Hi Friends,

A huge thank you to everyone who came out last night to the Brazilian Neon Party — we had a packed house with 400+ founders, artists, and creators dancing all night under neon lights. The energy was unreal. 💃🕺✨

And today, we’re keeping the celebration going…

Happy Birthday David Carvalho!

David isn’t just our resident DJ who lights up the main stage - he’s also the creative force behind so many our events including the Gigaparty!

Here are a few of our events happening next week:

BECOME A FOUNDERS BAY MEMBER AND ACCESS ALL THE ABOVE FOR FREE

Not a Founders Bay Member yet? You’re missing out on:

✓ Private Whatsapp Founder & VC Channel
✓ Free Access to All Our Workshops and Recordings
✓ Monthly Investor Breakfasts and Dinners
✓ Weekly Expert Office Hours including with Mariane Bekker, Kristopher Floyd, Legal and CTO

👉 Join Founders Bay 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

Monday, July 28 - 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM PDT

After hosting pitch battles across 10 cities, we’re bringing the top 11 AI startups from around the world to San Francisco for the AI Ignite Global Finals where they’ll compete for $100,000 in equity-free funding and unlock a network of global support.

Tuesday, July 29 - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

With a background as an investor, engineer, and community leader, I provide personalized support to help startups grow—offering guidance on fundraising, tech development, team building, co-founder matching, hiring top talent, and personal branding to position you for long-term success.

Wednesday, July 30 - 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Hosted by Bad Bitch Empire, Women in AI, Founders Bay, and The Fourth Effect

​Pitch your startup to top women-led communities in tech, AI, and investing for an opportunity to win $20K+ in investment, mentorship, and additional prizes to help you grow your business. 

Thursday, July 31 - 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM

​Women Who Lead: Branding & Fundraising Insights is a vibrant evening of connection, learning, and inspiration—hosted by Mariane Bekker from Founders Bay. This event brings together ambitious women from across the startup and creative worlds to talk honestly about what it takes to build a standout brand and raise funding with purpose and confidence. 💪

Friday, August 8 - 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..

Wednesday, August 13 - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Hosted by Mariane Bekker and Kristopher Floyd | Sponsored by Intercom

​Get ready for an unforgettable night of vision, innovation, and connection at Founders Bay AI Pitch Night — a gathering of the brightest minds building the future of artificial intelligence. Held at Intercom’s beautiful SF headquarters, this event brings together early-stage AI founders, top VCs, operators, and the wider builder community for an evening of rapid-fire pitches, lively discussion, and real opportunities to connect.

Wednesday, August 20 - 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

​We're kicking off the Step San Francisco with a fun and relaxed opening party hosted by Founders Bay. Join fellow founders, investors, and tech leaders for an evening of good conversation, music, and energy as we celebrate the start of an exciting week. 🎶💬

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 - Relational Success for Founders, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Spotlight Readiness: Pitch with Presence & Poise, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Early People Practices That Scale: Low-Cost, High-Impact HR

Subscribe To VIP Access, get all the workshops above for free and get free tickets to: Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: Startup Advice with Mariane Bekker, Women Who Lead: Branding & Fundraising Insights, Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: Ask a CTO – Tech Guidance for Founders, Exploring Innovation in Sport Tech @ Sports Basement, Founders Bay Breakfast: B2B AI Strategies @ Focus Innovation Studio, Founders Bay AI Pitch Night @ Intercom, Founders Bay Step San Francisco Opening Party

👉 Magic Hour Hackathon: Remix the Future of Sports (9AM–2PM)
📍 Oakland
💬 A 2-day AI + video hackathon exploring the future of interactive sports content. Join developers and creatives to reimagine how we engage with games, athletes, and highlights using generative tools.

👉 Redefining aging & independence using AI (10AM–12PM)
📍 Los Altos
💬 Explore how AI can support seniors and caregivers in creating more connected, independent lives. This conversation is ideal for families, technologists, and anyone interested in ethical aging tech.

👉 STAK VENTURES: VIP Lunch & Learn (12PM–3PM)
📍 Oakland
💬 Meet powerhouse investors Isabelle Johannessen and Alicia Castillo Holley as they share insights on early-stage funding, women in venture, and global startup trends. Perfect for founders and investors seeking sharp strategy and powerful networks.

👉 Q2 / Q3 '25 Product Roadmap Review session (1PM–2PM)
📍 Online
💬 beehiiv CEO Tyler Denk walks through product updates, new features, and what’s next. An interactive session for power users to give feedback and help shape the roadmap.

👉 Datamellon AI Ignite Global Finals – San Francisco (2PM–6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Watch top AI startups from 10 cities compete for $100K equity-free funding in the global finals. These founders are working on cutting-edge solutions from biometrics to African language AI.

👉 LLM Orchestration — The Next Big Wave? (4PM–7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Learn how companies like Cursor and Lovable are tapping into LLM orchestration to drive next-gen AI value. This hands-on workshop is great for non-technical founders and VCs tracking frontier trends.

👉 AI Startup Pitch Night with Qlay, Startup Intros & Context VC (5PM–8PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Connect with top-tier AI startup founders, investors, and partners in a high-energy pitch night. Founders will present, get feedback, and make meaningful connections in a collaborative space.

👉 Builders Workshop: Real-time AI Voice Agents (5PM–7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A hands-on technical workshop teaching how to build a real-time AI voice agent from scratch. Great for engineers and builders looking to deploy working code into production.

👉 Building AI agents using AI agents (6PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Learn how the 14.ai team builds stable LLM-powered tools using frameworks like Effect and Claude. Get a candid look at trade-offs, architecture decisions, and scaling without bloating the team.

👉 Serendipity - Founders' Dinner (6:30PM–8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A curated dinner gathering for founders to swap hard-earned lessons on product, growth, and leadership. No pitches—just raw insights and high-value connection.

👉 Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: Startup Advice with Mariane Bekker (10AM–12PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
💬 Book 1:1 time to get tailored advice from Mariane Bekker on fundraising, tech stack, hiring, and more. Ideal for early-stage founders looking for focused, actionable support from someone who's been on all sides of the table.

👉 Bay Area Gen AI & AI Agent Builders Meetup (3:30PM–5PM)
📍 Redwood City
💬 Join engineers and AI enthusiasts exploring how GenAI and agents are solving real-world challenges. Expect demos, discussion, and networking in a hands-on, collaborative environment.

👉 You’re invited: AI and 3D Tech Happy Hour (4PM–6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Learn how AI and 3D tech are transforming design workflows, sales, and project execution. A relaxed happy hour hosted by Houzz Pro for remodelers and tech-forward designers.

👉 localhost SFO: Platform Engineering Meetup (5PM–7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Dive deep into DevOps, backend stacks, and platform engineering quirks with the ngrok team. It’s for engineers who love control, clever solutions, and community learning.

👉 🚨 Demo Night @ AWS (5PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Catch live demos from emerging AI startups and help vote on the night's top tech. A community-driven evening at AWS GenAI Loft to celebrate innovation and builder spirit.

👉 StartSe Meetup: AI Startup Night (5:30PM–8PM)
📍 Mountain View
💬 A global AI startup gathering with fireside chats, live demos, and intentional networking. Meet founders and tech leaders from across industries for an inspiring evening.

👉 AI Networking Showcase: Agentic AI in Pharma Manufacturing Excellence (6:30PM–8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Discover how AI is driving real ROI in pharma—$10M in under 12 months—through agentic automation. Hosted by Katalyze AI, this event showcases success stories, strategy, and networking.

👉 SmartHome Solutions and AI in Real Estate (3AM–7AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore the future of smart living as AI transforms how we buy, sell, and live in homes. Gain insights and connect with innovators at the cutting edge of real estate tech.

👉 AI Agents + Full Stack Demo Night @Convex (5:30AM–8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Dive into AI Agents and full-stack development with hands-on demos, technical talks, and networking. Learn how developers are building next-gen tools for smarter systems.

👉 Turning Agreement Management into a Strategic Advantage with AI (9AM–10AM)
📍 Online
💬 Hear from Deloitte and Docusign leaders on how AI-powered agreement tools improve business agility and efficiency. Discover actionable strategies to reduce delays and unlock new value.

👉 What’s the Net Impact of Your AI Startup? (12PM–1:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Understand how to assess the full impact of your AI startup beyond just revenue. This interactive session explores sustainability, ethics, and long-term value creation.

👉 Female Founder Pitch Showcase (4PM–5:30PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
💬 Celebrate and support early-stage female tech founders as they pitch bold, innovative startups. Connect with investors and ecosystem builders championing women in AI.

👉 AI Agents and Open Source: Exploring MCP and Beyond (5PM–8PM)
📍 Santa Clara
💬 Learn how open-source tools and model context protocols (MCPs) are reshaping AI agent development. Perfect for devs and researchers focused on practical applications of autonomous systems.

👉 DataDrivenPharma Evening Forum at Merck (5PM–8:45PM)
📍 South San Francisco
💬 Connect with pharma data science leaders solving real-world problems with computational biology and AI. Gain insights into cutting-edge drug discovery and biotech analytics.

👉 MCP Builders Summit Hosted by Featureform and Silicon Valley Bank (5PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 See live demos of long-lived memory and infrastructure for agentic systems using MCP. Network with founders, investors, and engineers accelerating AI deployment.

👉 👾 Trivia & Game Night with Metronome, Cloudflare, and Replicate (5:30PM–9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Unwind with trivia, video games, and big prizes at a fun-filled night hosted by top AI companies. A perfect mix of play and tech networking.

👉 📊 AI BENCHMARK CLUB (5:30PM–7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A technical gathering for engineers and researchers working on performance, latency, and accuracy in AI. Share benchmark data and optimization strategies in a hands-on setting.

👉 LIGHT DAO SALON: AI & the Rise of the NeoRenaissance Stack (6PM–9PM)

📍 San Francisco

🎨 Explore how AI is sparking a creative revolution across music, art, culture, and work. This intimate salon brings together technologists, artists, and founders to discuss the emerging NeoRenaissance Stack and the future of human expression.

👉 🧠 The AI Collective SF – SF Newcomer Night (6PM–8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A welcoming event for new interns, grads, and recent arrivals to the SF tech scene. Featuring demo showcases and casual networking with future collaborators.

👉 Support Sushi & Matcha Night: Prompting for Support Agents (6PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A chill, invite-only night to discuss the chaos and craft of AI customer support over sushi and matcha. Small group format fosters candid conversation and connection.

👉 Supper-vised Learning (6:30PM–9:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 An intimate dinner for AI engineers to talk shop—tech stacks, production pain points, and what’s next. Hosted by leaders from Eve and Canaan Ventures.

👉 Voice AI Builders Meetup (6:30PM–9:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Discuss the bleeding edge of open-source voice AI with the builders making it real. Swap ideas and challenges in a collaborative, technical setting.

👉 Avoiding the Age of Ultron: Empathy, Antisociality, and AI (7PM–9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A thought-provoking talk on machine ethics, empathy, and how to design emotionally intelligent AI. Led by cognitive neuroscientist Roshni at the intersection of ethics and neuroscience.

👉 Tech Networking Event by Startup Valley in San Francisco (7PM–10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Pitch your startup, meet fellow tech founders, and connect with VCs at this high-energy networking night. Ideal for those looking to grow in the tech and venture space.

👉 AI & Tech Networking in San Francisco (7PM–10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Monthly networking mixer for AI builders, entrepreneurs, and investors. Share your vision, find collaborators, and learn from peers in a relaxed setting.

👉 DevGuild: Founder Fundamentals (1PM–7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore the raw, behind-the-scenes journey of technical founders as they evolve from builders to company leaders. Hear candid insights about identity shifts, leadership challenges, and scaling from those who’ve walked the path.

👉 The Race for Innovation—Engineer & Founder & VC Insights (5:30PM–9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A curated evening of innovation debates, networking, and insights from VCs and AI leaders. Enjoy crafted experiences, win prizes, and explore the tension between Team Human vs. Team AI.

👉 Women Who Lead: Branding & Fundraising Insights (5:30PM–8PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Palo Alto
💬 A powerful gathering for women in tech and entrepreneurship focused on storytelling, brand-building, and funding. Connect with inspiring female leaders and walk away with real tools and confidence to grow your venture.

👉 Hacking Agents AI Meetup – July Edition (5:30PM–8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join fellow AI enthusiasts for a playful, knowledge-packed meetup exploring the frontier of agent-based systems. Light refreshments and curiosity-driven discussion await.

👉 O1/EB1 US Visas AMA for AI Researchers, Founders, and Builders (6PM–8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Immigration experts demystify how top talent in AI can access O-1 and EB-1 visas amid evolving U.S. policy. Learn the practical steps and qualifications to secure your status and stay in the country.

👉 NVIDIA x Schematic: Industrial AI Hackathon (6PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Kick off the official NVIDIA hackathon by exploring cutting-edge industrial AI challenges and tools. Meet potential teammates, learn from experts, and get ready to compete for serious prizes.

👉 Tri-Valley Builders Social (6PM–8PM)
📍 Dublin
💬 A no-pressure social for startup builders, indie hackers, and side project creators in the Tri-Valley area. Swap stories, get inspired, and connect with like-minded technologists over food and drinks.

👉 MCP Server Builder Series – July (6PM–9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A hands-on meetup for developers building with Model Context Protocol (MCP), featuring demos and technical talks. Whether you're new or experienced, you’ll find useful insights and peers pushing the frontier.

👉 From Idea to Traction: Market Development Strategies for Early Stage Startups (6PM–7PM)
📍 Online
💬 Learn how to find product-market fit and gain early traction without wasting time or budget. Led by Zerg AI’s founder, this session unpacks real strategies that help turn ideas into sustainable growth.

👉 AI Founders & Investors Social 🌟 Acorn Pacific Ventures (6PM–9PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 An informal evening to mix and mingle with AI founders and investors in a laid-back setting. Co-hosted by Acorn Pacific and Beta University, it’s ideal for casual connections and future deals.

👉 Cracking Social GTM w/ 12 (Scrappy) Founders (6PM–9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A private roundtable where AI founders share real tactics to win on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Reddit. Hear hacks from pros who’ve scaled user acquisition using unconventional yet powerful methods.

👉 Intro to Vibe Coding: Beyond Logic, Into Flow (7PM–9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Discover how mindset, energy, and emotional state can influence how we write better code. This unconventional talk blends creativity and software engineering to help developers reach flow and elegance.

👉 FirstFridayFair: Global Virtual Career Expo & Networking Event – San Francisco (11AM–2PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Connect with recruiters, coaches, and peers across industries in this structured-yet-casual virtual career fair. Great for jobseekers and career switchers looking for direct access to opportunities.

👉 MLH AI Roadshow: San Francisco (4PM–10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join Google Gemini and MLH for an AI-packed evening of demos, drinks, and dev showcases. Includes talks from DeepMind and hands-on access to next-gen tools.

👉 SF10x Hackathon (5PM–3PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A civic-tech hackathon focused on using AI and modern tools to make SF 10x better. Open to coders, organizers, and anyone excited about urban innovation.

👉 Founder Beach Club: Summer Of Rho 🌅 (6PM–9:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Sunset, fire dancers, live DJs, and BBQ by the beach with a curated group of founders. It’s less pitch, more party—and a rare chance to vibe offline with builders.

👉 San Francisco Tech & Finance Networking Event (7PM–9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A chic evening mixer for professionals in tech and finance seeking deeper connections. Designed to foster authentic relationships and career alignment.

👉 LoveFestSF 2025 (11AM–7PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 San Francisco
💬 A free street party with live DJs, food, and arts, transforming Larkin Street into a culture-rich summer fest. Powered by community orgs and local tech/creative talent.

👉 Project Playground 01 → Fan Club (1PM–5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A creative playground for adults who want to build, paint, and make things together. Kick off a new SF-based community centered on hands-on connection and joyful expression.

👉 Summit on Decentralization & AI 2025 (8:30AM–5:30PM)
📍 Berkeley
💬 UC Berkeley hosts a full-day summit bridging decentralization and AI innovation for public good. Expect academic rigor, startup showcases, and calls for collaboration in research and building.

At our recent Founders Bay Virtual Workshop, startup founders gained powerful clarity on how to market more strategically—with less guesswork. Led by Wendy Louise Wilder, digital strategist and creator of the BASE3 Model, the session helped demystify digital marketing decisions and offered a roadmap for action.

Wendy’s approach? Ditch the noise and focus on measurable, meaningful connection.

🔹 Forget Funnels—Think Flywheels
Traditional lead funnels put customers at the bottom. BASE3 flips that logic. Instead, your happiest customers should be at the center—fueling repeat business and referrals. “The sale isn’t the end—it’s just the beginning,” Wendy explained.

🔹 The BASE3 Model: Three Certainties
BASE3 focuses on three interconnected pillars:

🔹 Segment the Customer Journey
Wendy broke the buyer journey into 5 data-driven stages:

🔹 Google Search Console = Free Gold
If your impressions are under 1,000 over 3 months, your site isn’t showing up. Search Console reveals how visible you are—and where to fix.

🔹 Content Should Match the Moment
Trying to sell to someone still defining their problem? You’ll lose them. Use early-stage content (think blogs, educational posts, future-self visioning) for discovery, and expert explainers for decision-ready leads.

🔹 Not All Social Media Is Equal
Social platforms differ in how they handle links. Use content that aligns with each platform’s behavior—and that attracts your kind of buyer.

🔹 Focus on High-Leverage Channels First
For startups with tight budgets, Wendy recommends:

🔹 Ads: Start Narrow, Then Expand
Running ads? Begin with hyper-specific keywords and tailor landing pages. Never send ad traffic to your homepage. And always retarget those who visit but don’t convert.

🔹 Use QR Codes Strategically at Events
Offline engagement matters too. Use QR codes to create digital “first touches” at live events—so you can nurture those leads after.

This session equipped founders with practical, measurable ways to move beyond spray-and-pray marketing and toward real traction. Stay tuned for more workshops on customer acquisition, relational growth, and founder support.

View the entire workshop video here: