Upcoming Founder & VC Events Happening This Week

Hello from Mexico!

After some relaxing days on the beach in Tulum and then getting lost in the gigantic flea markets in the historic town of Mexico city, I’m getting ready to fly home tomorrow morning. I'm excited to get back because we have some fantastic events lined up for you next week!

Join us at one of our upcoming virtual workshops:

• 👼 How to Become an Angel Investor: A Step-by-Step Guide

• 🎤 Ask an Investor Anything Q&A with Founders Institute

• 🚀 Opportunity Magnet: Master Executive Presence, Communication, & Relationships to Skyrocket Success

• 🎧 AI-Powered DJing for Beginners (This one is for fun, you’re welcome ;))

And, Kristopher Floyd and I are hosting our signature monthly investors/founders dinner — already with 50+ investors confirmed from Race Capital, Goldman Sachs, 500 Global, Plug and Play, MongoDB Ventures, and more! We have only a few slots left, so RSVP today if you’d like to get in. To get a FREE VIP ticket, join our VIP membership today and I’ll send you a free ticket.

💸 Fund Update: We're excited to announce that we now have over $110M in soft commitments for our new venture fund! This fund is really driven by and for this community and it warms my heart to see all your support! Next week, we’ll start reaching out to those of you who've expressed interest in co-investing. Apply here to be a limited partner » This is your chance to be part of something big — your support and involvement are key to our collective success. We’re all in this together!

🔥🔥 NEW: Stay tuned for our new Bay Area-focused newsletter SFVibe... We brought you the Gigaparty and now, David Carvalho, Kristopher Floyd, and I, are kicking off a new newsletter next week. It’ll be packed with the coolest arts, music, culture, and food events around the Bay Area. We want you to be the first to know everything happening in our wonderful city! SF is sooo back and better than ever!

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

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - How to Become an Angel Investor: A Step-by-Step Guide

Wednesday, February 26 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​Are you interested in investing in the next big startup but don’t know where to begin? Angel investing is one of the most exciting ways to grow your wealth, support innovation, and gain access to high-growth opportunities before they hit the mainstream.

Ask an Investor Anything Q&A

Thursday, February 27 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Join our live, interactive Fundraising Ask Me Anything (AMA) session. Whether you're currently raising funds or planning for future rounds, this discussion is designed exclusively for early-stage founders like you. Founders will have the opportunity to ask questions about all things fundraising, the startup funding process, investor evaluation and fundraising strategies. Investors will provide practical insights to guide your journey - all in a friendly, judgment-free environment. Join the conversation! Come with your questions; our investors will be ready to answer them.

Exclusive Seed/Series A Founders & VC Dinner @ Persona

Thursday, February 27 - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

​VC Funds Attending: Plug and Play, ​500 Global, ​Race Capital, MongoDB Ventures, VU Venture Partner, ​Golden Seeds, Lotus Capital, ​H20 Capital, ​Next47, Vibranium Venture Capital, Leep Global Partners, ​Stanford GSB Impact Fund, ​GreyMatter Capital, ​P4CI, ​Play Money Studios, ​Nfluence Partners, ​Sugati Ventures, ​Lotus Partners, ​Octant Ventures, ​Future Laboratory Ventures, FTW Ventures

We are hosting an exclusive dinner for early-stage founders & VC, co-hosted by Mariane Bekker and Kristopher Floyd from Founders Bay.

​We want to bring together some of the brightest minds in the startup ecosystem, fostering valuable conversations and potential partnerships.

​What to Expect:

• ​Networking: Connect with other funded founders & investors and share insights.

• ​Innovative Discussions: Learn about best practices for raising funding and scaling your startup from top investors and founders

• ​Great Food: Enjoy a delicious Mediterranean dinner while engaging with like-minded innovators.

Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Opportunity Magnet: Master Executive Presence, Communication, & Relationships to Skyrocket Success

Friday, February 28 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

​In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to set yourself apart and attract the opportunities that will skyrocket your success.

Women in AI Breakfast: Latest Investments Trends & Technologies @ Perkins Coie

Thursday, March 6 - 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

​​We’re hosting an exclusive breakfast for Women founders at Perkins Coie, co-hosted by Mariane Bekker, CEO of Women Founders Bay.

​This event brings together leading voices from the world of AI, venture capital, and technology to explore the latest investment trends, breakthrough technologies, and the transformative role of women in shaping the future of AI.

We Are Silicon Valley - Uniting the Best of the Bay

25% off tickets use code: FoundersBay_25

Friday, March 07 - 1:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Startup Grind, with support from Springline and Canopy, is assembling the best powerhouse community builders for the first time ever to explore the past, present, and future of Silicon Valley. Join top founders, investors, and operators for an unforgettable day of insights, connections, and innovation in the heart of the Valley! 💡🔥

AI For Good | Hackathon @ Hult SF (Kristopher is judging)

Sunday, March 9 - 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM

​Join Hult AI Society for an AI-powered hackathon where developers, entrepreneurs, investors and students come together to build AI solutions for good! This competition challenges teams to develop AI-driven projects addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and pitch them as viable business solutions.

Frontier and Deep Tech Pitch Night

Thursday, March 13 - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

​A pitch event for founders and investors in deep tech and frontier technology, featuring Kristopher Floyd. Compete, showcase your ideas, and get feedback from expert judges.

Newport Beach Investor Conference (I’m speaking)

Thursday, March 20 - 10am - 9pm

Join 500+ investors for an exclusive, one-day gathering showcasing cutting-edge investment opportunities across sectors like AI, Blockchain, Biohacking, Consumer Products, Longevity, Medtech, Real Estate, Sports and Tech.

This event is designed to connect accredited investors, venture capitalists, private equity firms, family offices, and other high-net-worth individuals with a curated lineup of presenting companies and entrepreneurs actively raising capital.

Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit (I’m speaking)

FOUNDERS25 for 25% OFF the early bird ticket.

March 27, 2025

Join us for a transformative event designed to inspire and guide women on their financial journeys.

Participate in a full day of impactful sessions, including fireside conversations, intimate panels, and engaging discussions with curated peer-to-peer matchmaking.

Walk away richer in knowledge, community, and resources.

Take steps immediately after the event with your Wealth Creation Toolkit. This includes priority-setting exercises, diagnostic worksheets, a resource directory, and various tools and books by our speakers to support you on your journey.

Join our Founders Community

🗓️ Monday, Feb 24

👉 Hands-on with Agentic Graph RAG Workshop (2PM-5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A hands-on workshop on building an Agentic Graph RAG system using TrustGraph and Memgraph. Enhance AI applications with better contextual awareness, reasoning, and retrieval techniques.

👉 SF Awesome AI Dev Tools - February (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Discover cutting-edge AI developer tools shaping the industry. Connect with like-minded innovators and explore the latest advancements in AI development.

👉 SF Founders Brew Mixer (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A casual mixer for founders and builders to connect over great drinks. Share what you're working on, meet inspiring people, and unwind in a no-agenda, high-energy setting.

🗓️ Tuesday, Feb 25

👉 Ultra-Efficient AI with 500 Global: The Next Gen of AI Brains for the Edge and Devices (3PM-6PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Explore the future of ultra-efficient AI built for on-device intelligence. Learn how next-gen AI models optimize power and performance at the edge.

👉 Hike and Smoothies (8AM-10AM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A casual Twin Peaks hike with AI founders and VCs. Wrap up the morning with refreshing smoothies and great conversations at the office.

👉 Insurtech, Crypto, Fintech, Health & Enterprise & AI Startup Selection Week (9AM-6PM)
📍 Sunnyvale
💬 Watch top startups pitch across AI, fintech, crypto, health, and enterprise. Connect with founders, investors, and corporate partners in curated sessions.

👉 Top 100 Companies to Watch for in 2025 (9AM-10AM)
📍 Online
💬 Discover the fastest-growing startups and tech companies. Meet founders, teams, and industry leaders in this exclusive online networking event.

👉 Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: Ask A VC with Race Capital (9AM-11AM)
📍 Online
💬 Exclusive Q&A with Mohak Saxena, Investor at Race Capital. Get insights on AI, infrastructure, and early-stage startup funding.

👉 No-Code Meets AI: SF Bubble Meetup (5PM-7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Connect with the SF Bubble community at Barebottle Brewing Co. Explore how no-code is revolutionizing AI and meet fellow builders.

👉 Private VC / Startup Wine Tasting Mixer (5PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 An invite-only networking event for founders and investors. Must meet funding or revenue criteria to attend this exclusive gathering.

👉 Advanced AI and Tool Use Meetup #2 @ Cloudflare HQ (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Discuss the challenges of AI assistants and memory. Bring your use cases, questions, and ideas to shape the future of advanced AI.

👉 All Things Web at Sentry (5PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join web developers at Sentry HQ for talks, networking, and drinks. A great evening for those passionate about web technology.

👉 AI After Hours @ GitHub w/ Encord (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A casual gathering at GitHub HQ for AI practitioners. First come, first serve—arrive early to secure your spot.

👉 Cline | AI Agent CodeGen Meetup (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 An evening of networking and demos for AI code generation enthusiasts. Connect with innovators pushing the boundaries of AI development.

👉 Alma x Stripe Supper Club: From Seed to Scale (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 An intimate supper club for seed-stage founders. Discuss GTM and fundraising strategies with peers navigating the journey to scale.

🗓️ Wednesday, Feb 26

👉 GenAI Video, World Models & Autoregressive Simulation for Robotics (3PM-5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Bichen Wu, co-founder at a stealth AI startup with Eric Schmidt, will discuss cutting-edge GenAI applications in robotics. Explore autoregressive simulation, world models, and real-time text-to-video generation.

👉 Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - How to Become an Angel Investor: A Step-by-Step Guide (11AM-12PM)
📍 Online
💬 Learn how to evaluate startups, join syndicates, and make your first angel investment. Gain insights into risks, benefits, and strategies for high-growth opportunities.

👉 Code4Compassion 2025 (11AM-5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A hackathon bringing together AI developers and animal advocates to build tech solutions for animal protection. Organized in collaboration with AI for Animals, Electric Sheep, and Open Paws.

👉 Sidebar Summit Fireside Chat: Adam Cheyer | VP AI Experience at Airbnb (4PM-6PM)
📍 Menlo Park
💬 Adam Cheyer, Siri co-founder, discusses AI trends, startup strategies, and the journey of Gameplanner.ai from stealth to acquisition. A deep dive into AI-driven user experiences.

👉 Women Leading the Way: Ignite Talks on AI Building and Advising (4PM-5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A virtual Ignite session featuring women shaping AI across design, ethics, and innovation. Short, high-impact talks exploring responsible AI adoption and technological breakthroughs.

👉 How AI Can Increase Working Capital: Practical Tips and Strategies (4PM-7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Finance leaders from Brex, Respaid, and more discuss how AI is optimizing working capital. Learn how AI-driven strategies improve cash flow, collections, and payables.

👉 AI Leaders Chat & Network at Cloudflare (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A networking event featuring AI leaders discussing industry strategy. Get insights into AI adoption while enjoying food, drinks, and engaging discussions.

👉 Between Two Founders #6: Gusto Co-founder & CEO Josh Reeves (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Josh Reeves shares Gusto’s journey, leadership insights, and startup lessons. A candid conversation on scaling, culture, and building a category-defining company.

👉 BioPioneers Life Sciences Networking Event (5PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A casual happy hour for professionals in life sciences, healthcare, and health tech. Network and socialize with peers in the industry.

👉 Unstructured Data Meetup SF with AWS, Milvus, and Hasura (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore how Generative AI and LLMs connect with unstructured data. This in-person event requires registration and ID for entry.

👉 Women Tech Meetup w/Lawformer & SG (5:30PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Discuss the role of legal automation in scaling startups. Learn how founders can reduce legal costs while maintaining compliance and efficiency.

👉 San Francisco Bay Area Meetup (5:30PM-9PM)
📍 Santa Clara
💬 Connect with automation and AI enthusiasts over workshops, presentations, and networking. Learn about n8n workflows and AI-driven agents.

👉 AI x Humanity Happy Hour (5:30PM-7:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A casual gathering to discuss the intersection of AI and humanity. Engage in conversations about shaping a dignified future through technology.

👉 SaaS Brass San Jose - "AI and DevOps" (6PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Jose
💬 A meetup for SaaS startup technical leaders exploring AI’s impact on DevOps. Gain insights from industry veterans in an engaging discussion.

👉 GenAI Video, World Models & Robotics #Kling #Veo #Sora #Cosmos #Diffusion (6PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Explore real-time text-to-video generation and world models for robotics. Hear insights from industry experts on cutting-edge AI advancements.

👉 San Jose - Invitation Only - "AI & DevOps" (6PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Jose
💬 A decade of NADOG events celebrating DevOps. Join industry professionals to discuss AI’s role in automation, infrastructure, and scaling strategies.

👉 How to build Local LLM RAG applications | In person San Francisco Meet (6PM-8PM)
📍 Fremont
💬 Learn how enterprises are building Local LLMs with RAG for privacy and efficiency. A hands-on session exploring AI applications beyond cloud models.

👉 AI For Developers #23 (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Dive into AI programming, deep learning, and NLP at this developer-focused event. Explore how AI tools like ChatGPT and Codex enhance development workflows.

👉 DSS SF Meetup: Accelerating AI: Building and Deploying Real-Time Intelligent Applications (6PM-8:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Learn from IBM and SingleStore experts about building and deploying real-time AI applications. A deep dive into AI infrastructure and architecture.

👉 ai + health demo night #004 (6:30PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 See how AI is transforming healthcare through clinical workflows, biosensors, and healthtech applications. A series of live demos with real-world impact.

👉 🧠 The Thought Experiment Lab [public] (6:30PM-8PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A discussion group exploring philosophical thought experiments. Engage in deep conversations about reason, imagination, and the nature of ideas.

👉 DeepAlumni Bay Area meetup (6:30PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A networking event for DeepMind alumni to share AI insights, lightning talks, and career updates. Connect with fellow AI researchers and engineers.

🗓️ Thursday, Feb 27

👉 Enhanced base LLMs: Perplexity Sonar+DeepSeek R1 optimized by fine tuning Llama (2PM-4PM)
📍 San Mateo
💬 Explore how fine-tuning is revolutionizing base LLMs, challenging traditional approaches. Learn how Sonar and DeepSeek R1 set new benchmarks in AI efficiency and reasoning.

👉 AI Supply Chain Hackathon 2025: Extreme Weather (10AM-12PM)
📍 Sunnyvale
💬 Collaborate with AI practitioners and industry professionals to tackle supply chain disruptions caused by extreme weather. Work on real-world solutions and present to expert judges.

👉 Ask an Investor Anything Q&A (11AM-12PM) [HOSTED BY ME]
📍 Online
💬 A live, interactive AMA session for early-stage founders to ask investors anything about fundraising. Get insights into the startup funding process, investor evaluations, and fundraising strategies.

👉 Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - AI-Powered DJing for Beginners (12PM-1PM)
📍 Online
💬 Learn to mix tracks with AI-powered tools—no expensive gear needed! This hands-on workshop covers DJing basics, AI-driven transitions, and pro tricks for creating seamless sets.

👉 Session 1: Understanding AI & Foundations of Cybersecurity (12PM-3PM)
📍 Oakland
💬 A program focused on educating underrepresented individuals on AI and cybersecurity. Gain foundational knowledge, hands-on training, and resources to drive social good.

👉 AI Cybersecurity Forum (2PM-5PM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Experts and AI enthusiasts discuss the latest advancements in AI-driven cybersecurity. Join thought leaders in exploring new solutions to digital security challenges.

👉 Customer-Led Growth in the AI Era: A Networking Event (5PM-8PM)
📍 Burlingame
💬 Discover how AI is reshaping customer experience by enabling hyper-personalized interactions and data-driven decisions. Network with leaders in customer support and success.

👉 Enterprise and AI Happy Hour with Vouch (5PM-7PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Connect with founders and innovators in enterprise AI over drinks. A casual networking event hosted by Vouch to foster collaboration and idea-sharing.

👉 Exclusive AI Founders & VC Dinner & Panel: Raise Funding and Grow Your Startup (6PM-9PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 A private dinner for Seed and Series A founders and VCs. Join top investors and entrepreneurs for meaningful discussions and networking opportunities.

🗓️ Friday, Feb 28

👉 Beyond AGI: A 40-Year AI Insider Reveals the Human-Centered Future We Must Build (6PM-9:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Meet an AI insider with 40 years of experience, whose forthcoming book is endorsed by Geoffrey Hinton, MC Hammer, and Jane Metcalfe.

👉 Deep Tech Connections Networking Breakfast (8:30AM-10:30AM)
📍 Palo Alto
💬 Network with key players in the deep tech community, including entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and corporate innovators.

👉 AI in Production Mini Conference (9AM-5PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Gain hands-on insights into deploying AI at scale, with expert talks and networking. Valid photo ID required for entry.

👉 Femigrants Annual Forum 2025: Immigrant Visionaries in AI, Tech & Startups (10AM-4PM)
📍 Mountain View
💬 Connect with 300+ immigrant leaders, receive pro-bono consultations, and enjoy a red-carpet photo session.

👉 Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Opportunity Magnet: Master Executive Presence, Communication, & Relationships to Skyrocket Success (11AM-12PM)
📍 Online
💬 Learn strategies to enhance executive presence, showcase your value, and attract career-changing opportunities.

👉 Hacking Agents Hackathon (5PM-6PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join a 24-hour hackathon with top AI tools, lightning workshops, and prizes for the most creative projects.

👉 📈 Scaling with AI: Driving Sales Growth, Product Usage and Customer Retention (5PM-8PM)
📍 Sunnyvale
💬 Explore AI-driven strategies for scaling sales, product growth, and customer retention with industry experts.

👉 AI4HR Roundtable (6PM-9PM)
📍 Hillsborough
💬 Collaborate with HR leaders to shape AI-driven solutions for talent acquisition and workplace innovation.

👉 Beyond AGI: A 40-Year AI Insider Reveals the Human-Centered Future We Must Build - Light DAO Salon (SF) (6PM-9:30PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Join a salon evening with Light Dao, featuring deep discussions with AI expert De Kai and entrepreneur Ruby Yeh.

👉 Sonder Literary Salon (6PM-9PM)
📍 Oakland
💬 A conceptual poetry experience exploring spirituality, transformation, and community with NYT bestselling author Cole Arthur Riley.

🗓️ Saturday, Mar 1

👉 UX Book Club: Thinking with Type (1PM-3PM)
📍 San Francisco
💬 Dive into Thinking With Type by Ellen Lupton, an essential guide to typography covering history, principles, and practical applications.

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.