Hi Friends,

I’m on Cloud 9 this week! 🚀 We launched our first SPV into Feather Robotics… it filled in under 7 days and I received so much love for my LinkedIn post that went viral. Thank you for all the incredible support and for believing in us.

Because of the overwhelming interest, we’re opening a new SPV — details below! 👇

Here are some events happening this week:

I’m super excited to share that I’ll be speaking at STEP this August — one of my favorite VC/Startup conferences. 🎤 Register here!

💡 VIP perk: If you join as a VIP, you get 50% off your ticket!

And… Kristopher Floyd will be judging the coolest hackathon of 2025: AI Developer Camp, alongside legendary investor Bill Tai. Join Us » !

We launched our first SPV into Feather Robotics… and it filled in under 7 days.
Dozens of investors reached out, but with such limited allocation, we couldn’t fit everyone in.

Now for the good news: our next SPV is live, and allocation just opened. We’ve teamed up with ACTAI Ventures — co-founded by Bill Tai (first investor in Zoom; early Canva, Dapper Labs, and 23 public companies) and Amanda Terry (ex-Twitter, 5 startup exits) — to co-invest in Vantage Robotics .

🎥 See Vantage in action: Video Gallery
💬 Join Our Q&A with The Founder: Register Here
👉 Apply to join the SPV here: Apply Here

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

Wednesday, August 13 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Mike Biglan, CEO & Founder of Twenty Ideas, Inc will demonstrate bleeding-edge pro tips and tools for shifting your product development workflow into overdrive. You’ll see how to bring together planning, coding, and marketing in one smooth process, with a special focus on one of today’s top AI assistants, Claude Code. Whether you’re building your first MVP or refining a live product, these tools can help you get there faster.

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.

Sept 12–14, 2025

I’m so excited to invite you to Developer Camp 2025, officially supported by Founders Bay— where we're helping shape the future of AI with purpose.

Join our very own Kristopher Floyd as he judges alongside legendary VC Bill Tai (early investor in Canva and Zoom), Dave Andre (Google X science chief), Amanda Terry (ACTAI/Web3 trailblazer) and more tech leaders. 

In just 48 hours, you'll design impactful AI solutions, collaborate with top builders, and pitch your ideas to investors. I’ll see you there!

​We’ve teamed up with ACTAI Ventures — co-founded by Bill Tai (first investor in Zoom; early Canva, Dapper Labs, and 23 public companies) and Amanda Terry (ex-Twitter, 5 startup exits) — to co-invest in Vantage Robotics .

​Why Vantage Robotics Has Our Attention

​🎥 See Vantage in action: Video Gallery

​👉 Apply to join the SPV here: https://www.foundersbay.com/spv

Friday, August 15 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Led by Darlene Harper, a seasoned Fractional CHRO who supports fast-growing startups through her firm Darlene Harper LLC, we’ll cover what to do (and what to avoid) in your first 10–50 hires. She’ll share real-world examples and practical tools that work for small teams aiming to scale with intention. This session is perfect for founders, early team leads, or anyone wearing the “HR hat” at a startup.

Wednesday, August 20 - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

​Founders Bay: Women Pitch Practice is a friendly and supportive space for women founders to practice their startup pitches, receive helpful feedback, and grow their confidence —hosted by Mariane Bekker from Founders Bay, Jeni Chang from Founder Institute and Natalie Pan from Funding Breakthrough Lab (accepting Aug cohort applications). Whether you're getting ready for a pitch competition, investor meeting, or just want to improve how you talk about your business — this session is for you.

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.

​At FUTURECRAFT 2035: Biotech Showcase, we're democratizing cutting-edge strategic foresight—previously reserved for Fortune 100 companies—and delivering it directly to biotech founders, visionary investors, researchers, and industry leaders.

Thursday, August 28 - 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.

Friday, August 29 - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

​Stephen will walk founders through the financial, legal, and strategic groundwork needed for a successful raise. From understanding your company’s valuation to setting up a clean cap table, you'll gain practical advice that helps you avoid common mistakes and speak the language investors expect. You'll also hear real-world insights from Stephen’s experience advising early-stage startups.

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 - From Idea to PR in Minutes: Streamlining the AI Dev Stack, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Early People Practices That Scale: Low-Cost, High-Impact HR, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Fundraising 101: What Founders Must Know First

Subscribe To VIP Access, get all the workshops above for free and get free tickets to: Founders Bay AI Pitch Night @ Intercom, Founders Bay: Women Pitch Practice, Founders Bay Step San Francisco Opening Party, FUTURECRAFT 2035 – Biotech Showcase + Afterparty, Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: 2 Hour Block Legal Advice

👉 Choosing Your Pre-Accelerator: Making the Right Move for Your Startup (12PM–1:30PM)
📍 Online
💬 A panel discussion with leaders from top pre-accelerator programs, covering their unique offerings, mentorship styles, and community strengths. Learn how to choose the right fit for your startup’s growth, investor access, and support network.

👉 AI Hack Night at GitHub (4PM–9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 An evening of AI-focused hacking, collaboration, and innovation hosted at GitHub and presented by Weaviate. Build impactful solutions alongside fellow developers and expand your network in the AI space.

👉 AI Safety Co-Founder Matching (5:30PM–7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A speed networking event connecting AI safety enthusiasts based on shared experience and interests. Meet multiple potential co-founders in quick sessions, then continue deeper conversations in an open networking format.

👉 GO AI Hub Launch – AI Bridge to Saudi Arabia (6PM–10PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Launch of GO AI Hub Silicon Valley by GO Telecom, connecting top AI innovators with opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Attendees can explore partnerships, customer access, and investment potential in the fast-growing KSA market.

👉 Outside LLMs Awards Party (6PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebration of winning teams from the Outside LLMs challenge, featuring audience voting results and special appearances. Join after the festival to see will.i.am reveal final prizes via video.

👉 Pantera’s Fund V Beta Bridge Strategy Call (12PM-1PM)
📍 Online
💬 Learn how Pantera’s Fund V Beta Bridge provides immediate market exposure to the top 25 cryptocurrencies before capital calls begin. The session will break down the mechanics, strategy, and benefits for investors.

👉 The Dawn of AI & Web3 - Exclusive Event Hosted by Google Cloud & OnePiece Labs (3:30PM-8PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 A curated evening bringing together leading VCs, founders, and innovators to explore AI and Web3’s future. Expect deep-dive talks, cutting-edge tech insights, and networking over drinks.

👉 VetsinTech Pitch Contest 2025 (4PM-7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Five veteran-led startups pitch for a chance to win up to $25,000. Connect with military entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders in an inspiring competition.

👉 Demo Night: AI Projects at Cloudflare (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 See AI-driven startups showcase their latest innovations at Cloudflare HQ. Vote for your favorite demo and mingle with fellow builders.

👉 Built on Bedrock Demo Night - Agentic AI (5PM-7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Discover cutting-edge Agentic AI demos powered by Amazon Bedrock. Network with AI enthusiasts and explore emerging use cases.

👉 MCP Hackathon: Launch Party (5PM-9:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Kick off the MCP Hackathon with a night of AI innovation and secure computing discussions. Meet fellow developers and explore agentic AI adoption.

👉 Closing the Loop (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A speaker series for robotics and embodied AI practitioners tackling real-world challenges. Features short, practical talks and community networking.

👉 Coding agents | AI Show and Tell (6PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Monthly AI Show & Tell at GitHub HQ with presentations, snacks, and drinks. A casual evening to share and learn about coding agents.

👉 The AI Hustle: Happy Hour for Startup Founders & VCs (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Networking happy hour for AI founders and VCs to share insights on fundraising, GTM, and innovation. Includes drinks, discussions, and community building.

👉 German-American Night: Startups in AI and Manufacturing (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Connect with over 75 AI, manufacturing, and German-American business leaders. Explore industry trends, partnerships, and cross-border opportunities.

👉 Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - From Idea to PR in Minutes: Streamlining the AI Dev Stack (11AM-12PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
💬 Mike Biglan, CEO & Founder of Twenty Ideas, will demo cutting-edge tools for unifying planning, coding, and marketing into a seamless workflow. Learn how to accelerate product development with AI assistants like Claude Code, whether building your first MVP or refining a live product.

👉 ROBOTS & AI EVENT | LEARN ABOUT OUR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY (4:30PM-7PM)
📍 Mountain View
💬 Learn about Toborlife AI’s autonomous robot control systems and strategic partnerships with Unitree Robotics. Discover how software-enhanced robotics with strong IP ownership can transform work and home life.

👉 The Lean Vertical AI Startup - Masterclass (5PM-8PM)
📍 Mountain View
💬 A masterclass sharing strategies from working with 52 vertical AI startups. Learn proven methods for building specialized AI companies efficiently.

👉 Vibe Coding Hack Night (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A hands-on coding night to build an app with Sourcegraph Amp in just two hours. Network, compete, and get feedback from industry professionals.

👉 Founders Bay AI Pitch Night @ Intercom (5PM-8PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 San Francisco
💬 An evening of rapid-fire AI startup pitches, investor networking, and community connection. See next-gen AI solutions in action across industries from healthcare to robotics.

👉 Stateful Agents Meetup: Deep Research (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Build and explore stateful AI research agents with Letta’s no-code Agent Development Environment. Features live demos and lightning talks from the developer community.

👉 AI Agent Founder Dinner w Partners at Defy VC, HOF Capital, Sierra Ventures and The Westly Group (6:30PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A private dinner connecting AI Agent founders with top VCs who have backed companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. Discussions will focus on pitching, differentiation, and building enduring moats.

👉 Shepherd x Browserbase - AI Fireside Chat (6:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A candid conversation with Browserbase’s founder and Shepherd’s founding engineer about building effective real-world AI. Hear insights on technical trade-offs, challenges, and successes.

👉 Investor Connect: Pitch & Network Night in San Francisco (7PM-10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Network with founders, investors, and industry leaders while pitching your startup to an engaged audience. Gain valuable insights and connections in tech, business, and venture capital.

👉 Vantage Robotics SPV Q&A With The Founder (11AM-12PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
💬 ​We’ve teamed up with ACTAI Ventures — co-founded by Bill Tai (first investor in Zoom; early Canva, Dapper Labs, and 23 public companies) and Amanda Terry (ex-Twitter, 5 startup exits) — to co-invest in Vantage Robotics. ​$22M in U.S. DoD R&D contracts over the past 5 years

👉 Breaking the AI Inference Bottleneck with AWS Trainium and vLLM (2:30PM-6:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Learn how AWS Trainium and vLLM deliver high-performance, cost-effective AI at production scale. Includes a hands-on workshop, tech talks, networking, and refreshments.

👉 Cracking b2b GTM w/ 12 (scrappy) founders (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A small, invite-only roundtable for 12 AI founders to share and learn B2B sales and GTM strategies. Features insights from Floodgate partner Mike Heller and other experienced operators.

👉 Surreal: The Future Of Gaming & Play (5PM-8PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Explore gamification and AI-powered spatial models shaping the future of play. Hear from leaders at Roblox, Spatio AI, and Chess.com alongside a top-tier tech audience.

👉 Bubbl's Beta Drop Party (6PM-10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A rooftop gathering for founders, creators, community leaders, investors, and travel enthusiasts to connect over Bubbl’s vision for social travel. Enjoy drinks, networking, and discovery in a vibrant setting.

👉 Silicon Valley Founders Meetup 🦄 (6PM-8:30PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 A social evening for founders and investors featuring lightning pitches, networking, and community connections. Hosted by Beta University, with approved-entry access only.

👉 Mtn View Bootstrappers Breakfast at Red Rock Coffee (In Person) (7AM-8:30AM)
📍 Mountain View
💬 A casual breakfast meetup for bootstrapped founders to share ideas, challenges, and resources. Connect over coffee with other entrepreneurs building without outside funding.

👉 Hyperspace: Agentic OS (11AM-1PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 See a live demo of Hyperspace’s new agentic browser with spatial AI and the first agentic blockchain protocol. Includes keynote presentation and product vision deep dive.

👉 Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Early People Practices That Scale: Low-Cost, High-Impact HR (11AM-12PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
💬 Learn budget-friendly, high-impact HR strategies to scale your team from the first 10 to 50 hires. Led by a seasoned Fractional CHRO with practical examples and tools.

👉 The AI Party (1:30PM-2:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 An open-invite social gathering to make AI feel inclusive and fun. Come connect, chat, and bring friends along.

👉 LangChain Presents: Hacking Hours (4PM-7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Collaborative co-working time for AI builders with direct access to LangChain team members. Work on personal projects, get technical help, and network with the community.

👉 Open Atlas Summit 2025 | The Largest Event for Tech Immigrants (4PM-10PM)
📍 Milpitas
💬 A large-scale event for tech immigrants navigating career, visa, and life challenges. Offers community, resources, and networking opportunities.

👉 Scrappy Founders Go Hiking (9:30AM-3:30PM)
📍 Los Altos
💬 Invite-only hike and BBQ for 20 early-stage AI founders and investors. Focused on enjoying nature and connecting informally.

👉 AI Hackathon: Corp-Agent vibe coding #aiCareer #Hubspot (10AM-6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 One-day hackathon building AI agents for automation, copilots, and sales innovation. Open to developers, PMs, marketers, and AI enthusiasts.

👉 Robotics Paper Reading - Kickoff (12PM-1PM)
📍 Berkeley
💬 Informal discussion group on cutting-edge robotics research topics. Includes paper overview, group Q&A, and networking with researchers and engineers.

👉 Enterprise AI Summit 2025 - Revealing Untapped $3 Trillion (9AM-6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A global summit exploring $3 trillion in enterprise value unlocked by AI innovation. Features top executives, startup showcases, and hands-on sessions.

👉 Code Cafe 4™ popup at Weights & Biases (9AM-1:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A casual coffee-and-coding meetup at W&B’s Mission space. Try W&B’s Weave tool for easy AI observability in your projects.

👉 The Intern Ship Games (12:30PM-6:30PM)
📍 Mountain View
💬 A one-day competition for students and early-career professionals across five challenge tracks. Includes cash prize, surprise challenges, and celebrity judges.

Are you a founder seeking resources, mentorship, and funding to propel your startup to new heights?

One of the most effective avenues to supercharge your startup growth is through accelerator programs. These programs offer invaluable mentorship, funding, and a supportive community to empower you along your entrepreneurial journey.

Here are a few accelerators that are currently accepting applications from founders. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale your existing venture, these accelerators can provide the guidance and resources necessary to accelerate your success.

👉 Y Combinator
📍 SF
🚀 Start: October 2025
💰 Upfront Cost: None
💸 Investment: $125K for 7% equity + $375K uncapped MFN SAFE
🗓️ Deadline: August 4, 2025 at 8 PM PT (Decisions by Sept 5)
⏳ Duration: 3 months
🔗 Apply: ycombinator.com/apply