Hi Friends,
I’m still recovering from our massive 2000+ Halloween Block Party that David Carvalho and I co-hosted with the City of San Francisco — you all showed up in full force and completely packed downtown. 💥 Thank you for bringing the energy, the costumes, and the love. Couldn’t have done it without you. 🖤
If you’d like to meet me or David Carvalho this week, we’ll be at our Founders & VC Happy Hour at Stak Ventures, or join me at the Private Dinner with California State Treasurer Fiona Ma at The St. Regis. Come Say Hi!
Here are some events happening this week, and the LinkedIn post about all the events:
[Oakland] Founders & VC Happy Hour @ STAK Ventures
You can now view ALL events here and sign up for a free Founder & VC account to message and discover 300+ VCs.
If we’re not already connected, I’d love to hear from you—please follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram. Let’s connect!
Featured Events
Want us to sponsor an event or partner together? Contact us here
FEATURED EVENTS
Wed, November 5
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Stak Ventures

🎟 Become a VIP Member and attend our private meet & greet with me, David Carvalho, Brian Sparkes, Radu Skutaru, and 10+ investors
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.
Grab a drink, share your journey, and connect with people who can help take your vision to the next level! 🍹
Wed, November 12th
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍 Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP
IF YOU ‘RE AN INVESTOR AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK - REPLY TO THIS EMAIL
🎟 Become a VIP Member and attend for free
Start your morning with a dynamic gathering of founders and investors shaping the future of AI and technology. The VC & Founder Breakfast brings together innovators, builders, and funders for candid conversations over great coffee and an inspiring atmosphere. Whether you’re scaling your next big idea or exploring where to invest next, this breakfast sets the stage for collaboration and breakthrough thinking. 🚀
💎 Membership Has Its Perks
Want guaranteed entry, speaker meet-and-greets, and exclusive lounges?
👉 Join VIP — our full-access experience.
Not ready for VIP? Try our Growth Membership for early event access and member discounts.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Tuesday, November 4th
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join us for an exclusive Founders Bay Expert Office Hours session with Amy Cunha, President and Founder of Big Picture PR. In this session, Amy will share actionable insights on how founders can develop effective go-to-market (GTM) and public relations strategies to elevate their brand presence, attract customers, and build lasting visibility in competitive markets.
Thursday, November 6th
11:00 AM –12:00 PM
In today’s fast-changing, AI-driven world, leaders can’t afford to blend in. This workshop - provided by the team that created executive brands for leaders at Apple, Amazon, Omnicom, Booz Allen Hamilton, and New York City - is designed to help you understand how to align your unique strengths with market opportunities, so you can compete with confidence and position yourself as the voice people trust.
Friday, November 7th
3:00 PM –4:00 PM
Spend an hour with Jessica-Rose Clark — professional mixed martial artist, world champion, and hands-on self-defence coach — as she shares practical tools to help you feel safer and more confident in everyday life. Jessy combines her years of experience in competitive fighting with her passion for teaching to make self-defence approachable and effective for everyone.
FEATURED CONFERENCES
[FOUNDERSBAY35 for 35% off]
Friday, November 7th
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Founders Bay is excited to partner with AI INFRA SUMMIT, the premier gathering for builders, investors, and innovators shaping the future of AI infrastructure.
As a Founders Bay community member, you can save on your ticket using this 35% discount link: 👉 https://luma.com/aiinfra_4?coupon=FOUNDERSBAY35
Connect with top leaders from AMD, Supermicro, WEKA, top NeoClouds, and more as we explore the technologies powering the next wave of AI.
Don’t miss this one-day event packed with insights, networking, and opportunities. Register now — space is limited!
Wed, November 5th
11:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Join us for a hands-on, two-part technical workshop series hosted in partnership with Aerospike where we’ll dive into real-world implementations of graph-based fraud detection and real-time recommendation systems—all powered by the Aerospike Real-Time Data Platform.
Whether you’re building fraud detection systems, real-time personalization engines, or simply need blazing-fast performance and reliability, this workshop is for you.
[FOUNDERSBAY for 20% off]
Wed, Dec 3 - Thur, Dec 4

In an AI-accelerated environment where attention is scarce and trust is scarce, credibility is the new currency. At PR SUMMIT, we decode how media narratives are built, challenged, and scaled—alongside the operators and journalists who set the agenda.
Expect newsroom-style working sessions, not panels as usual: clear language, accountable frameworks, and assets you can deploy in investor memos, board updates, and customer campaigns.
Be in the room where influence becomes infrastructure:
Agenda https://prsummit.us/agenda
Speakers https://prsummit.us/speakers
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Upcoming Events →
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🗓️ Monday, November 3
👉 Fortune Favors the Prepared: AI-powered autonomous suppression drone demonstration (9AM-12:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Witness the future of fire response with Seneca’s AI-driven, American-made autonomous drones. The live demo showcases aerial fire suppression technology and next-gen firefighting software. Followed by an interactive session on autonomous aviation for public safety.
👉 AWS Startups | GenAI in FinTech: KYC/KYB, Finance Assistants & Market Agents w/ AWS Bedrock Agent Core (9:30AM-12PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore how AWS Bedrock and Agent Core are transforming FinTech operations with Generative AI. Learn real-world applications in compliance, finance assistants, and market agents. Hosted by binbash, an AWS Advanced Partner for startups.
👉 Graph Exchange - Reliable Agentic AI -- Open Mic! (4PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join Neo4j and Bay Area AI at GitHub HQ for lightning talks on Reliable AI. Founders can pitch their startups and exchange insights on agentic AI. A rare chance to speak at GitHub’s iconic space before it’s gone!
👉 AI Agent Builders & Users Mixer (4PM-6PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Network with AI agent founders, users, and investors in an open, collaborative setting. Learn from peers, share tools, and discover cutting-edge AI products. A casual, buy-your-own-drink mixer by Open Future Forum.
👉 Trust, Safety & Compliance for AI Agents in Healthcare (5:30PM-7:30PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Join experts from tech, research, and healthcare to discuss safe AI deployment in clinical systems. Explore compliance frameworks and responsible innovation in healthcare AI. Hosted by The Deep-Tech Community.
👉 Towards AGi ~ Qualia Waves & Experiential Intelligence - Open Registration (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Dive into a new paradigm of machine intelligence rooted in perception and experience. This salon explores “Qualia Waves,” a model of experiential cognition beyond data mimicry. Discover a blueprint for truly cognitive AI.
👉 [Vibe-coding] Building Voice Agents With Vapi (6:15PM-7:30PM)
📍 Stanford
💬 Learn to create your own AI voice agent using Vapi’s powerful no-code platform. This hands-on session is perfect for beginners ready to build voice-enabled assistants. Part of the Vibe-Coding series featuring cutting-edge AI tools.
🗓️ Tuesday, November 4
👉 Stripe Startups Build Day SF (9:30AM-4PM)
📍 South San Francisco
💬 Build, connect, and collaborate with the Stripe team in this hands-on workshop for founders. Get 1:1 guidance, work alongside peers, and ship faster. Choose your own adventure and make the most of your startup journey.
👉 Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: Go-To-Market & PR Strategies for Founders (10AM-12PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
💬 Learn practical go-to-market and PR strategies from Amy Cunha, President of Big Picture PR. Discover how to craft powerful brand narratives, attract customers, and secure media coverage. Includes live Q&A for personalized founder insights.
👉 BUILD - The Dev Conference for AI & Apps (12PM-7PM)
📍 Online
💬 Join thousands of builders for Snowflake’s 3-day virtual AI and app development event. Experience product launches, deep dives, and live labs. Whether you’re coding with AI or developing new data apps, BUILD has it all.
👉 Material Security Presents: Lessons on Enterprise Security in Hyper-Growth Environments (4PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Hear from security leaders at OpenAI, Figma, and more on managing security in fast-scaling startups. Learn real-world lessons in enterprise protection amid rapid change. Followed by networking, drinks, and candid discussion under Chatham House rules.
👉 Guided Build Night w/ LiquidMetal AI, Vercel, and Wordware (5PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Build full-stack apps with Liquid Metal Raindrop and deploy instantly with Vercel V0. Learn, hack, and ship alongside Bay Area’s top AI creators. Leave with a working app and hands-on Claude code experience.
👉 SVGENAI Meetup #5 Spooky Halloween Edition: AI Horror Stories (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Jose
💬 Explore real-world AI deployment “horror stories” across industries. Learn from missteps and data challenges faced by enterprise teams. A fun and insightful look into the risks of production AI.
👉 Please join us for reception to support Fiona Ma, CPA for California Lieutenant Governor 2026 (6PM-8PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 San Francisco
💬 Support Fiona Ma’s campaign for California Lieutenant Governor 2026 with VIP guest Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. Enjoy an evening of conversation, networking, and civic engagement. Hosted by Arash Yasrebi, Jasmine Shih, Mariane Bekker, and Amy Lee.
👉 The Plan to End Aging - From the perspective of an Investor: Fireside chat with Omri Drory (6PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join Omri Amirav-Drory, GP at NFX, for an investor’s view on longevity startups. Discuss what makes anti-aging ventures investable and where the science is headed. A deep dive into the business of living longer.
👉 AI Agents Meetup: LangChain + Rippling (6PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join LangChain CEO Harrison Chase and Rippling’s Ankur Bhatt to explore real-world agent deployment. Learn how enterprise teams are using LangGraph-based agents in production. Gain insights into building reliable, observable AI systems.
👉 [Vibe-coding] Building with Gemini and Google AI Studio (Google Deepmind) (6:15PM-7:30PM)
📍 Stanford
💬 Learn to build with Gemini and Google AI Studio tools from the DeepMind team. No coding experience required—just bring your laptop and curiosity. Part of the Vibe-Coding series connecting creative minds with no-code AI.
👉 AI, Energy, and Investment (6:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore how AI is shaping the future of clean energy and investment strategy. Hear from innovators and investors leading this transformation. A powerful intersection of technology, finance, and sustainability.
👉 vibecode jam (6:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A creative coding jam for AI builders and artists using tools like Gizmo and Claude Code. Make, share, and vibe together in a relaxed “drink n draw” style session. Build something cool and connect with the Bay’s creative AI community.
🗓️ Wednesday, November 5
👉 AI Realized Summit 2025 (5AM-3PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A curated, one-day gathering for enterprise executives leading AI deployment at scale. Learn real-world strategies, governance frameworks, and production insights from leaders at top global companies.
👉 The AI x Marketing Summit, Fall 2025 (8:30AM-3PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Discover how AI transforms marketing strategy, automation, and growth. Learn from experts how to balance human creativity with AI-driven scalability.
👉 PITCHMASTER: How To Influence Investors and Win The Market (11AM-11:30AM)
📍 Online
💬 A live 30-minute masterclass on crafting investor-ready communication and fundability. Learn frameworks to pitch with clarity, emotional intelligence, and confidence.
👉 DSS 🌁 SF | Workshop Series: AI-Driven Fraud Detection & Real-Time Personalization at Scale (11AM-2:30PM)
📍 Burlingame
💬 A hands-on workshop exploring graph-based fraud detection and real-time recommendation systems. Dive deep into practical Aerospike-powered AI implementations.
👉 AI Innovators Forum (2PM-5PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 A curated forum for founders, investors, and executives driving AI transformation. Exchange lessons, insights, and strategies reshaping industries today.
👉 Agents on the Rocks: Build & Secure AI Agents Workshop (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Build, test, and secure AI agents while learning hands-on from top developers. Enjoy whiskey tastings, networking, and interactive red teaming exercises.
👉 MCP Connect with Alpic, Stytch, Postman & Ref. (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Dive into Model Context Protocol best practices and AI agent integrations. Connect with developers and researchers shaping the future of agentic workflows.
👉 Voice AI: A Night of Conversation & Networking with OpenAI, LiveKit, Regal and Rime, Hosted by Emergence Capital (5:30PM-7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore how AI is revolutionizing voice technology and customer engagement. Hear insights from OpenAI and industry leaders building intelligent voice systems.
👉 From QA to QI: Quality Intelligence in the Age of Automation (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 An exclusive session on AI-driven software testing and automation innovation. Join engineering leaders to discuss the next wave of intelligent quality systems.
👉 AI founders & executives mixer (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A private networking mixer connecting AI founders and global executives. Expect food, drinks, startup pitches, and high-impact conversations.
👉 MCP Night - Enterprise Themed (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore a visionary 16-floor AI innovation hub blending science, tech, and art. Meet frontier builders shaping the post-singularity future.
👉 Fin x Jam x Vercel: The AI Loop Connecting Support and Engineering (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join Fin, Jam, and Vercel for a fireside chat on bridging customer support and engineering with AI. Learn how collaboration tools turn feedback into innovation.
👉 SF Founders Dinner (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A cozy founders’ dinner at Poesia celebrating connection, community, and collaboration. Enjoy fine food, wine, and authentic networking with fellow innovators.
👉 True Search SF Mixer: AI & Digital Infrastructure (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 An invite-only mixer for AI and digital infrastructure leaders with Asia-focused insights. Connect with executives, investors, and innovators shaping global growth.
👉 [Midas Talk] Building a World Class Early Stage Venture firm w/ Pejman and Mar at Pear VC (6PM-7PM)
📍 Stanford
💬 Hear from top investors Pejman Nozad and Mar Hershenson on building Pear VC. Learn how world-class venture firms identify founders and scale early-stage success.
👉 Founders & VC Happy Hour @ STAK Space (6PM-10PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Oakland
💬 A relaxed evening of drinks, networking, and idea exchange for founders and investors. No agenda—just great people, good vibes, and real connections.
👉 Linear for Agents: Engineering Night (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Experience live demos of Linear’s Agent Platform and integrations from partner teams. Network with developers and explore the next generation of AI productivity.
👉 AI Symposium 2025 (6:30PM-9PM)
📍 Davis
💬 Explore the future of AI through research, neuroscience, and applied innovation. Meet experts and students driving breakthroughs across disciplines.
👉 DSS 🌁 SF | VIP Dinner (6:30PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 An invite-only dinner for enterprise AI and data leaders. Share insights, challenges, and strategies with peers in an intimate setting.
👉 When AI Runs the Economy: What Happens to Work, Business, and Democracy? (6:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A deep discussion on how AI reshapes business, labor, and governance. Examine automation’s real-world impact on economies and democratic systems.
🗓️ Thursday, November 6
👉 AI Innovation Roundtable | Focused on Gemini Deep Research (8:30AM-11AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join a hands-on roundtable with DeepMind experts to explore Gemini Deep Research and its integration into VC and product workflows. Collaborate directly with peers to define the next wave of AI-powered venture innovation.
👉 DSS 🌁 SF: GenAI and Intelligent Agents in the Enterprise (9AM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A full-day experience connecting senior managers, executives, and AI researchers. Expect deep dives into enterprise AI use cases, technical talks, and workshops.
👉 TypeScript AI: The First Conference for TypeScript AI Developers (9:30AM-5:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 The premier event for builders defining the future of AI development in TypeScript. Learn from top teams pioneering end-to-end TypeScript workflows.
👉 A Call To Build (10AM-6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A two-day summit uniting corporate leaders, founders, investors, and innovators shaping the next wave of global entrepreneurship. Expect firesides, networking, and actionable inspiration.
👉 GenAI, Visibility, Benchmarking & Cost Optimization with AWS + nOps (11:30AM-2PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Learn how AWS and nOps optimize GenAI workloads through benchmarking and cost control. Gain practical insights, network with cloud leaders, and see Bedrock in action.
👉 Founders Bay Virtual Workshop: Build Your Executive Brand, Lead with Impact (12PM-1PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
💬 Discover how to position your leadership brand with clarity, authority, and AI-powered storytelling. Learn actionable strategies to amplify visibility and influence in a competitive landscape.
👉 Zenskar CFO Exchange | San Francisco (1PM-5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A private summit for 100+ finance leaders focused on AI-driven transformation. Hear real-world success stories of CFOs using AI to reshape finance operations.
👉 Hardware and Robotics Cohort INNOVIT Demo Day (4PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore cutting-edge robotics and hardware innovation from global founders and investors. Enjoy panels, startup pitches, and an Italian-style aperitivo for networking.
👉 AI Pitch Night hosted by TheAgentic (5PM-8PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Watch top AI founders pitch live to investors and VCs. Gain insights, connections, and inspiration from the next generation of innovators.
👉 Powering Possibility: How AI Transforms the Cybersecurity Landscape (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Jose
💬 Learn how AI is reshaping cybersecurity from data protection to threat detection. Hosted by Cisco and WiCyS, this event blends insight, strategy, and connection.
👉 AI Meets the Real World (5PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A salon exploring Niantic’s spatial AI and Large Geospatial Model technology. Discover how AI bridges digital and physical worlds through real-world applications.
👉 VC Uncoded: Venture Valuations & Fundraising in an AI Driven World (5:15PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join Stanford and Notre Dame founders for a fireside on AI’s role in reshaping venture capital. Network over wine and craft beer with peers leading the next wave of innovation.
👉 TypeScript AI: The Official Conference After-Party (5:30PM-11:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate the close of the TypeScript AI Conference with food, drinks, and music. Connect with fellow developers and unwind with the community.
👉 IEEE x Leonis Capital AI Safety Mixer (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join AI safety experts and researchers for thoughtful discussions over drinks. Hosted by IEEE and Leonis Capital, this mixer explores how to make AI safer and more beneficial.
👉 The ReasonOS Rationale: What Does a Moat Look Like in an AI Native World? (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Discuss building defensible products and real value in the AI era. Enjoy networking, drinks, and insights from top industry leaders.
👉 AI at the Executive Level (6PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A private dinner for executives scaling AI across large organizations. Share real-world lessons and strategies for achieving “AI-native” operations.
👉 Michigan Alumni in SF Meetup (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Connect with Michigan alumni building in AI and tech. Expect great food, lively conversation, and Go Blue energy. 💙💛
👉 🧠 The AI Collective | Beer Garden Bash 🍻 (6PM-7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A fall-themed AI community mixer at the Salesforce Park Beer Garden. Relax, reconnect, and celebrate collaboration in a casual open-air setting.
👉 GenJam SF: Make Your Own AI Music Video with OpenArt! (6PM-10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Create an AI-generated music video in one evening using OpenArt tools. Collaborate with artists, filmmakers, and innovators for a shot at Times Square showcase glory.
👉 The Future of the QA Engineer & Playwright x AI Agents | Bay Area/SFO Meet (6PM-8PM)
📍 Fremont
💬 Explore how AI is transforming QA engineering and test automation. Learn from experts reimagining quality through intelligence and strategy.
👉 San Francisco VIP CTO/CIO Dinner (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A curated dinner for CTOs and CIOs focused on AI, DevOps, and infrastructure innovation. Share insights on building scalable, secure, and efficient systems in the AI era.
👉 Building AI Agents for E-Commerce & DTC Brands (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Enjoy Japanese cuisine while exploring how AI agents are revolutionizing e-commerce support. A hands-on session for founders and customer experience leaders.
👉 [Vibe-coding] Building Applications/Agents with Replit (6:15PM-7:30PM)
📍 Stanford
💬 Learn to build AI agents and apps using Replit’s new Agent 3 with Jeff Burke. Experiment hands-on with cutting-edge no-code and automation features.
👉 18th Oakland Hardware Meetup @ Fictiv (6:30PM-9:30PM)
📍 Oakland
💬 Join the hardware community for demos, networking, and open mic pitches. Meet fabrication partners, showcase prototypes, and connect with local innovators.
🗓️ Friday, November 7
👉 AI INFRA SUMMIT 4 (8:30AM-5:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 The builders and visionaries behind the intelligent economy come together to explore the future of AI infrastructure. Expect deep dives, CXO roundtables, and an afterparty connecting tomorrow’s leaders.
👉 TechEquity Ai Summit 2025 | Silicon Valley (9AM-7PM)
📍 Sunnyvale
💬 Explore how AI can drive innovation, governance, and inclusion at this hybrid summit hosted by TechEquity Ai. Connect with changemakers shaping responsible AI leadership.
👉 Unofficial OpenAI Forum Walk and Talk (9AM-10:30AM)
📍 San Mateo
💬 Join AI enthusiasts for a casual morning walk and coffee chat. Share insights, tools, and ideas while connecting with like-minded innovators.
👉 AWS Startups | Workshop: GenAI Innovation Lab – Building Agentic Prototypes with Bedrock and Agent Core (9:30AM-1PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A hands-on AWS workshop for builders ready to create scalable agentic GenAI apps. Learn through live demos, coding, and real-world use cases.
👉 AWS x FarEye x Wisdom Tree: Agentic AI in Supply Chain (10AM-12PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore how Agentic AI is transforming logistics from automation to real-time decision-making. Hear live case studies and best practices from industry leaders.
👉 AI Agent Developer Workshops - Day 1 (10:30AM-5PM)
📍 Sunnyvale
💬 Learn to build generative AI applications and intelligent agents in this developer-focused workshop. Get hands-on experience integrating vector databases and AI models.
👉 AI Alliance Unconference: AgentCamp 2025 (3:30PM-7PM)
📍 Sunnyvale
💬 A participant-driven unconference where attendees shape the agenda. Dive into dynamic discussions and collaborative sessions on AI innovation.
👉 Founders Bay Virtual Workshop: Real World Self Defence with Jessica-Rose Clark (4PM-5PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
💬 Learn practical, real-world self-defence strategies from MMA champion Jessica-Rose Clark. Gain confidence and situational awareness for everyday safety.
👉 My AI, My Person - Mixer on AI Companion (4PM-7PM)
📍 Redwood City
💬 A private networking mixer for those building or researching AI companion technology. Connect and exchange ideas shaping the next era of human-AI relationships.
👉 East Bay AI Club (5PM-7PM)
📍 San Ramon
💬 A community meetup for AI enthusiasts and professionals to discuss, explore, and shape the future of artificial intelligence.
👉 SF PITCH NIGHT 💸 (w/ The AI Collective & Roam) (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Watch 10 elite pre-Series A startups pitch to top investors and founders. Expect vision, strategy, and energy at SF’s hottest AI pitch night.
👉 Vently Launch Party 🪩 (8:30PM-2AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate Vently’s official launch with free drinks, exclusive drops, and live DJ sets. A high-energy night for founders, creators, and the startup crowd.
🗓️ Saturday, November 8
👉 THE DROIDS STRIKE BACK - Hackathon (9AM-9:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Build the future of AI and robotics with 200+ selected innovators creating autonomous systems. Top teams win $10K and fast-track opportunities into Afore Capital’s pre-seed program.
👉 Hack for Social Impact 2025 (9:30AM-7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Collaborate with nonprofits to solve real-world problems through tech-driven solutions. Past winners presented at the UN Climate Conference and launched YC-backed startups.
👉 Agent to Agent Workshops (10AM-4:30PM)
📍 Sunnyvale
💬 Build Silicon Valley’s AI Agent developer community while learning from experts and peers. Expect engaging discussions, food, and collaboration powered by The AI Alliance and Neo4j.
👉 🙅♀️NO SLOP🙅♂️ Hackathon (11AM-5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Create something fresh and chaotic in this anti-mid AI hackathon. Use tools like Rosebud, Fal, and ElevenLabs to design unique apps, games, or interactive art.
👉 LIBERNOVO × GPTDAO | Seating Challenge Day (1PM-6PM)
📍 San Jose
💬 Experience ergonomic chair design through VR trials, expert talks, and fun challenges. Enjoy free snacks, giveaways, and practical insights for healthier work habits.
🗓️ Sunday, November 9
👉 Uncanny Valley Fest at Y Combinator (11AM-10:45PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A 12-hour creative hackathon where filmmakers and developers create AI-powered short films. Get judged by industry pros from Universal and Blumhouse, with prizes including YC interviews.
👉 playhtml get-together (1PM-2PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore open-source tools for building communal, interactive web experiences. Learn how playhtml makes the web feel alive through collaborative design and expressive social apps.
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When it comes to startup funding, not all capital has to come at the cost of equity. At our recent Founders Bay Virtual Workshop, Kyle Pickett, Founder of Kyle Pickett Consulting, shared actionable insights on how founders can unlock non-dilutive funding through grants — a powerful yet often overlooked path for early-stage growth.
With years of experience helping startups and local governments secure millions in U.S. federal and state funding, Kyle offered a deep dive into the grant landscape for innovators, from SBIR programs to state-level and private funding opportunities.
💡 Key Takeaways
🔹 Assume You’re Eligible
Kyle emphasized that too many founders self-select out of grants before even exploring what’s available. “If you have a small business or a startup — especially one building innovative technology — there’s probably a grant out there for you,” he shared. Start with the mindset that someone, somewhere, is willing to fund your work.
🔹 Grants Mean Growth Without Dilution
Unlike venture capital, grants don’t require giving up equity and don’t need to be repaid. Founders can use grants to fund research, build prototypes, or scale early pilots. “Grants are one of the most flexible ways to fund innovation,” Kyle said. “They let you prove your concept and attract future investors with confidence.”
🔹 Understand the SBIR Advantage
Kyle walked attendees through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program — the U.S. government’s premier initiative for funding breakthrough technologies. Phase 1 can provide up to $275K for proof of concept, while Phase 2 offers up to $1.8M for development. “Winning an SBIR grant signals credibility,” he noted. “If the federal government backs your idea, investors take notice.”
🔹 Explore Indirect and Private Grants
Beyond federal programs, Kyle encouraged founders to look into state, municipal, and private opportunities. For example, the California State Trade Expansion Program funds global expansion, and Comcast RISE offers small business grants for tech upgrades. “Don’t limit yourself — grants exist at every level,” Kyle reminded.
🔹 Be Strategic, Persistent, and Prepared
Grant writing is time-intensive and competitive — success rates often hover between 10–20%. But persistence pays off. “Think of grants as a separate business development pipeline,” Kyle advised. “The more tailored and mission-aligned your proposal, the higher your chances of success.”
✅ Why It Matters for Founders & Leaders
Build non-dilutive capital pathways that protect your ownership
Validate your innovation through government-backed credibility
Leverage grants to scale research, development, and pilots
Diversify funding sources to reduce reliance on venture capital
As Kyle concluded, “Grants aren’t just about free money — they’re about building sustainable momentum. If you align your mission, vision, and growth strategy, you’ll find opportunities waiting for you.”
👉 Want to learn more?
Connect with Kyle Pickett on LinkedIn to explore tailored grant strategy and writing services for startups and innovators.
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