Hi Friends,

Here are a few of our events happening this week:

Not a VIP yet? You’re missing out on:

✓ Monthly Investor Dinners
✓ Weekly Expert Office Hours
✓ Private WhatsApp Community of Founders & VCs

👉 Join Founders Bay VIP today and unlock all-access.

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

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

Wednesday, July 2 - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM​

​Join us for a laid-back evening of networking, drinks, and great conversations! Whether you're a startup founder looking for funding, a VC seeking the next big idea, or just someone passionate about innovation, this event is for you.

Wednesday, July 2 - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM​

Mailmodo and Silicon Valley Bank are hosting the second episode of Founder-led-GTM sessions. Come to meet other founders who are scaling their startups, learn from experts on how to use Linkedin, Reddit and Founder's personal brand to grow the company and enjoy pizza and close-group networking.

Tuesday, July 8 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Join us for a hands-on virtual workshop where we’ll show you how to fully optimize your AI development stack so you can build smarter and faster. Whether you're working solo or leading a team, you’ll learn the tools, systems, and shortcuts top founders are using to speed up development without burning out.

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

​Join us for a workshop designed to help early-stage founders avoid common pitfalls and learn how to navigate the challenges of building a startup. This session will focus on the top five mistakes founders often make and provide practical solutions to overcome them. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this workshop will give you valuable insights to ensure your startup’s success.

Wednesday, July 9 - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM​

​​We’re hosting an exclusive breakfast at FOCUS Innovation Studio, co-hosted by Mariane Bekker and Kristopher Floyd from Founders Bay.

​​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.

Thursday, July 10 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​The relationship we have to our business can bring up a lot of the same patterns as our romantic relationships - and how we handle it all determines our success. Dr. Jessica is both a tech founder herself and a relationship coach. Here, we will look at the unconscious patterns that play out in your relationships. Stop sabotaging your success and use a simple, time-tested framework to reveal your relational blind spots and walk yourself back to a centered, grounded, wise self.

Tuesday, July 10 - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Technological innovation—particularly in robotics—is transforming industries at an unprecedented rate. Staying ahead of these changes isn't just advantageous; it's critical for your future relevance and success.

​At the FUTURECRAFT 2035 Robotics Showcase, we're making cutting-edge strategic foresight accessible to everyone. Strategic foresight is a structured approach to exploring future scenarios, identifying emerging trends, and preparing proactively for disruption.

Tuesday, July 22 - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​​Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: 2-Hour Block Legal Advice is a chance for startup founders to get direct legal guidance from an experienced professional. Led by Jessica North (Jorrie), Partner at Perkins Coie LLP, this session is perfect for founders seeking clarity on legal matters. Jessica specializes in advising emerging companies, venture capital funds, and private equity investors, making her a valuable resource for startups at any stage.

Saturday, July 26 - 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM

​Celebrate under the black lights as your body becomes a canvas of electric neon colors! It’s DJ David Carvalho’s birthday bash, and he’s spinning the hottest beats alongside two surprise guest DJs you won’t want to miss.

August 20 until August 21 - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Join us for cutting-edge talks, networking, and exclusive savings.

We’re excited to announce our partnership with Step San Francisco 2025 - where the world’s most ambitious founders, investors, and tech leaders come together in the heart of Silicon Valley.

This is your invitation to join us on 20-21 August for a two-day high-energy tech festival spotlighting the latest in AI, deep tech, GenAI, and global scaling. Expect inspiring talks, hands-on sessions, and unbeatable networking opportunities.

We’re thrilled to offer you an exclusive 20% discount on tickets! Just use the code FOUNDERSBAY at checkout.

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 - Max Out Your AI Dev Stack, Build 5x Faster, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Top Five Mistakes & Solutions for Early Founders, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Relational Success for Founders

Subscribe To VIP Access, get all the workshops above for free and get free tickets to: Founders & VC Happy Hour @ STAK Space, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Top Five Mistakes & Solutions for Early Founders, FUTURECRAFT 2035 – Showcase + Afterparty, FUTURECRAFT 2035 – Showcase + Afterparty, Brazilian Neon Body Paint Party

👉 Open Future Forum Co-working - Wait List (10AM-11AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join the WAIT LIST to get an office in the Open Future Forum Co-working. A growing hub for founders and builders seeking flexible and focused workspaces. This is your chance to join a curated community in a collaborative setting.

👉 Prompt Engineers Society: Cafe Chill 🍵 (4:30PM-5:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Interested in vibe coding? Agentic AI? All the AI buzz words? Join fellow AI builders for a cozy, casual chat over matcha. This is a chill meetup for swapping ideas, side projects, and AI theories.

👉 WorkTech Startup Pitch Night with Qlay and Startup Intros (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Learn how AI is applied in WorkTech—hear from startups transforming the workplace. Founders pitch their innovations, connect with investors, and receive live feedback. If you're shaping the future of work, this is where you want to be.

👉 AGI Builders Meetup SF w/ Langflow (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore multi-agent systems and practical GenAI workflows with builders and devs. Hands-on demos and talks from leaders in applied AI agent development. Ideal for those who want to go beyond theory and build real systems.

👉 Summer BioSocial in Women's Health (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Cocktails and cutting-edge biotech meet in this women’s health-focused mixer. Network with biotech professionals, founders, and scientists in a relaxed setting. Hosted by Stanford Biotech Group and Opal Therapeutics at MBC Biolabs.

👉 Mixture of Experts (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Meet AI founders and hear lightning talks from builders of the future. From Thinking Machines to Yutori, discover what's happening behind the scenes. A casual but high-signal gathering for serious AI builders.

👉 FC SF • Founders Run & Coffee! (7AM-9AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Run with founders, operators & creatives—then grab coffee after. Start your day strong with endorphins and meaningful new connections. This weekly tradition keeps the founder energy flowing.

👉 Great Big Game Show BOGO Tuesday! (8AM-11:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Buy One, Get One Free tickets—live your game show dreams all day long. A full-day experience of audience fun, trivia, and game show energy. Bring a friend and double the fun with the BOGO code!

👉 The World is Broken. Let's Fix It. (4:30PM-5:30PM)
📍 Mountain View
💬 Joe Lonsdale talks startups, frontier tech, and building boldly in a fireside chat. Learn from a tech visionary who’s built Palantir and backed the future. For builders ready to solve big problems, this is a must-attend.

👉 TRAVEL BUSINESS SECRETS REVEALED (5PM-6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Discover how to enter the travel business and build generational wealth. Learn from entrepreneurs with global reach and exclusive partnerships. This is your chance to pivot into freedom and legacy.

👉 AI Founders Squid Game Watch Party - Inception Studio x Hanwha (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Watch Squid Game with AI founders and investors at this special screening. More than just TV—it's a fun gathering of future-shaping technologists. Come for the show, stay for the connections.

👉 EdgeAI and On-Device ML Developer Networking (5:30PM-7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Meet devs building AI that runs locally—fast, secure, and efficient. Focused on LLMs and edge AI, this is where hardware meets intelligence. Learn how General Lithium is enabling the next wave of smart devices.

👉 Game Night at Homebrew Club - Card Games Edition! (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Chill out with Web3, AI, and tech folks over classic card games. A perfect way to unwind, build friendships, and maybe find collaborators. No pitch decks—just pure fun and conversation.

👉 AI Agents UI + Eval + Scale | AI Show and Tell (6PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Monthly showcase of AI agent projects, tools, and evaluation techniques. Meet other builders and explore what’s next in agentic user experiences. Held at GitHub HQ with snacks, drinks, and brainy demos.

👉 AI Floor Bi-Monthly Meetup @ Frontier Tower! (6:30PM-7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Community gathering to share AI projects and goals at the AI Floor. Shape what’s next through discussion, collaboration, and peer feedback. Ideal for early-stage projects and team builders.

👉 How AI Can Drive Success in Private Equity (5PM-8:30PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Explore how AI can boost efficiency, value creation, and deal execution in PE. An exclusive roundtable for leaders integrating AI into private capital. Expect insights, strategy, and high-level networking.

👉 Founders & VC Happy Hour @ STAK Space (5PM-8PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Oakland
💬 A chill evening to connect with VCs, founders, and innovators. Great convos, no pressure, and a vibe-focused setting to form real connections. Come for the drinks, stay for the ideas.

👉 Xpander AI AgentOps Workshop (5PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Learn to deploy your coding agents to the cloud with A2A orchestration. From sandboxing to secure backends, this is hands-on infrastructure work. Perfect for builders ready to scale their AI tools.

👉 Founder-led-GTM 2 (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Go-to-market strategy for AI & SaaS startups with GTM Unbound and SVB. Focused on real-world advice from startup leaders and GTM experts. Grow smarter, scale faster, and connect with peers.

👉 AI For Designers #26 (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Learn from leading designers using AI to revolutionize creativity. Talks, tools, and networking for those at the intersection of tech + design. Stay ahead of the curve with insights from the design frontier.

👉 Blockchain and Business Networking (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Meet blockchain pros, investors, and enthusiasts in a high-energy mixer. An open space to elevate your career and dive into web3 ecosystems. From crypto-curious to committed, all are welcome.

👉 🧠 The Thought Experiment Lab [public] (6:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Dive into wild thought experiments and philosophical what-ifs with others. A cerebral gathering to stretch your mind and question assumptions. Great for thinkers, tinkerers, and idea explorers.

👉 Food Tour & Tech :: Pizza Tasting (6:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Combine food and networking on a pizza tour with other tech professionals. Connect through taste and talk as you support local businesses. Yes, it’s a literal slice of tech community life.

👉 Survival of the Smartest: Evolutionary AI for Social Good (7PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Discover how evolutionary algorithms are being used to solve global problems. From games to climate change, see AI learning from biology in action. A thoughtful, inspiring session led by UN collaborator Daniel Young.

👉 12 (scrappy) AI Founders Talking First Customers (5PM-7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Hear from 12 early-stage AI founders about their wins and struggles finding first users. This honest, small-group session dives into real talk on customer acquisition and early traction.

👉 AI Meetup — Santa Cruz (6PM-8PM)
📍 Santa Cruz
💬 A relaxed gathering in downtown Santa Cruz to talk all things AI—no experience required. Meet locals building and exploring the future of artificial intelligence in everyday life.

👉 MOSA's July Supper Club (7/3) (6:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 An intimate, ticketed dinner party with a Michelin-trained chef and hyper-local ingredients. Enjoy fine food and meaningful conversation in a cozy, curated setting.

👉 Music City Pro Jam – Free Entry! (7PM-10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A lively open mic night where seasoned and rising musicians jam together. Come perform or vibe with the crowd in a high-energy musical celebration.

👉 Digital Marketing: Strategies in the Times of AI (7PM-8PM)
📍 Online
💬 Learn how AI is reshaping digital marketing in this live workshop. Discover updated tools and tactics for content, leads, and organic growth in the age of algorithms.

👉 AI Agent Founders Gatherings (4PM-6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A small, focused meetup for AI founders to have real conversations that matter. Share challenges, visions, and opportunities with peers who understand your journey.

👉 Ai, B2B, SaaS Founders 「The Mixer」 (4PM-6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 For B2B, SaaS, and AI startup founders looking for genuine peer support. Expect meaningful discussions, strategic insight, and strong founder energy—not just handshakes.

👉 Tech Start Up Founders Gatherings (READ Description) (4PM-6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A heartfelt gathering for tech founders to connect deeply and share the real stories behind startup life. Created by a founder, for founders who need community and connection.

👉 San Francisco Tech & Finance Networking Event (7PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A vibrant networking night exploring the intersection of technology and finance. Connect with investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators shaping tomorrow’s business landscape.

👉 Monthly (Inter)National Politics Club @ Manny's (10:30AM–12PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A nonpartisan group for thoughtful conversation on national and global politics. Meet others seeking civil dialogue and ways to take meaningful action.

👉 ICONS UNCOVERED: Rare, Raw Photos of Punk and Rock Legends — Final Weeks! (2PM–5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore rare photos of Bowie, Debbie Harry, and more at this legendary exhibit by Leee Black Childers. It’s your last chance to view or purchase these never-before-seen rock ‘n roll moments.

👉 Gamelan Sekar Jaya at YBG Festival (2PM–3:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Witness Balinese music and dance at its finest with a 35-member ensemble and shadow puppetry. A cultural performance blending ancient tradition with fresh Bay Area artistry.

👉 Startup Intro to VC: Connect with Investors in San Francisco and Beyond (7PM–8PM)
📍 Online
💬 Learn the basics of venture capital and how to pitch your startup effectively. This online workshop includes practical guidance and a bonus list of 20,000+ investor contacts.

👉 Ocean Beach Jam Sesh & Bonfire (7PM–10:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Bring an instrument, snack, or just good vibes to this community jam by the fire. A relaxed evening with music, games, and sunset at Ocean Beach.

👉 Dinner with Entrepreneurs | Visiting San Francisco (8PM–10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Designed for travelers and locals alike, this micro-event brings together entrepreneurs for intimate dinners. Just 5 seats available per meal—connect deeply while supporting SF restaurants.

👉 Lizard Moon: Monthly Neighborhood Reflection Jam [public] (5PM–7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A monthly journaling and storytelling circle to reflect, share, and connect with your neighbors. Guided prompts help explore personal growth and community in a peaceful setting.

🧠 Future-Proof Your Business with AI – Highlights from Our Founders Bay Virtual Workshop

Startups and scaling companies gathered for our latest Founders Bay Virtual Workshop, hosted by Cindy-Anne Lewis and the team at Rethink Consulting, to explore one powerful question:

👉 How can AI help us grow smarter—not just faster?

🔹 AI Is No Longer Optional
Investors expect it. Customers use it. If you’re not integrating AI into your product or operations, you risk being left behind. Whether you’re early stage or Series D, now is the time to embed AI into your strategy.

🔹 AI Can Replace Tasks, Not Strategy
Tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are great for automating tasks—but strategy still needs human experience. The team emphasized: don’t let AI “hallucinate” your roadmap. Use it to scale your insights, not dictate them.

🔹 Tell a Story That Sells
People don’t buy products—they buy stories. Chelsea Rustrum shared the power of aligning your message across your website, investor pitch, and customer touchpoints. A strong story builds trust and drives organic growth.

🔹 Build Loops, Not Funnels
Funnels are linear. Growth engines are circular. By building feedback loops—like content that drives engagement, referrals, and insights—you create compounding growth, not just one-off conversions.

🔹 Custom AI = Competitive Edge
Off-the-shelf tools are a great start. But for real differentiation, you may need custom-built AI systems tailored to your data, market, and customers. Andy and the tech team showed examples like AI-powered lead gen and smart hiring filters.

🔹 Partnerships Are Shortcuts
Want to scale faster? Don’t go it alone. Strategic partnerships give you instant access to new markets, trusted distribution, and shared costs.

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.