Upcoming Founder & VC Events Happening This Week + Who Funds the VCs?

Author

Mariane Bekker
May 18, 2025

Table of Contents

Hi Friends,

This week, I’ve been busy finalizing our agenda for our first ever VC/LP Summit before The Chainsmokers Block Party (8500+ people attending and 90% sold out)!  🚨 Last Call: Early Bird Ends Tonight 🚨

We have some amazing speakers and panels joining us, and already have over 100+ VCs RSVP’d.

🚨 Last Call: Early Bird Ends Tonight 🚨

💰 $50B+ in AUM
🏛️ LPs from SFERS, Asilica, Frontier, Avestix, Verda
🚀 100+ Investors from PayPal Ventures, Village Global, AI Fund, Bain Capital & more
🎤 Keynote by Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta
🎉 And… The Chainsmokers block party with 8,500 people

🗓️ May 25 | The Midway, SF
🎟️ https://lu.ma/lp-vc-summit?coupon=EARLYBIRD
💸 Use code EARLYBIRD before midnight for $75 OFF

🔥 Founders & Startups — want to demo?
Showcase your company in front of LPs & VCs.
Get $500 off your Demo Table with code: DEMO50
👉 https://lu.ma/lp-vc-summit?coupon=DEMO50

🎁 BONUS:
The first 10 ticket buyers get invited to our private VC dinner at The Four Seasons Private Residence the Four Seasons on May 27th.

Get in while you still can.

Here are a few of our events happening this week:

Special offer: If you join VIP today you get access to all those 3 events for free ($1000 value): Exclusive AI Founders & VC Dinner @ Four Season Penthouse, Founders Bay Beyond 2% - Building A Better Tomorrow Salon, Breaking The Bank Summit

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

Sunday, May 25 - 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

​This exclusive summit brings together top-tier limited partners, family offices venture capitalists, and leaders for a day of conversation, connection, and collaboration at the intersection of capital, culture, and innovation. Ticket includes both LP/VC Summit (11AM - 2PM) + The Chainsmokers Block Party (3PM - 10PM)

Tuesday, May 20 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​AI is growing fast — and so are the risks. In this workshop, you’ll learn why building secure AI systems is important, what threats to watch for, and how to protect your projects from common mistakes. We’ll break down complex ideas into simple, real-world strategies you can use right away.

Tuesday, May 20 - 10AM AM - 5PM

Next week, I'm going to Breaking the Bank, Newcomer's financial technology summit. It's Tuesday, May 20 in SF with with speakers like Zach Perret from Plaid, Eric Glyman from Ramp, and Jackie Reses from Lead Bank.

Newcomer is known for the Cerebral Valley AI Summit which has a reputation for bringing together elite founders and investors. This new, invite-only event will be doing the same thing for the fintech space, bringing venture-backed fintech founders, GPs from top firms, and other leaders in the space for exclusive talks, discussions, and networking. 

Paid Founders Bay subscribers can join for free, and the rest of my subscribers get 50% off. Apply to attend here.

Tuesday, May 20 - 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM

​Join us for the AI for Good Pitch Competition, where mission-driven startups harnessing artificial intelligence for social impact take the stage. This event brings together visionary founders, impact investors, and AI experts to spotlight solutions addressing some of today’s most pressing global challenges—from climate resilience and public health to education and equitable access.

JUDGES

Wednesday, May 21 - May 24

Build real-world B2B AI tools—without writing thousands of lines of code. Developers, designers, and innovators will prototype scalable, enterprise-grade solutions using low-code/no-code platforms to solve real challenges for vertical communities like Berlinhouse.

VIP MEMBERS: USE COUPON CODE FOUNDERSBAY FOR A FREE TICKET

Thursday, May 22 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Where Bold Women Lead. Their Visions Scale New Heights.

​Join the first Building a Better Tomorrow Salon to kick off a new event series that will highlight different demographics, sectors, countries, industries. Our first series focuses on the gender gap.

THE RADIANT TABLE EXPERIENCE (AN IMMERSIVE DINING EXPERIENCE)


Michael Seiler and his team at Collective Impact are fast-tracking the reinvention of downtown SF by activating quiet retail floors into hubs for community and commerce.

Their newest effort, The Radiant Table (link to: https://lnkd.in/gxWVFd98) has just arrived at One Market Plaza.

Experience this high-end culinary and visual experience, with a menu and chef every night - and only 15 dates through June.

Tuesday, May 27 - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

​Join us for an Exclusive AI Founders & VC Dinner, an intimate evening designed to connect top AI startup founders with leading venture capitalists. This private gathering brings together a curated group of innovators, builders, and investors at the forefront of artificial intelligence for meaningful conversations, shared insights, and lasting relationships.

Friday, May 30 - 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM​

Join 100+ members of the Hillsborough plus MBA/Ivy+ Alumni Community to Play Poker, Eat/Drink and Socialize at the fabulous Hillsborough Racquet Club.  This event is open to players and non-players. Bring a partner or friend.

A meaningful contribution will be made to the non-profit DignityMoves, which provides interim housing solutions to help address the homeless challenge in California and beyond.  Dignity moves is led by veteran Silicon Valley Executive Elizabeth Funk (HBS MBA Class of 1996).  

Silicon Valley Investing Summit: AI, Climatetech, Healthtech

Wednesday, June 4 - 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM

Free to attend for startups and investors including angels, VCs, LPS, family offices and corporate. Startups can pay to pitch from the stage and host a table in the Demo Showcase. Includes networking lunch, venture forum, dinner and Demo Showcase.

June 14-20 - 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

We're excited to partner with Human+Tech Week (June 14-20) to explore Human Potential in the Age of AI. Early Bird Discounts are available now, and along with our 20% community discount code, tickets will never be cheaper. Use code “FoundersBay” for your additional 20% off.

This link will automatically add our code (discount visible at checkout): https://lu.ma/humantech?coupon=FoundersBay

Visit the event site for more information on Human+Tech Week, Events, Speakers, and Schedule: https://humantechweek.com

(Remember, discounts are applied at checkout, where you’ll see updated pricing.)

Connect with Human+Tech Speakers, Thought Leaders, and Attendees you want to meet – before the Event! Our agents are happy to assist you – No purchase required: https://humantechweek.com/gobby

Tuesday, June 24 - 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Strategies and trends for AI startups seeking funding and partners with venture forum and pitch session. Startups can pitch angels and VC investors and host a demo table, includes networking lunch

🚀 Elevate Your Access with A Membership Tiers!

Price: $19/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.

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

  • Free Workshops: Receive free access Founders Bay workshops.

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

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

$49/month

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

  • Early Event Previews: Get the scoop on events happening 2 weeks ahead.

  • Free Conference Tickets: Get complimentary tickets to key conferences and events.

  • Monthly 1x1 Office Hours: Benefit from a complimentary personalized monthly session with Mariane Bekker and legal experts.

  • Free Workshops: Receive free access Founders Bay workshops.

  • Personal Branding Session: Enjoy a complimentary strategy session to enhance your personal brand.

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

Upcoming Events

🗓️ Monday, May 19

👉 San Francisco Vibe Coding PROMPTathon (8AM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join an outrageous all-day AI prompt-building challenge! Submit your wildest ideas, get live feedback, and compete for $400 in prizes.

👉 Breakthrough Demo Day (4PM-6PM)
📍 Stanford
💬 Stanford hosts the top student-led startups from top universities worldwide. See demos from founders shaping AI, robotics, healthcare, and semiconductors.

👉 From Models to Molecules: AI's Expanding Roles in Therapeutics (4PM-8PM)
📍 South San Francisco
💬 Dive deep into the intersection of biotech and AI/ML with talks from Genentech, Deep Origin, and more. Explore real-world applications of AI in therapeutic discovery.

👉 SF Awesome AI Dev Tools - May (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Discover the latest AI development tools revolutionizing the tech landscape. Perfect for devs eager to explore and learn from new technologies.

👉 SZ 179: The Digital Battleground (5PM-9PM)
📍 Menlo Park
💬 Explore how quantum computing is shifting the paradigm in cybersecurity and digital warfare. Join industry experts to discuss implications for global tech.

👉 Monthly Robotics & AI Meetup (5:30PM-7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A casual and collaborative meetup for robotics and AI enthusiasts of all levels. Share, learn, and network with fellow builders in the space.

👉 Daydream Happy Hour @UpscaleConf (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate Daydream — a live webcam AI visual tool — and connect with Machine Cinema’s creative AI community. Enjoy drinks, demos, and artistic exploration.

👉 AI Startup Pitch Night with Context VC, Qlay & Startup Intros (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A pitch night for AI startups to connect with VCs, get feedback, and network. Founders can present and gain insights from experts in the field.

👉 Zod 4 Release Day Happy Hour (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate the release of Zod 4 — the latest in TypeScript validation libraries. Come for the TypeScript, stay for the drinks and community.

👉 Silicon Valley Decoded: The Insiders Playbook for International Founders (5:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Designed for international founders, this event demystifies how to scale in Silicon Valley. Hear from global entrepreneurs who’ve succeeded in the US market.

👉 Driving Decisions: The Future of Autonomy (5:30PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A hands-on exploration of self-driving technologies and edge case challenges. Featuring panels, demos, and networking focused on the autonomous future.

👉 Family Offices & AI Investors Mixer @ Google I/O (6PM-9:30PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 A focused, founder-free dinner for LPs and GPs to discuss capital allocation in AI. Exclusively tailored for strategic investment discussions.

👉 SF AI Agent HackNight with MCP ft. Codename Goose & Anthropic, Cloudflare, Stytch, and Supabase (6PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Play with cutting-edge AI agent tools like Codename Goose in an interactive hack night. Presented by top tech players like Anthropic and Cloudflare.

👉 AI x Tax Roundtable SF (6:30PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A candid conversation among top tax leaders on how AI is reshaping accounting. Backed by insights from companies like Mercury, Indeed, and the IRS.

👉 90/30 Club #3: ML Reading Group (7PM-9:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Inspired by Ilya Sutskever’s “90/30” principle, this reading group tackles core ML papers. Great for deep learners looking to master foundational AI knowledge.

🗓️ Tuesday, May 20

👉 FC SF • Founders Run & Coffee! (7AM–9AM)
📍 San Francisco
Start your day with an early morning jog and coffee hangout with fellow founders, operators, and creatives. It’s a free and inclusive meetup hosted by Founders Common to connect across the local startup ecosystem.

👉 Rippling Run Club - SF (7:30AM–9AM)
📍 San Francisco
Run along the waterfront with startup folks and Rippling team leads of all paces, followed by breakfast, coffee, and networking. Whether you're sprinting or sipping, this club is all about meaningful connections—no pitches needed.

👉 Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Building Secure AI Systems (11AM–12PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
Learn essential strategies to protect AI projects from risk and misuse in this practical, expert-led session. You’ll leave with actionable insights to build more resilient and trustworthy systems, whether you're early or advanced in your AI journey.

👉 Staying the Course: Building in a World of Uncertainty (5:30PM–8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
Explore how to stay grounded as a founder through market volatility, evolving AI trends, and investor shifts. Industry leaders from Vanta, Puzzle, and Vouch will share lessons on scaling with focus and confidence.

👉 AI Founders & Operators Mixer (5:30PM–8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
Mingle with fellow AI builders, enjoy food and drinks, and hear a lightning panel of trailblazing founders and product leaders. The evening also features live startup pitches and surprise guests for a high-energy networking night.

👉 AI & Cybersecurity in MedTech: Transforming the Future of Secure Medical Devices (5:30PM–8PM)
📍 Palo Alto
This event brings together innovators at the intersection of AI, medical devices, and cybersecurity to address design, compliance, and safety. It’s a valuable forum for founders, engineers, and investors shaping the future of health tech.

👉 AI for Good Pitch Competition @ Perkins Coie (5:30PM–8PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Palo Alto
Mission-driven startups leveraging AI for social impact will pitch to a panel of expert judges. Expect bold ideas addressing urgent global issues like health, education, and equity, with opportunities for funding and mentorship.

👉 Private VC / Startup Wine Tasting Mixer (5:30PM–8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
A curated wine mixer for startups with $100K+ ARR or $500K+ raised, offering quality connections with peers and VCs. The first 40 guests receive a complimentary Jax wine pour—perfect for founders who love a good vintage and a strong network.

👉 Biotech Networks Speed Networking - San Francisco (6PM–9PM)
📍 San Francisco
Held at Spark Social SF, this biotech networking event offers a casual dinner, drinks, and an unmatched chance to meet peers from across the industry. Speed networking under the tent guarantees new connections in record time.

👉 From the Middle East to the Valley: A Private Dialogue on AI & Global Venture (6:30PM–8PM)
📍 Palo Alto
An intimate, invite-only dinner convening AI leaders from the Gulf and Silicon Valley to foster cross-border collaboration. No press, no agenda—just real conversations and long-term vision sharing in a private setting.

👉 10th SJ Hardware Meetup @ AuSIM Garage (6:30PM–9:30PM)
📍 Mountain View
A global hardware community meetup in the heart of the Valley for engineers, tinkerers, and founders to demo, learn, and connect. This 10th edition at AuSIM Garage continues the tradition of hands-on collaboration and peer learning.

👉 Cafe Compute: Celebration! (7PM–10PM)
📍 San Francisco
A nighttime café pop-up meets celebration with caffeine, snacks, and good vibes for late-night coworking. Hosted by Cerebras and Bain Capital Ventures, it’s a space to cheer each other on and connect with fellow builders.

🗓️ Wednesday, May 21

👉 Huntress Roadshow (10AM–3PM)
📍 Mountain View
💬 Join us at the Huntress Roadshow, where we'll help you level up your security game by breaking down the latest threats, sharing battle-tested strategies, and empowering you with the tools and tactics to defend your clients and win against malicious hackers. This is a great opportunity to network with cybersecurity experts and sharpen your threat defense skills.

👉 Graph Exchange May 2025: AI Agents and Knowledge Graphs (3PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Graph Exchange is a mini-conference focused on Graph-powered AI Agents, Knowledge Graphs, and their role in powering the GenAI stack. Hosted by Neo4j, it will showcase real-world applications, graph database innovations, and expert talks.

👉 Open Graph Gathering 2025: AI Agents and Knowledge Graphs (3PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 This gathering will dive into how GraphRAG and knowledge graphs shape the GenAI space through community learning and key use case exploration. Meet top minds in graph technology and discover the power of connected data.

👉 BALDT Pre-Summer Social: Let's Talk Tech! (4:30PM–6:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 This casual meetup invites professionals in Customer Education, L&D, and Enablement to connect, share ideas, and unwind over drinks at Arcana. Bring your latest tech obsessions and meet other learning design enthusiasts in the Bay Area.

👉 A 4-day Low-Code/No-Code AI Hackathon for Building Bold, Fast, and Smart (Till May 24)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Build real-world B2B AI tools—without writing thousands of lines of code. Developers, designers, and innovators will prototype scalable, enterprise-grade solutions using low-code/no-code platforms to solve real challenges for vertical communities like Berlinhouse.

👉 First Block Live – The Cursor Story with Michael Truell, hosted by Notion (5:30PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Attend a live recording of Notion’s founder-led series featuring Michael Truell, CEO of Cursor, discussing how the team built a breakout AI-native code editor. Discover how Anysphere is transforming the software development process in the AI era.

👉 Closing the Loop (5:30PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Closing the Loop is a speaker series for robotics, AI, and embodied systems experts to share real challenges and lessons learned. The event fosters deep technical discussion and genuine community among practitioners.

👉 First Block: The Cursor Story with Michael Truell, hosted by Notion (5:30PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 This is a second listing of the Notion-hosted First Block live event, featuring Michael Truell of Cursor discussing the journey and vision behind the AI-native code editor. Attendees will gain unique insight into early-stage decisions and rapid growth strategies.

👉 State of the City (5:30PM–7PM)
📍 Mountain View
💬 Join Mountain View’s first-ever State of the City to hear from Mayor Ellen Kamei and City Manager Kimbra McCarthy on housing, sustainability, and active transportation initiatives. Celebrate civic progress and future plans in an inclusive community gathering.

👉 Women in AI: How Hex is building the future of data work (5:30PM–7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Hosted by Hex, this event brings together female-identifying professionals to discuss AI-powered analytics and no-code data platforms. Enjoy an empowering night of networking, technical insights, and refreshments in a welcoming space.

👉 Community-Driven GTM in the Age of AI (5:30PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore how AI is transforming go-to-market strategies in fintech with a panel of innovative founders. Learn about bold moves, pain points, and unique unlocks that drive distribution beyond the broken SEO playbook.

👉 AI Healthcare Panel: Revolutionizing Patient Care and Provider Workflows (6PM–9PM)
📍 New York
💬 Hosted by SignalFire, Samsung Next, and TriplePoint Capital, this event explores how AI is transforming everything from EMR workflows to wearable tech. A panel of experts will discuss challenges and innovations in health AI today.

👉 Acting, Production and Business Networking | Elevating Your Potential – SF (6PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Strive’s networking mixer brings together creatives and professionals in acting, production, and business. Come connect in North Beach with people looking to elevate their presence in media and the arts.

👉 Scaling AI Companies with Creator Partnerships (6PM–8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Learn how AI companies are leveraging creator partnerships to drive user growth and market awareness. This exclusive event by Passionfroot features case studies, strategy sharing, and high-impact networking for AI marketers and founders.

👉 Silicon Valley AI Startups Night. Speaker: Elana Lian, Partner, Dell Technologies Capital (6PM–8PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 This event is an evening gathering of early-stage AI founders, hosted by Springcamp and Tech + Startups. Hear insights from Elana Lian of Dell Technologies Capital on the evolving AI investment landscape and startup innovation.

🗓️ Thursday, May 22

👉 Beyond 2% - Building A Better Tomorrow Salon (9AM-9PM)
📍 Oakland
💬 Join the first Building a Better Tomorrow Salon, kicking off a series spotlighting different demographics, sectors, and regions. This inaugural event focuses on addressing the gender gap in leadership and innovation.

👉 Mapping the Humane Tech Community (10AM-11AM)
📍 Remote
💬 This collaborative workshop is about stitching together what’s already in motion. We'll map out people, projects, and communities working toward humane tech—starting in the Bay and growing globally.

👉 MBZUAI Institute of Foundation Models Silicon Valley Lab - Launch Event (10AM-7PM)
📍 Mountain View
💬 Celebrate the launch of the MBZUAI IFM Silicon Valley Lab at the Computer History Museum with talks from leading researchers. The event aims to foster cross-continental collaboration in foundation model innovation.

👉 SSG Accelerator Founders Pitch & Investor Social (3PM-6PM)
📍 Hillsborough
💬 Meet ten cutting-edge AI startups led by top-tier Asian founders across the globe. This exclusive mixer brings together visionary entrepreneurs and investors bridging East and West.

👉 Global Pizza Party - Pizza Tower San Francisco (5PM-11PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join PizzaDAO's 5th annual Global Pizza Party honoring the anniversary of Bitcoin Pizza Day with food, community, and decentralized vibes. Celebrate with over 400 events happening worldwide on the same day.

👉 Agentic AI in Healthcare (5PM-6:30PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Hosted by RagaAI, this event delves into how autonomous AI agents are transforming healthcare diagnostics and workflows. Expect deep insights from experts at the intersection of AI and medicine.

👉 18th Peninsula ClimateAI Coffee and Happy Hour (5PM-9PM)
📍 Redwood City
💬 A sustainability-focused community mixer welcoming professionals from all sectors to collaborate and socialize. Enjoy drinks, food, and conversations around scaling impactful climate solutions.

👉 [SF] AI After Hours @ GitHub w/ Encord (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Network with AI builders at GitHub HQ over pizza and technical conversations. This laid-back evening blends learning and community around real-world AI use cases.

👉 SF ~ Women in Recruiting Fireside: Using AI Agents to Supercharge Your Recruiting Workflow (5:30PM-7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Dive into how AI agents can enhance recruiting operations in this candid fireside hosted by Juicebox. You'll hear insights on integrating new tools while staying human-first.

👉 SaaS Lander 2025: A Tech Night in the City (5:30PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Hosted at GenAI Loft by Business France, meet 13 promising startups from the SaaS Lander 2025 cohort. Discover cutting-edge European tech and network with Bay Area entrepreneurs.

👉 AI Trivia Night! by OpenAI, SignalFire & Langflow (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Back by popular demand, this second installment of AI Trivia Night features fun games like "Debug this code" and "Guess the prompt." Prizes, food, and surprise challenges await AI enthusiasts.

👉 Fireside Chat: AI Agent + Growth - Scaling from $0 to $15M ARR with Team 9 (6PM-9PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Learn how startups scaled AI agent products to millions in ARR with tactical insights into growth, acquisition, and retention. This intimate event brings together builders who’ve done it all with tiny teams.

👉 Design social hour: Post-Config edition (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Reconnect with the design community after Config in this casual social hour. Whether you're a product designer or just curious, come share takeaways and drinks with like-minded creatives.

🗓️ Friday, May 23

👉 MCP Developers Summit (8AM–6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 In less than a year, the MCP project has quickly reshaped how developers are building AI agents, introducing a critical layer of standardization, and a blueprint for how LLMs can interface with applications and tools.

👉 Learn & Earn - Build Omi AI glasses - Now hiring! (11AM–11PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 We've started production of the Omi AI glasses. Learn how to build the latest AI glasses from Omi. Earn or buy your very own pair of AI glasses. No skills required. Soldering and engineering skills are a plus.

👉 Cofounder Matching: Finding the Right Partner (5:30PM–8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join us for a practical, honest workshop designed for early-stage founders facing one of the biggest startup decisions: building the right team.

🗓️ Saturday, May 24

👉 Simple Event - AI (10AM–12PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join us for a fun and educational event all about Artificial Intelligence (AI) at PIER 39! Whether you're a beginner or an expert, this event is perfect for anyone interested in learning more about AI and how it's shaping the world around us.

👉 AI Vibe Coding Workshop (2PM–5PM)
📍 Stanford
💬 Join Chinat Yu (Stanford GSE) for a hands-on workshop where you'll learn to CONVERT YOUR IDEAS TO WORKING PROTOTYPES IN MINUTES using cutting-edge AI tools.

👉 Tax-Efficient Exits Series: CRTs and CLTs for Highly Appreciated Assets (4PM–7PM)
📍 Oakland
💬 We’re in the midst of the largest generational wealth transfer in history, with trillions of dollars expected to pass between generations.

👉 The Indie Auxperience #2 (6PM–10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 The Indie Auxperience is a groundbreaking series of community-driven entertainment industry events (with a music focus) held at some of the most vibrant and culturally connected venues across the Bay Area.

👉 Chinatown Pride 2025: Silent Disco Fundraiser (7PM–10PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Chinatown’s first ever silent disco, dance your heart out on the iconic Portsmouth Square Pedestrian Bridge as it transforms into the Immortal Dance Floor. 2 DJs will spin simultaneously on separate channels, featuring nostalgic Asian oldies, international hits, EDM, and pop music.

👉 FX Events Present: TYEGUYS (9PM–2AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Late-night music event featuring TYEGUYS with a high-energy party atmosphere. Expect bold performances and a pulsing dance floor vibe to close out your night.

🗓️ Sunday, May 25

👉 SF Carnaval: Mission Parade - TEA w/ ANANSI, the spider (8AM-2:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate Memorial Day weekend with ANANSI at this street dance parade featuring funk, Brazilian house, and a troupe walkabout. It's a vibrant homage to indigenous pollinators and community joy through dance, music, and art.

👉 IT'S JUST BREAKFAST: Meet new single friends in lovely Sausalito! (9:30AM-11:30AM)
📍 Sausalito
💬 Enjoy a scenic morning in Sausalito meeting other single professionals over breakfast and coffee. This relaxed event is perfect for making genuine connections in your 40s and 50s.

👉 Founders Bay LP/VC Summit + The Chainsmokers BlockParty (11AM-2PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join us for a unique and high-impact LP/VC Summit hosted in collaboration with the Midway. This exclusive gathering brings together top-tier limited partners, family offices, venture capitalists, and cultural leaders for a day of conversation, connection, and collaboration at the intersection of capital, culture, and innovation.

💼 How Do VCs Raise Capital? Let’s Talk About the LPs Behind the Scenes

By Mariane Bekker

Before VCs can write checks to startups, they have to raise money themselves—from LPs (Limited Partners). LPs are the financial backbone of venture capital. They decide which funds get to exist, how big they can be, and what kind of risks they’re allowed to take.

So how do VCs convince LPs to bet on them?

Let’s break down the main types of LPs that power the venture ecosystem—and which ones you’ll meet at our upcoming VC/LP Summit:

🏛️ Institutional LPs

These include pension funds, university endowments, sovereign wealth funds, and foundations. They manage massive portfolios (often $10B+), with strict allocation models and multi-year diligence cycles.

  • Common VC Allocation: 1–5% of portfolio (though they also invest in PE, hedge funds, and real estate)

  • Check Size Range: $10M–$100M+

  • Time to Close: 6–18 months

  • Due Diligence Depth: Extreme—track record, team stability, audit trails, full legal review

Most institutional LPs require a minimum of 2–3 full fund cycles before considering an emerging manager. However, when they do come in, they often commit for the long term.

🔍 Pro Tip: Many VCs don’t realize how much these LPs rely on peer signals—landing one top institution often attracts others.


👉 You’ll meet institutional LPs like San Francisco Employees' Retirement system at the VC/LP Summit.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Offices (Single & Multi-Family)

Family offices manage the wealth of ultra-high-net-worth families, typically $100M to $1B+. They’re less process-driven than institutions but more relationship-based. Some operate like lean VCs, others act more like private banks.

  • Common VC Allocation: 5–20%

  • Check Size Range: $250K–$10M

  • Time to Close: 1–6 months

  • Evaluation Style: Heavily trust-based, often focused on access, values alignment, or personal rapport

Many family offices don’t have an online presence. They operate quietly, often co-invest alongside trusted GPs, and rarely engage in competitive processes.

🔍 Pro Tip: A warm intro goes 10x further with family offices than pitch decks. Most won’t look at a fund unless introduced by someone they already trust.


👉 At our VC/LP Summit, you’ll meet family offices from Frontier Group, Paris-Roubaix, Avestix, and Verda.

🤝 Fund-of-Funds (FoFs)

FoFs invest in a basket of VC/PE funds on behalf of their own LPs. Their value lies in diversification, diligence expertise, and access.

  • Common VC Allocation: 30–100% (some are VC-only)

  • Check Size Range: $1M–$15M

  • Time to Close: 3–9 months

  • Evaluation Focus: Fit with portfolio, uniqueness of thesis, team complementarity, risk profile

They often back emerging managers earlier than institutions and can play a catalytic role in building momentum for a fundraise.

🔍 Pro Tip: Many FoFs require quarterly reporting templates, NAV tracking, and GP commits—even for micro funds. Be prepared to operate like a bigger fund if they’re in your LP base.


👉 You’ll be able to connect with several active FoFs attending our VC/LP Summit.

🧠 Corporate & Strategic LPs

These are corporate venture arms or innovation groups from tech companies, banks, manufacturers, etc. Their goal isn’t just returns—it’s learning, partnerships, M&A pipeline, and early access to tech trends.

  • Common VC Allocation: Opportunistic (<2% of corp balance sheet)

  • Check Size Range: $1M–$25M

  • Time to Close: 3–12 months

  • Evaluation Lens: Strategic overlap, market access, talent pipelines, technical insight

Some corporate LPs are passive, others want board seats or co-invest rights. Strategic drift and internal turnover can affect long-term alignment.

🔍 Pro Tip: These LPs often get pulled in different directions by internal politics—securing buy-in from both CFOs and product/innovation teams is key.


👉 You’ll hear from VCs backed by strategic LPs like PayPal Ventures, Array Ventures, Village Global at our VC/LP Summit.

🌐 Platform VCs & Venture Networks

Some larger venture platforms or well-connected networks allocate into other funds. They act as meta-VCs, investing into smaller or thematic funds that align with their ecosystem.

  • Common VC Allocation: 5–15% of platform

  • Check Size Range: $500K–$5M

  • Time to Close: 1–4 months

  • Evaluation Focus: Founder network complementarity, thesis fit, ability to cross-pollinate

These LPs can amplify a new GP’s visibility by plugging them into broader networks, sharing infrastructure, or offering co-investment rights.

🔍 Pro Tip: If your fund complements their brand or fills a white space (e.g. first-check AI or female-led climate), these LPs can be your most valuable advocates.

📅 Join us May 25 at The Midway in San Francisco
🎉 100+ top institutional investors, family offices, and executives.
💸 Earlybird ends today – Use code EARLYBIRD for $75 off
🔗 RSVP now

While GPs work tirelessly to support founders, their first customers are their LPs. Understanding what motivates different LP types—and how to build long-term trust—is the most underrated skill in venture capital.

Forget “spray and pray.”
Start thinking “understand and serve.”

How to sell to billionaires: A masterclass in selling

This is one of the most inspiring conversations I've ever heard. The people who inspire me the most aren't always founders or investors. Alex grew up homeless, raised by a single mom, one of five kids. She now sells $50 million homes to billionaire clients by cold calling and door knocking. How did she do it?

Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or creative, you will need to sell to someone. Alex teaches a masterclass in cold calls, door knocking, building relationships with ultra high-net worth individuals, and manifesting your goals. + Learn more about why she rejected Netflix’s Top Show Selling Sunset.

Tune into episode 2 of the ICONS podcast here:
https://lnkd.in/g-K3R6hY

Later this season: Connie Chan (a16z), Jeremy Liew (Lightspeed), Bing Chen (Gold House) and many more! Learn more at Iconscommunities.com ICONS Communities + Podcast

Mariane Bekker, 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.

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