Bay Area Capital Connections Conference
About this Event
From Resiliency to Power
The Bay Area Capital Connections Conference returns under this year’s theme, “From Resiliency to Power,” bringing together entrepreneurs, business leaders, professionals, nonprofits, and community partners for a dynamic day of connection, learning, and opportunity.
From Resiliency to Power reflects a shift from simply navigating challenges to building the relationships, knowledge, resources, and opportunities needed to move forward with greater strength and purpose.
Through engaging speakers, panels, capital connections and networking opportunities, attendees will connect with people and ideas that can help strengthen businesses, organizations, and communities.
Whether you're an entrepreneur building or growing a venture, a professional expanding your network, a nonprofit or community leader seeking partnerships, or someone looking to make meaningful connections across the Bay Area, this conference is designed to help turn resilience into action—and action into power.
Come ready to connect, learn, build relationships, and move forward together.
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Since its launch over 15 years ago, the Bay Area Capital Connections (BACC) Conference has brought together the full entrepreneurship ecosystem from investors and mentors to funders, trainers, and decision-makers.
Each year, BACC convenes diverse entrepreneurs and community leaders from across the region to:
- Increase access to all forms of capital — financial, social, human, intellectual, and cultural.
- Create values-aligned business opportunities rooted in equity and community impact.
- Feature powerful entrepreneur stories and influential keynote speakers.
- Host panel discussion tailored to real-world business challenges and themes.
- Attract ~150 attendees committed to inclusive economic growth.
Agenda
🕑: 10:30 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
🕑: 11:00 AM
Fireside Chat: The Power of Starting: Turning Ideas Into Opportunity
Info: Tony Lam shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, including building businesses through Launch Your First and his experience with Shark Tank, offering lessons on entrepreneurship, growth, capital access, and navigating today's business landscape.
Keynote Address: Featuring Mandela Schumacher-Hodge
Info: Entrepreneur • Investor • Ecosystem Builder
Mandela SH is an entrepreneur, investor, and ecosystem builder whose career has focused on expanding access and opportunity within the startup and venture capital ecosystem.
She is the founder of Founder Gym, which trained hundreds of underrepresented founders around the world, and previously served as CEO of All Raise and Portfolio Services Director at Kapor Capital.
Her work as a founder, investor, executive, educator, and community builder has earned national recognition, including Forbes 30 Under 30 and LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Venture Capital & Entrepreneurship.
🕑: 11:50 AM
Panel 1: Protecting Community Businesses in Today's Economy
🕑: 12:30 PM
Lunch & Networking
🕑: 01:00 PM
Capital Connections
Info: An interactive networking session connecting entrepreneurs with lenders, investors, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), philanthropic partners, and business support organizations representing multiple forms of capital, technical assistance, and business resources.
🕑: 02:00 PM
Spoken Word Poetry Performance by José Cordon
Info: Antioch Poet Laureate and member of the Antioch Business Collaborative performs an original spoken word piece celebrating the resilience of entrepreneurs, the strength of community, and the power of collective action.
🕑: 02:10 PM
Panel 2: Building Strong Small Business Ecosystems Through Collaboration
🕑: 03:00 PM
Panel 3: Building Wealth, Capital Opportunity & Lasting Impact
🕑: 03:50 PM
Closing Remarks
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 97.88
