In celebration of Women’s Month, From Idea to Impact: Women in AI Panel & Pitch Night—hosted by The AI Collective in partnership with Innovate Bay, bringing together women founders, builders, and leaders shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

The evening features a curated panel of women founders and VCs sharing how AI ideas become real products, how they navigate growth and fundraising, and how ethical, human-centered AI is built in practice, followed by a pitch showcase highlighting women-led AI startups.

🚀 Submit Your Pitch! 🚀

AI Startup Founders (she/her), we can't wait to see what you've been building! Please ✅ Submit your pitch ✅ by Friday, February 13, 2026. Read our pitch guidelines.

Pitch Night Awards

Startups will compete for two honors: the People’s Choice Award, voted on by the audience, and the Judges' Impact Award, selected by our judging panel.

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Hear from inspiring voices

Lauren Taylor, Managing Partner at Scaling Care, strategic early-stage capital in health and biotech, and an active startup mentor and advisor, on driving innovation with big impact.

Kimberly Bryant, Angel investor, Founder and CEO at Ascend Ventures Tech, supporting visionary founders within underrepresented communities building for societal impact and generational wealth.

Adelina Martiniuc, Founder and CEO at RoryPlans.ai, building AI project manager for humans and agents. Adelina has over 15 years of experience in tech, including leadership roles at Vercel, Cruise, and Google.

Moderated by

Channon Kennedy, VP, Startup Banking at Silicon Valley Bank | Founder & CEO at Kiwi Vision LLC. Channon is also SFBU Innovate Bay first cohort mentor and was recognized as Top 100 Woman of Influence 2024.

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Event Agenda

5:30 PM – Registration & networking with food & drinks
6:00 PM – Welcome & introductions
6:10 PM – Women in AI Panel
6:40 PM – AI Startup Pitches
7:45 PM – Voting & winner celebration
8:00 PM – Open networking
8:30 PM – Event concludes

Whether you are building, investing in, or exploring AI, this event offers a space to learn from women leading the field, discover emerging startups, and connect with a community committed to shaping AI that is both innovative and human-first. Join us for an evening of connection, visibility, and empowerment, where women come together to build, support, and lead the future of AI.

Connect. Pitch. Empower.

Space is limited for our community events, and we may not be able to accommodate all applicants. Please subscribe to our Luma Events page to stay informed about upcoming gatherings—we truly appreciate your interest and look forward to welcoming you at a future event.

The AI Collective is a global non-profit building the human layer for the AI age. We unite 150,000+ leaders, builders, and stakeholders across 100+ forums worldwide to democratize the frontier, build trust, and coordinate how society navigates the rapid acceleration of technological progress.

San Francisco Bay University (SFBU) is a forward-thinking institution at the intersection of technology, innovation, and leadership. Located in the Bay Area, SFBU empowers a diverse student community to thrive in tech-driven industries through applied learning, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies. Its innovation hub, Innovate Bay, provides founders and student entrepreneurs with resources, mentorship, and a collaborative space to turn ideas into impact through programs, workshops, and community events.

All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective agree to our privacy policy and are subject to our code of conduct.

Events hosted by SFBU and Innovate Bay may be photographed, recorded, or documented for promotional, educational, and archival purposes. By attending, participants consent to the use of their image, voice, and contributions, and agree to follow our privacy guidelines and code of conduct.

From Idea to Impact: Women in AI Panel & Pitch Night - The AI Collective Tri-Valley × Innovate Bay