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Upcoming Founders Bay Events + When Was the Last Time You Truly Stopped?
Join us for Exclusive Investor Dinner & Ask a VC office hours
Mariane Bekker
February 19, 2025
Hi,
This week, we have two amazing virtual workshops lined up:
And next week, Kristopher Floyd and I are hosting our signature monthly investors/founders dinner — already with 20+ investors confirmed from Race Capital, 500 Global, Plug and Play, MongoDB Ventures, and more! We will also give an update on our new venture fund so join us or apply to be an LP here!
Did you know? We host monthly breakfasts and dinners for you to network with other investors and top-tier founders, and if you’d like to attend for free, join us as a VIP today.
If we’re not already connected, I’d love to hear from you—please follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram. Let’s connect!
But before I share more about our events, I want to take a moment to express how i’m feeling this week…
Was Life Always Like That?
Tulum, Mexico
You can look ahead to the future or back at the past, but the present moves too fast to absorb.
For the last few years, I’ve been in constant motion. Building. Rebuilding. Pushing forward. After my divorce, I threw myself into work. It became my escape, my identity, my proof that I could survive.
But at some point, survival mode stops feeling like strength. It just feels like exhaustion.
With my kids traveling with their dad, I finally let myself do something just for me — I took this week off and traveled to Mexico. No work, no meetings, no justifying why I "should" stay busy (Okay, I’m still writing this newsletter—but almost there!)
And then something hit me.
As founders, investors, and high-achievers, we’re wired to chase what’s next. The next round. The next deal. The next milestone. We convince ourselves that once we hit that next goal, we’ll finally feel different — fulfilled, successful, at peace.
But the truth? If we don’t learn to pause, we’ll never feel it.
Sitting here starring at the ocean, away from the usual chaos, I see everything I’ve gained in the process. The friendships. The unexpected wins. The version of me that fought through everything and still found a way forward.
Maybe you’re in that place too — moving so fast that you don’t see how far you’ve come. But if you stop, even for a second, you might realize that this — this messy, imperfect, evolving journey — is already something worth celebrating.
So here’s a reminder to take that pause. To look around. To recognize the life you’re building beyond the numbers and deals. Because in the end, the real ROI is in the moments we allow ourselves to live.
The question is — when was the last time you truly stopped?
Best,
Mariane Bekker
Featured Events
Want us to sponsor an event or partner together? Contact us here
Wednesday, February 19 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join us for a hands-on workshop where you'll learn how to create AI agents from scratch! We'll break down the key concepts in simple terms and guide you step by step—no advanced coding experience needed.
​In this session, you'll discover:
✅ What AI agents are and how they work
✅ The basics of training and improving AI models
✅ How to build and test your own AI agent
Thursday, February 20 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join us for an insightful webinar designed to help startups unlock the power of CRM systems. This session will guide you through selecting the right CRM, conducting audits, leveraging end-to-end reporting, and maintaining pipeline hygiene.
​Learn how to optimize sales processes, enhance team collaboration, and make data-driven decisions to accelerate growth. Perfect for founders, sales leaders, and early-stage teams looking to streamline operations and maximize impact.
Tuesday, February 25 - 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
​Join us for an exclusive Founders Bay Expert Office Hours session with Mohak Saxena, Investor at Race Capital and former AI leader at DataRobot. This is your chance to connect directly with a seasoned VC investing in early-stage tech infra, AI, and data startups.
Tuesday, February 25 - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
​Raising capital is one of the most critical—and complex—challenges founders face. This workshop is designed to give you a solid understanding of the financial essentials that drive successful fundraising, helping you make informed decisions to grow your startup strategically.
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.
Thursday, February 27 - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
​Founders, Investors and Operators, get ready to drop beats, not just code! 🎵
​No equipment? No problem! In this hands-on AI-powered DJing workshop, you’ll learn how to mix tracks in minutes—without expensive gear or complicated theory.
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 4 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
​With extensive experience as an investor, engineer, and community leader, I offer personalized advice to help your startup succeed.
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.
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.
Join our Founders Community
🚀 Elevate Your Access with A Membership Tiers!
Price: $19/month $9/month Unlock a range of benefits to supercharge your networking and event participation:
| $99/month $49/month For those seeking the ultimate in networking and support, our VIP Access tier offers unparalleled benefits:
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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 - Master Your Sales Pipeline: CRM Strategies for Startups, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Opportunity Magnet: Master Executive Presence, Communication, & Relationships to Skyrocket Success, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop: Funding Fundamentals – Valuations, Raising Capital, and Investment Strategies
Subscribe To VIP Access, get all the workshops above for free and get free tickets to: Founders Bay Virtual Workshop - Opportunity Magnet: Master Executive Presence, Communication, & Relationships to Skyrocket Success, Founders Bay Virtual Workshop: Funding Fundamentals – Valuations, Raising Capital, and Investment Strategies, Exclusive Seed/Series A Founders & VC Dinner @ Cow Hollow Mansion, Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: Ask A VC with Race Capital, Founders Bay Expert Office Hours: Startup Advice with Mariane Bekker, Women in AI Breakfast: Latest Investments Trends & Technologies @ Perkins Coie
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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