Upcoming Founder & VC Events Happening This Week

Upcoming Events & The Week’s 10 Biggest Funding Rounds

Author

Mariane Bekker
July 22, 2024

Table of Contents

🗓️ Monday, Jul 22

👉 Merritt Secure AI Hackathon (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join us on Monday, July 22 from 9am-6pm for the Merritt Secure-AI Hackathon. You will have a chance to create a project at intersection of Security and AI, plus get opportunity to participate in pre-hackathon training*, workshops and listen to experts in the field.

👉 AI Investors & Networking (4:00 PM - 6:00 PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 We are Open Future Forum. We are leaders, investors, founders and engineers based in the Bay Area CA.

👉 Ethereum’s Birthday Party (5:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Ethereum ICO started on July 22nd 2014 in San Francisco - along with a number of the eth-based companies here in SF.

👉 SF Tech: CEO Mixer (6:00 PM - 8:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 ​​We're uniting Founders in SF for peer collaborations.

🗓️ Tuesday, Jul 23

👉 Fireside: Ryan Hoover (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Fireside chat with Ryan Hoover, Founder of Product Hunt and Weekend Fun

👉 Quantum Gen AI Lecture Series (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Join us for an exciting lecture series on Quantum Gen AI! Learn about the latest advancements in building Quantum Generative AI applications to be ready for the Quantum Internet era. This in-person series will be held every other Tuesday with the first one at Cooley LLP, a global law firm known for its legal expertise and dedication to innovation. Don't miss this opportunity to dive deep into the world of quantum computing and Generative AI with industry experts.

👉 Quantum Gen AI Lecture Series (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Join us for an exciting lecture series on Quantum Gen AI! Learn about the latest advancements in building Quantum Generative AI applications to be ready for the Quantum Internet era. This in-person series will be held every other Tuesday with the first one at Cooley LLP, a global law firm known for its legal expertise and dedication to innovation. Don't miss this opportunity to dive deep into the world of quantum computing and Generative AI with industry experts.

👉 Qdrant Spacewalk @ AWS: What's the Best LLM for Your RAG Application? (5:00 PM - 7:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 The Qdrant team, in cooperation with AWS, invites you to our first Spacewalk event at the AWS AI Engineering Loft where we will discuss how to choose the right embedding model for your AI application.

👉 San Francisco Climate Tech & AI Salon (5:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Bay Bridge Ventures is an Institutional Sustainability focused venture capital firm, purpose-built from the ground up as a diverse-owned and managed organization investing in scalable, profitable, and impactful companies across technology sectors while providing transparency through its industry-leading impact reporting process.

👉 Unstructured Data Meetup South Bay Edition (5:30 PM - 8:30 PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 This is an in-person event! Registration is required in order to get in. Topic: Connecting your unstructured data with Generative AI. Who Should attend: Anyone interested in talking and learning about Unstructured Data and Generative AI Apps.

👉 Silicon Valley VC & PE Happy Hour (6:00 PM - 8:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 ​​We're uniting tech investors in Silicon Valley for collaborations and deal-making.

🗓️ Wednesday, Jul 24

👉 Founder Financial Modeling Workshop (3:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Financial modeling for your startup may feel elusive at best and overwhelming at worst. Online resources are confusing, hard to follow, or exist behind a paywall. Financial modeling feels like it's reserved only for the likes in consulting or high flying finance - investment bankers, private equity, or VC. It's unclear what investors are looking for when evaluating the financial projections of a startup. Founders don't know where to start analyzing the financials of their current business model or their potential business idea.

👉 Turing Presents AGI Icons: Rapid AI Advancement with Adam D’Angelo (4:00 PM - 7:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join us for an insightful conversation with Adam D’Angelo, CEO of Quora and OpenAI board member, as we explore the future of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and the crucial role of human knowledge in its development.

👉 San Francisco Fintech/ Proptech Symposium (5:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 We will bring together thought leaders, decision-makers, investors, and startups in the space. With limited seats, we curate our attendee list to ensure meaningful and high-quality connections. Startups participating must have $1M+ in ARR or $2M+ in funds raised to date. Vendor attendance is limited to sponsors only.

👉 AGI San Francisco Meetup (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Be a part of the AGI Meetup in SF City, where we discuss about autonomous software development, AI for Technical PMs & AGI🪄

👉 AI Builders Demo Day | Build Club x Headline (5:30 PM - 6:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 # Join us for AI Demo Day showcasing some hot AI startups new to the Bay Area

👉 Building the Next Generation of AI applications with TiDB Vector Search (5:30 PM - 8:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Please join us for an opportunity to hear from leading voices in AI as we celebrate the public beta of TiDB Vector Search and this year’s TIDB Future App Hackathon. We’ll have presenters from PingCAP, Anyscale, Lepton AI, LlamaIndex, etc., and we hope you’ll walk away from the meetup with new ideas for building the next generation of AI applications.

👉 AI For Developers #16 (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Developers, mark your calendars for July 24! Join us at RocketSpace for an exciting evening of networking, learning, and exploring the latest in AI.

👉 4 weeks AI Study Group @ Block: Andrej Karpathy's Zero to GPT Hero (6:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join us for a 4-week study group diving into Andrej Karpathy's "Zero to GPT Hero". This series aims to demystify the workings of GPT and deepen understanding among developers and data scientists. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the inner workings of one of AI's most influential technologies.

👉 SF VC & PE Happy Hour (6:00 PM - 8:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Calling all tech investors in San Francisco! Join us for an evening of collaboration and deal-making. Connect with fellow investors, share insights, and explore potential opportunities in the tech ecosystem.

👉 Bay Angels July 24th Online Start-Up Pitch Event (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
📍 Online
💬 Join Bay Angels for an exciting online pitch event featuring 4 selected startups. Don't miss your chance to see innovative pitches and connect with entrepreneurs and investors. RSVP now to secure your spot!

👉 College to Climate x Earth First Climate Tech Panel & Mixer (6:00 PM - 7:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join College to Climate and Earth First for a panel discussion and mixer at the 9Zero Innovation Hub. Learn from industry leaders about technologies driving sustainability and network with like-minded individuals passionate about environmental innovation.

👉 Open Source + mezcal night 🌃 @ GitHub HQ (6:00 PM - 8:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join us for a vibrant evening of open source discussions, mezcal, and community building at GitHub HQ. Enjoy lightning talks, games, and networking opportunities with fellow developers and open source enthusiasts. Register early as space is limited!

👉 SF Web3 Founders, Builders & Operators Mixer (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Dive into the future of Web3 at our mixer for founders, builders, and operators. Join us for insightful conversations, networking opportunities, and deep dives into the latest developments in the Web3 space. Don't miss this chance to connect with industry leaders and innovators.

👉 Light Dao Salon - BCI: Brain Computer Interface - Conquering Psychological Imbalance for Neural Health & Joy (SF) IRL & Replay (6:30 PM - 10:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join Light Dao for an evening of connection and deep conversations focused on BCI (Brain Computer Interface) technology. Explore how BCI can contribute to neural health and joy, featuring a fireside chat with AJ Keller and Ruby Yeh, Co-Founder of Light Dao.

🗓️ Thursday, Jul 25

👉 Morning Tech Brew ☕ (8:00 AM - 10:30 AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 ​Join us for this Morning Tech Brew coffee hour, where we invite builders to come together, share their journeys, and learn from one another's experiences.

👉 Using Vector Databases for Multimodal Search and Retrieval Augmented Generation (10:00 AM - 11:00 AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 The Data Phoenix team invites you to our upcoming webinar, which will take place on July 25 at 10 a.m. PDT.

  • ​​​​​​​Topic: Using Vector Databases for Multimodal Search and Retrieval Augmented Generation

  • ​​​​​​​Speakers: Zain Hasan (Developer Relations Engineer at Weaviate)

  • ​​​​​​​Participation: free (but you’ll be required to register)

👉 Llama Lounge 11 at AWS: The AI Startup Event Series (5:00 PM - 8:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 ​-Organizer: Jeremiah Owyang, Blitzscaling Ventures (X, Linkedin). -Ten AI Startups on demo floor, networking, food & bev. -Attendees are AI founders and VCs -Ask The Experts Corner: Meet AWS experts and ask live questions -Gov ID required for entry. Must be registered and approved. -Hosted by AWS.

👉 GenAI Night w/ Cloudflare & Jam.dev (5:30 PM - 8:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 The Cloudflare ‘Summer Developer Series’ is a monthly gathering of developers and innovators at our SF workspace and rooftop to learn the new best practices for building modern web applications, share the latest innovations in full-stack development, and have fun and make connections along the way.

👉 SF Bits in Bio Mixer with Cellsius at Studio 55 (5:30 PM - 8:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 ​Come out and catch up with your friends at this mixer with Bits in Bio and Cellsius in SF. There will be drinks and food and great networking opportunities.

👉 Magnetic Presence - The Art of Unshakeable Confidence and Relationship-Building | Women Professional Workshop and Networking (5:40 PM - 8:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 ​Are you a bold professional woman ready to radiate confidence in every room you walk into and attract the right people and opportunities to elevate your life? ​We’ll dive right in with bite-sized experiences that gently transform how you show up in a supportive environment of like-minded women.

👉 SF Tech Community Happy Hour (6:00 PM - 8:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 ​​We're uniting the tech ecosystem in Silicon Valley.

👉 🍾 SF Founders & Investors July Social (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A casual event to bring tech founders and investors together. No overt pitching or selling allowed—just fun conversation and genuine connection to avoid overly transactional and fake introductions. Attendees can buy their own food or drink if they wish (optional).

👉 Gen AI Workshop - Building Intelligent AI Agents (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 This week we have a special guest speaker offering a workshop for our members at a new host, Apex AI, hosting us at their offices in Palo Alto. Our sponsor Roger Rappaport at Snell & Wilmer will be providing light refreshments for dinner.

👉 FounderCulture Humane Tech Meetup (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
📍 San Mateo
💬 ​At the heart of the FounderCulture Humane Tech Meetup series, our goal is to spark meaningful conversations and ask essential questions:

  • ​What does humane technology mean to us?

  • ​How can founders ethically build AI?

  • ​How do we maintain our attention span both on screens and off?

  • ​How can we ensure that users aren’t just treated as the product?

👉 8th Peninsula Climate Happy Hour (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM)
📍 Redwood City
💬 All climate fixers, domains are welcomed! Socialize, Eat, Drink, Partner.

👉 First Fundraise from YC, Techstars, 500 Global backed Founders (7:30 PM - 10:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 ​Join our ‘Entrepreneurs Ugly Talk Series: The First Fundraising’ to meet the founders backed by top startup accelators; YC, Techstars and 500 Global. We cut through the noise and get straight to what works, so you can walk away with real, actionable insights.

🗓️ Friday, Jul 26

👉 A.I. Co-Work Day at Port Labs! (9:00 AM - 7:00 PM)
📍 Oakland
💬 ​​The next phase in A.I. integration has been taking place throughout the Bay Area. ​Whether you've been working in A.I. for a decade or are just building your first application, come learn from each other and share your skills! ​​A.I. Co-Work Day is meant to be a mixture of work, fun, and conversation. ​​Come early to get some work done, then stay for our the afternoon activities.

👉 Network with AI CTOs and Deep-tech Researchers (4:00 PM - 6:00 PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Our goal is to bring together deep-tech researchers from both academic and industry backgrounds, as well as VCs interested in the deep-tech domain. This event fosters collaboration and networking among these diverse groups, facilitating the exchange of ideas and the formation of new partnerships.

👉 AI+SaaS Co-Founder Gathering (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM)
📍 Stanford
💬 Calling all visionaries shaping the future of AI and SaaS! ​Join us for an exclusive evening of insightful conversation, delicious food, and invaluable connections.

👉 Zo House SF Launch Party (7:00 PM - 10:30 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 ​Ever wondered what the future feels like? Discover it as we unveil Zo House SF on July 26, 2024. The Newest and the coolest clubhouse in the Bay Area.

🗓️ Saturday, Jul 27

👉 Solana Blinks Mini Hackathon (11:00 AM - 4:00 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 ​In the three weeks of the Blinks launch, developers around the world have created thousands of Blinks, enabling trading, tipping, betting, staking, and NFT minting all from X. No more complex dApp interfaces, no more unintuitive UI, just some lines of code and a browser and you're good to go — get users and let them interact with your product right where they are!

👉 Game Changers Vol. 3 (10:16 PM - 10:16 PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Get ready for our AI to introduce you to some of the most badass do-ers, founders, investors, and creatives in the Bay Area.

Supporting Startups Led By Women & Underrepresented Minorities

Every week, we will feature an innovative startup founded by women or underrepresented minorities.

This week we are featuring Aur+A founded by Josephine Declerck.

Josephine Declerck is a French & British entrepreneur who can be found in San Francisco when not in London, or travelling to network events. 

She is the founder and CEO of AUR+A, an innovative app tailored for event organizers and attendees. Utilizing Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence, AUR+A transforms traditional event experiences by replacing QR codes and providing real-time information about nearby attendees. It offers insights on how to approach people and keeps a record of connections made. Currently available on mobile devices, AUR+A is expanding to smart glasses, revolutionizing in-person networking.

With a background in Contemporary Art and Design, Josephine is also known for her diverse approach, being both ADHD and neurodiverse. 

Looking to throw a networking event to promote your business?

We can plan out your events from start to finish in the Bay Area! Our event planning packages start at $2k+.

Email me at [email protected] or book time with me to learn more.

Accelerate Your Startup Journey: Why Joining an Accelerator Could Be Your Best Move

By Mariane Bekker

Are you an early-stage startup founder, wanting to take your startup idea to the next level? If so, you might want to consider joining an accelerator.

Accelerators are programs designed to supercharge the growth and success of startups through mentorship, funding, networking, and intensive coaching. Here’s why participating in an accelerator could be the game-changer your startup needs:

1. Mentorship from Industry Experts: One of the most valuable aspects of an accelerator program is the access to seasoned entrepreneurs and industry experts who serve as mentors. These mentors bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, providing invaluable guidance on navigating challenges, refining your business model, and avoiding common pitfalls. Their insights can help you accelerate your learning curve and make informed decisions critical for your startup's growth.

2. Funding Opportunities: Many accelerators offer seed funding or access to investors, which can be crucial for early-stage startups looking to secure capital. This funding not only provides financial runway but also validates your idea in the eyes of potential investors, making it easier to attract additional funding in the future. Moreover, accelerators often have established relationships with angel investors, venture capitalists, and corporate partners, broadening your fundraising prospects.

3. Intensive Business Development Support: Accelerator programs typically include intensive workshops and coaching sessions focused on various aspects of business development. From refining your product-market fit to honing your pitch deck, these programs equip you with the tools and strategies needed to scale your startup efficiently. The structured curriculum and hands-on support help you identify growth opportunities, optimize operations, and build a sustainable business model.

4. Access to a Strong Network: Networking is a cornerstone of any successful startup journey, and accelerators provide unparalleled access to a diverse and extensive network. By connecting with fellow founders, industry leaders, investors, and potential customers, you can forge strategic partnerships, gain valuable referrals, and open doors to new markets. The relationships formed during an accelerator program can continue to benefit your startup long after graduation.

5. Validation and Credibility: Joining a reputable accelerator adds credibility to your startup and validates your business model in the competitive startup ecosystem. The rigorous selection process and the association with well-known accelerators signal to investors, partners, and customers that your startup has potential and is worth their attention. This validation can significantly enhance your startup’s reputation and increase its chances of success.

6. Focus and Accountability: Building a startup can be overwhelming, with numerous tasks competing for your attention. Accelerator programs provide a structured environment that fosters focus and accountability. The program milestones and deadlines push you to set clear goals, measure progress, and stay on track towards achieving key milestones. This disciplined approach helps you prioritize tasks, allocate resources effectively, and maintain momentum during the critical early stages of your startup.

In summary, joining an accelerator can be a transformative experience for early-stage startups, offering mentorship, funding, networking opportunities, and structured support essential for rapid growth. Whether you’re looking to refine your business strategy, secure funding, or expand your network, an accelerator can provide the tools and resources needed to accelerate your startup’s success. So, if you’re ready to take your startup to new heights, consider applying to an accelerator and embark on a journey that could define the future of your business. Ready, set, accelerate!

Apply to Founders Institute Fall Accelerate Cohort

💼 Your early-stage startup can benefit from structured guidance, lifelong mentorship, and access to top-tier investors. Join FI's impressive Alumni who've collectively raised $1.75 billion in funding and are impacting 200+ cities across 95+ countries.

APPLY NOW for FI San Francisco Fall 2023 ➡️ https://fi.co/san-francisco

Feeling Burnt Out? Struggling with your mental health while building your startup?

I teamed up with an amazing coach specializing in mental health for founders Natalie Pan from Not Too Crazy to offer you a free session!

The Week 10 Biggest Funding Rounds

  1. Cardurion Pharmaceuticals

    • Sector: Biotech

    • Funding: $260M

    • Details: Cardurion Pharmaceuticals, based in Burlington, Massachusetts, raised $260 million in a Series B financing round led by Ascenta Capital. The biotech firm focuses on developing therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases, having raised over $600 million since its founding in 2017.

  2. Human Interest

    • Sector: Financial Services

    • Funding: $267M

    • Details: Human Interest, headquartered in San Francisco, closed a $267 million funding round led by Baillie Gifford and Marshall Wace, including $25 million in debt financing. The company simplifies 401(k) plans for small businesses and achieved a valuation of $1.3 billion. Founded in 2015, it has raised more than $700 million.

  3. Tekion

    • Sector: Automotive

    • Funding: $200M

    • Details: Tekion, a provider of software solutions for the retail automotive industry, raised $200 million in growth equity from Dragoneer Investment Group. The funding round values the company at over $4 billion. Founded in 2016, Tekion has raised $635 million and reported revenue between $100 million and $200 million.

  4. Saronic

    • Sector: Defense

    • Funding: $175M

    • Details: Saronic, based in Austin, Texas, secured $175 million in Series B funding at a $1 billion valuation. Andreessen Horowitz led the round for the autonomous surface vessels maker, which designs drones for the U.S. Navy. Founded in 2022, Saronic has raised $245 million amidst a global surge in defense tech funding.

  5. Scorpion Therapeutics

    • Sector: Biotech

    • Funding: $150M

    • Details: Scorpion Therapeutics, headquartered in Boston, closed a $150 million Series C round co-led by Frazier Life Sciences and Lightspeed Venture Partners. The clinical-stage precision oncology company focuses on treatments for breast cancer and solid tumors, having raised $420 million since its founding in 2020.

  6. Aven

    • Sector: Fintech

    • Funding: $142M

    • Details: Aven, based in San Francisco, raised $142 million in its first disclosed round, a Series D led by General Catalyst and Khosla Ventures. Founded in 2019, Aven offers consumer credit cards backed by home equity.

  7. NGM Biopharmaceuticals

    • Sector: Biotech

    • Funding: $122M

    • Details: NGM Biopharmaceuticals, located in South San Francisco, secured a $122 million Series A round led by The Column Group. The company develops therapeutics for liver diseases and pregnancy-related issues, with total funding exceeding $542 million since 2007.

  8. Kandji

    • Sector: Information Technology

    • Funding: $100M

    • Details: Kandji, headquartered in San Diego, raised $100 million in capital from General Catalyst, valuing the startup at $850 million. Founded in 2018, the company focuses on Apple device management solutions and has raised over $288 million.

  9. Halo Industries

    • Sector: Semiconductor

    • Funding: $80M

    • Details: Halo Industries, based in Santa Clara, California, raised an $80 million Series B round led by US Innovative Technology Fund. The company develops laser manufacturing technology for the semiconductor industry, marking its first disclosed funding round since its founding in 2014.

  10. DreamBig Semiconductor

    • Sector: Semiconductor

    • Funding: $75M

    • Details: DreamBig Semiconductor, headquartered in San Jose, California, locked up a $75 million equity round co-led by the Samsung Catalyst Fund and Sehat Sutardja. Founded in 2019, the company specializes in chiplet platforms, with applications in large language models and generative AI, having raised nearly $93 million.

Source: Crunchbase

CEO, Founders Bay

Hi! I'm Mariane Bekker, 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 Women Founders Bay, a community of tech female founders on a mission to increase funding going to women.