Upcoming Founder & VC Events Happening This Week

Upcoming Events & The Week’s 10 Biggest Funding Rounds

Author

Mariane Bekker
November 24, 2024

Table of Contents

Hi!

Thank you for reading my newsletter. Every Sunday, I will send you a list of top founders & VC events happening in the Bay Area. If you haven’t done so, please connect with me on LinkedIn and Instagram, I’d love to get to know you as well!

Are you looking for an expert engineering team to build your tech product? If so, we partnered with TheAgentic, to provide you with engineering resources to build your AI product from 0 to 1! Book a call today: https://scheduler.zoom.us/theagentic-ai/demo

Want us to feature your event on the list? Add it here

Exclusive Health Tech Dinner Party @ Draper University [I’m hosting]

​November 25 - 6PM - 9PM

Connect in an intimate setting with likeminded founders, who build great healthcare products. Pitch to active investors within the HealthTech sector and get strong feedback. Build new partnerships and synergies to drive our industry forward.

Dec 4 - 3pm to 5pm

​In this hands-on workshop, we'll walk through the process of building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for an AI startup from the grounds up. As a founder, you'll gain the clarity and tools needed to define your AI product's core features, validate your idea, and decide on the right tech stack.

Online Workshop: Tax Strategies For Founders

Dec 5 - 3pm to 4pm

​Join Anh Quynh Nguyen, Managing Director and CFO + Tax Strategist at First Tax Service, Inc., for a powerful online workshop designed specifically for early-stage founders looking to scale their businesses. With over 12 years of experience helping eCommerce businesses grow, Anh Quynh will guide you through practical strategies to improve your profitability and tax efficiency.

Dec 5 - 6pm - 9pm

We’re hosting an exclusive dinner for funded AI founders at a beautiful Cow-hollow mansion, co-hosted by Mariane Bekker from Founders Bay, and TheAgentic. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet fellow AI founders and investors and learn about the cutting-edge technologies being developed in the AI space.

Join our Founders Community

🚀 Elevate Your Access with A Membership Tiers!

Price: $15/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.

  • Free Access To Workshops: Get access to all Founders Bay Online Startups Workshops For Free

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

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

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

Price: $99/month

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

  • EVERYTHING IN ALL ACCESS +

  • Free Access To Monthly Founders Dinner: Get access to all Founders Bay In-Person Events For Free

  • Free Monthly Demo Table: Show your startup at 1 monthly event of your choosing

  • Monthly 1x1 Consultation: Benefit from a complimentary personalized monthly startup coaching session with Mariane Bekker (fundraising, technical advice, branding).

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

  • Connect with me on LinkedIn and Instagram for exclusive insights and content about startups, investments, and diversity. Let’s grow together!

  • Want to add your event to the list? Submit it here.

🗓️ Monday, Nov 25

👉 AI Investors & Networking
⏰ 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
📍 Palo Alto
💬 We are Open Future Forum. We are leaders, investors, founders, and engineers based in the Bay Area CA. Details: Networking, Drinks, and AI and ChatGPT conversations. Come and meet featured investors.

👉 🟡 AI + Crypto Networking w/ Akshaj & G.E.H🏝️
⏰ 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join us for an exclusive opportunity to network with industry leaders at the intersection of AI and Crypto! 🚀 This event brings together G.E.H🏝️ and Akshaj to explore cutting-edge advancements and insights in AI, cryptocurrency, and more. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and innovate with professionals shaping the future of technology.

👉 Exclusive Health Tech Dinner Party @ Draper University
⏰ 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 San Mateo
💬 Connect in an intimate setting with like-minded founders who build great healthcare products. Pitch to active investors within the HealthTech sector and get strong feedback. Build new partnerships and synergies to drive our industry forward.

👉 SF Founders Brew Mixer
⏰ 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 San Francisco
💬 We are bringing together some of the most ambitious people in San Francisco. Give a quick intro about what you're working on, meet other people, and cool down with some of the best drinks in the city! No entry fees, no corporate agenda, just vibes. The perfect way to end Monday night. Look forward to seeing you there!

🗓️ Tuesday, Nov 26

👉 Founders Run & Coffee!
⏰ 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
📍 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. This event is free & open to everyone – Founders Common members, guests & brand new friends!

👉 Silicon Valley Meets MENA: Exploring Innovation Opportunities in Collaboration with TechWadi
⏰ 4:30 PM - 7:45 PM
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join us for an exclusive evening that brings together the best of Silicon Valley and the MENA region to explore groundbreaking innovations and exciting opportunities at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and investment. This event will highlight how AI and DeepTech are driving transformation across industries, from advanced technologies to next-generation solutions, shaping the future of business, research, and human interaction. Whether you are a startup founder, investor, or industry professional, this event will provide valuable insights into the latest trends, breakthroughs, and opportunities within the rapidly evolving AI and DeepTech sectors.

👉 Fundraising Ready Workshop by Women in AI Club
⏰ 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Online
💬 Join the Women in AI Club for an engaging workshop designed to empower AI entrepreneurs and aspiring founders. This event combines insights on becoming “fundraising ready” with opportunities to meet founders and learn how to build strong, productive partnerships. Collaborate with industry experts, VCs, and fellow AI enthusiasts as we support those shaping the future of AI.

👉 Invite-only AI/ML Deep-Tech Founders and VC Meetup
⏰ 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Our goal is to bring together AI/ML deep-tech researchers from both academic and industry backgrounds, as well as VCs interested in the deep-tech domain. This event fosters collaboration and networking among these diverse groups, facilitating the exchange of ideas and the formation of new partnerships.

👉 GenAI Master Class: From Prototypes To Production Series – Pt 2: Evaluate and Productionize AI Systems
⏰ 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 San Francisco
💬 Every company sees the potential of GenAI, but most teams hit a wall when turning it into scalable, production-ready applications. This series of master classes will equip you with the practical skills to build and deploy GenAI solutions that deliver real impact.

👉 Bridging Minds and Machines: The Future of AI in Robotics and Wearable
⏰ 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Menlo Park
💬 Join us for an exclusive evening that dives deep into the exciting intersection of artificial intelligence and next-generation hardware! 🌐🤖 Our event features two dynamic fireside chats 🔥, each focused on recent developments in AI-powered humanoid robotics and a new wave of AI-driven wearable and portable devices. Both sessions will emphasize the transformative role of open-source technology in these fields. 💡

👉 DevsGiving
⏰ 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate the spirit of giving, sharing—and coding! Welcome to DevsGiving, a developer's Thanksgiving fest hosted at Cloudflare in collaboration with Fiberplane. This event is your chance to explore Cloudflare's latest tech, dive into the HONC stack, and enjoy a festive evening among fellow devs. Plus, if you love geese as much as we do, you're in for a treat! 🪿

🗓️ Wednesday, Nov 27

👉 Foundersgiving BBQ - Founders & Investors Thanksgiving
⏰ 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Menlo Park
💬 Let's celebrate a pre-thanksgiving evening together! We'll benefit from a beautiful mansion in Atherton for a nice evening with BBQ and open bar.

👉 $25K+ MRR or $500K+ Raised Immigrant Founders, Active Investors & Influencers Private Dinner Party
⏰ 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Join us for an intimate, invitation-only gathering of trailblazers who have achieved over $25K+ MRR or raised $500K+ in funding. This is a unique opportunity to connect with influential immigrant founders, investors, and influencers in an exclusive setting.

🗓️ Thursday, Nov 28

👉 Thanksgiving Founders Dinner at Mission Dolores Manor 🦃
⏰ 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join the MDM community for a Thanksgiving celebration where tech meets tradition! We're bringing founders and innovators together for an evening of great food, meaningful connections, and gratitude.
What to Expect:

  • Traditional Thanksgiving mains prepared by your MDM hosts

  • Community-style dining with fellow founders and tech innovators

  • Casual networking in our welcoming community space

🗓️ Friday, Nov 29

👉 Silicon Valley >< Capetown Bridge Event (SV Panel)
⏰ 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Online
💬 🚀 Join the official Global Entrepreneurs Hub | Capetown Launch Event! Kicking off our series of Silicon Valley >< Capetown Bridge Events. This hybrid event will feature a virtual Silicon Valley-based panel of active investors, exited founders, operators, and influencers delivered to our in-person startup community in Cape Town, South Africa! Experience top minds from Silicon Valley, meet fellow local founders, and explore growth potential and how we're connecting the world's leading tech hubs 🌐

👉 Give Thanks Festival 2024
⏰ 9:00 PM - 11:30 PM
📍 San Francisco
💬 Thanksgiving weekend concert: Kaskade, Slander, ARMNHMR

🗓️ Saturday, Nov 30

👉 Founders Running Club :: San Francisco
⏰ 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
📍 San Francisco
💬 Founders Running Club (FRC) brings founders, investors, tech, creative people, and startup enthusiasts together for weekly easy runs and networking. We like to be comfortable when we run and finish with coffee and conversations. Choose your pace or follow a pacer—pets, friends, family are welcome.

👉 Consumer App Founders Dinner Party 🎉
⏰ 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 San Francisco
💬 We rented a whole house in SF 🌉 to celebrate the Consumer Tech ecosystem in the Valley; founders, active investors, influencers & industry operators. Connect with players shaping the future of social technology with this highly curated event ⭐.

👉 Give Thanks Festival 2024
⏰ 9:00 PM - 11:30 PM
📍 San Francisco
💬 Thanksgiving weekend concert: Kaskade, Slander, ARMNHMR

🗓️ Sunday, Dec 1

👉 Weekly Reading Hour
⏰ 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
📍 San Francisco
💬 If you’re looking to stay accountable to your reading goals, connect with other readers, or simply take a break with a good book and a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, join us for this weekly session in the City! Enjoy quiet reading time among fellow book readers. You can read our book of the month, or bring your own book or just pick one from Manny’s bookshelf—no pressure to read any specific title unless you want to!

How I Grew My LinkedIn Following from 2K to 15K in One Year

1. Define Your Purpose and Mission

Your purpose is the foundation of your personal brand. Ask yourself: What drives you? What do you want to be known for?
For me, my mission was clear: to make the tech industry more inclusive. I focused on empowering women in tech, sharing resources, and amplifying voices in my community. A clear mission makes it easier for people to connect with you and your message.

Building a strong personal brand doesn’t happen overnight, but with these six steps, you can grow your audience, establish credibility, and open doors to new opportunities.

If you’re ready to take your personal brand to the next level, I’d love to help. You can book time with me [here] to learn more! 🚀

If you’re ready to take your personal brand to the next level, I’d love to help. Book a time with me to optimize your profile and set up a content strategy, you can book time with me here OR subscribe to a Premium Plan and get a FREE Online Branding Session.

The Week 10 Biggest Funding Rounds

1. xAI

💻 Sector: Artificial Intelligence
💬 Details:

  • Raised $5 billion in a funding round, valuing the company at $50 billion.

  • Investors include Qatar Investment Authority, Valor Equity Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, and Sequoia Capital.

  • Notable for being the second-most-valuable generative AI company after OpenAI.

  • Previous funding: $6 billion round valued xAI at $24 billion post-money.

2. Anthropic

💻 Sector: Artificial Intelligence
💬 Details:

  • Amazon invested an additional $4 billion in the company.

  • Total Amazon investment to date: $8 billion, retaining a minority stake.

  • Partnership with AWS for cloud services and AI hardware.

  • Known for its AI assistant, Claude.

3. LogicMonitor

💻 Sector: IT Management
💬 Details:

  • Secured $800 million in equity and debt financing.

  • Investor consortium includes PSG Equity, Golub Capital, and others.

  • Minority stake sold by Vista Equity Partners.

  • Current valuation: $2.4 billion.

4. Cyera

🔒 Sector: Cybersecurity
💬 Details:

  • Closed a $300 million Series D round led by Accel and Sapphire Ventures.

  • Current valuation: $3 billion.

  • Offers an AI-powered data security platform.

  • Total funding raised: $760 million since its founding in 2021.

5. Kong

💻 Sector: Enterprise Software
💬 Details:

  • Raised $175 million in a Series E led by Tiger Global and Balderton Capital.

  • Current valuation: $2 billion.

  • Focuses on cloud API technologies for managing API growth.

  • Total funding raised: $345 million.

6. Enveda Biosciences

💻 Sector: Biotech
💬 Details:

  • Raised $130 million in a Series C round led by FPV Ventures and Kinnevik.

  • Utilizes AI tools to discover molecules from living organisms for medicine development.

  • Founded in 2019, total funding raised: $360 million.

7. Cresta

💻 Sector: Customer Service
💬 Details:

  • Secured $125 million in a Series D led by Qatar Investment Authority and World Innovation Lab.

  • Offers AI-powered insights for contact centers to enhance agent performance and automate tasks.

  • Founded in 2017, total funding raised: $270 million.

8. Enfabrica

💻 Sector: Semiconductor
💬 Details:

  • Raised $115 million in a Series C led by Spark Capital.

  • New investors include Arm Holdings and Cisco Investments.

  • Focuses on AI networking chips, including its upcoming ACF SuperNIC chip.

  • Total funding raised: $240 million.

9. League One Volleyball

💻 Sector: Sports
💬 Details:

  • Raised $100 million in a funding round led by Atwater Capital.

  • Plans to launch a professional volleyball league next year.

  • Founded in 2019, total funding raised: $160 million.

10. Spectro Cloud

💻 Sector: Enterprise Software
💬 Details:

  • Completed a $75 million Series C round led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives.

  • Provides tools to deploy and manage Kubernetes in production environments.

  • Founded in 2019, total funding raised: $143 million.

11. Wonder

💻 Sector: Food Delivery
💬 Details:

  • Raised $250 million as part of a $650 million acquisition of Grubhub.

  • Funds came exclusively from new investors (names undisclosed).

  • Grubhub's valuation significantly decreased from its $7.3 billion acquisition in 2021.

  • Wonder's total funding raised: Nearly $1.9 billion since its founding in 2018.

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.