn into a growth engine. This session is packed with actionable tips for authentic networking and business results.

👉 Open Future Forum Co working - Wait List (10AM–11AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Reserve your spot on the waitlist for a desk in this innovative coworking space. A hub for future-forward thinkers and collaborative builders.

👉 NAWBO Coffee & Co-Working Meet-Up (11AM–1PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Gather with fellow women entrepreneurs for a productive and inspiring coworking session. Coffee, collaboration, and community are all on tap.

👉 Learn & Earn - Build Omi AI glasses - Now hiring! (12PM–5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Get hands-on with AI wearable tech while learning how to assemble Omi smart glasses. No prior skills needed—and there’s potential to get hired.

👉 Vibe Coding Meetup #3 @Convex (2PM–7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join fellow builders to create with AI dev tools, ship agents, or jam on full-stack projects. Come to build, vibe, or just meet like-minded devs.

👉 AI Fundraising Trends 2025 - ft. Peter Walker (3:30PM–6:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Get insider insights into AI funding trends for 2025, featuring Carta's Head of Insights. This event is ideal for founders and VCs navigating the next investment wave..

👉 VIBE25-2: After Hours Vibe Hackathon (5PM–11PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Ship agents and tools that help people navigate a rapidly changing world. This after-hours hackathon blends creativity, tech, and community.

👉 Annual Hillsborough / MBA/Ivy+ Charity Poker Tournament & Social Mixer (6PM–11PM)
📍 Hillsborough
💬 Join alumni for a lively night of poker, food, and networking in support of DignityMoves. Whether you're playing or mingling, it’s a high-impact social event.

👉 A Feast of Frequencies - Beatoven.ai x Rho (6PM–9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A curated evening blending music, tech, and community among founders and investors. From cocktails in the garden to immersive performances indoors—expect the unexpected.

👉 Startup Pitch Event Oakland (7PM–10PM)
📍 Oakland
💬 Founders pitch live to a tech-savvy audience of investors and professionals. Great for networking, feedback, and launching your next big idea.

🗓️ Saturday, May 31

👉 Multi-Agent Hackathon: Build Multi-Modal Workflows with Tenstorrent (8:30AM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Multi-agent systems allow multiple AI agents to collaborate, specialize, and solve more complex tasks than any single model can handle. This hackathon lets you build workflows using Tenstorrent hardware and Koyeb's cloud, covering image, video, and LLMs.

👉 Global Entrepreneurial Leadership Workshop (9AM-5:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 This workshop helps students align personal purpose with global challenges while developing entrepreneurial and leadership skills. It's ideal for building real-world confidence and clarity in an uncertain world.

👉 ai + health 24hr hack @ studio 45 with clutch (9:30AM-2:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join doctors, designers, developers, and researchers to tackle health challenges across Kenya and beyond in this 24-hour collaborative hackathon. Held in sync with Nairobi, this event aims to build tech that truly matters.

👉 n8n AI Workflow Hackathon (10AM-6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Dive into low-code automation and AI agent workflows at this hands-on two-day hackathon. Whether you're building tools for content, health, HR, or something totally new, this event helps you blend code, humans, and LLMs.

🗓️ Sunday, June 1

👉 Bay Area Indies Film Festival - 2025 (11AM–5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate independent storytelling at the Delancey Street Screening Room with an inspiring lineup of films from local creators. Connect with fellow cinephiles and experience a full day of bold, creative, and original cinema.

👉 Rae Studios Presents: 2025 Spring Showcase (5PM–7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Rae Studios returns for its 6th showcase, featuring 18 powerful performances across styles like Hip Hop Fusion, Contemporary, Heels, and Jazz Funk. Witness the passion and progress of students and guest performers at the historic Great Star Theatre.

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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