Building a Better Tomorrow: Clean Innovation, Capital & Community
Join the first Building a Better Tomorrow to kick off a new event series that will highlight different demographics, sectors, countries, industries. Our first series focuses on the gender gap at private this luxury venue.
Beyond 2 - Building A Better Tomorrow is Silicon Valley’s is highlighting the struggles women face in entrepreneurship. We come together to discuss strategies and share knowledge to help push and create change. The Beyond 2 edition is giving new female talent a platform to show what they are birthing to make a better tomorrow. This exclusive event brings together visionary leaders, groundbreaking technology, and strategic capital to spark real momentum.
Connect with change makers, discover powerful solutions, and access the tools to amplify your impact. This is more than an event—it’s a launchpad and glimpse of the future women create.
Who is This For?
Founders, Creators, Artists, Leaders, Investors, Builders and Ideators of tomorrow.
It’s for investors who care about supporting positive change.
It’s for people who want a brighter tomorrow.
It’s for creators and innovators who want to be with like minded individuals.
It’s for innovators looking for supportive friends.
It’s for founders and investors with similar world goals to meet.
It’s for people who want to move away from pure capitalism.
It’s for people who believe in abundance.
🔥 Why This Matters:
It’s a space to nurture the innovation that shapes our future.
It’s an investment in people willing to dedicate their lives to building a better world.
It’s about protecting and sustaining spaces where bold ideas can thrive.
It’s a celebration of wins and a chance to deepen bonds with fellow change makers.
It's about finding solutions and discussing what is and isn't working.
🎬 Founder Showcase
Venture Capitalist Confirmed:
Daniel Idzkowski - LVLUP Ventures / IDIT Family Office
Allison Paz - Reign VC
Jeni Chang - Founder Institute
Seraphina Ha - Founder Institute
Jenny Kyzy - partner of Blue Sky Capital
Tong (Amanda) Liu - partner of Zlead Venture Studio
Cai Chen - investor of Hat Trick Capital
Jenny (Ensi Tszie) Jenish kyzy, venture partner of Big Sky Capital VC. Is recognized as a "Community Champion" by the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community and a "Gender Champion" by United Nations Development Program (UNDP). At UNDP Kyrgyzstan, she spearheaded innovation as the 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 at this UN global innovative “Accelerator Lab”.
Tong (Amanda) Liu is partner of Zlead Venture Studio, COO of Women in AI Club. Before, she worked in venture and family office. She expertly blends finance and technology. As a passionate community builder, Tong has guided numerous students and young entrepreneurs, fostering innovation and growth through her strategic insights and mentorship.
Cai Chen is an investor at Hat-Trick Capital and co-founder of Future Builders – 1 to 1. A former AI/ML strategist at Apple and product strategist at Uber, she backs immigrant founders from pre-seed to Series A (checks of $500K–$3 M) in vertical SaaS, consumer and robotics—and helps them navigate career pivots, visa challenges and language gaps.
Ignition App Sponsorship
Ignition transforms your sales, client onboarding, billing and payments process with seamless automation – so every proposal closes faster, every payment arrives on time, and everyone works with complete clarity.
Agenda
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Reception & Check-In
Kick off the event with coffee and tea while networking with fellow attendees. Take this time to explore our Female Founder Showroom.
10:00 AM - 10:40 AM: Allison Paz Keynote Speaker
Allison Paz, Partner at Reign Ventures, is a seasoned investor and operator with 15+ years of experience building and backing high-growth companies. She has led multiple startups from idea to growth, advised dozens of early-stage teams, and helped deploy capital across sectors ranging from SaaS to consumer tech. Previously a corporate banker in New York City, Allison now focuses on product innovation, fundraising strategy, and founder support—bridging capital and execution to help ambitious companies scale.
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM: Intro
11:00 AM - 11:40 PM Female Founder Showcase (Session 1: GossipGoblin, Efficiency, Riley, Rotate8)
Discover groundbreaking ideas as female entrepreneurs present their innovative projects that are reshaping industries.
11:40 AM - 12:00 PM Fireside Chat with Female Founders
Moderated by Cassandra McClure.
Cassandra McClure is a renowned Strategic Business Advisor, international Speaker, and the Creative Director of Clean Living Magazine. The magazine showcases iconic founders of sustainable lifestyle brands. She is a former celebrity makeup artist and award-winning product innovator, Cassandra has pioneered numerous advancements in the clean beauty industry. She is the visionary behind the Clean Living Show (formerly the Clean Beauty Podcast) and The Clean Beauty Kit, a PR box featuring female-owned and USA-made products. She is also GLAMOUR 2024 Wellness Judge. She is also leads at Clean Living Founder Collective to grow and scale brands with organic PR & event opportunities. She is a wife & mom in Palo Alto, California. Cassandramcclure.com
Karen Behnke is a pioneering entrepreneur who launched Juice Beauty in 2005, creating the first luxury beauty brand rooted in sustainable, organic, vegan, and cruelty-free formulations. Under her leadership, the brand secured five patents, built a farm-to-beauty supply chain in Sonoma County, partnered with Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Hudson, and maintained a "Top 15 Prestige Skincare Brand" status at ULTA Beauty for 15 years. After selling her majority stake to private equity, she stepped down as CEO in 2023, leaving a legacy of clean beauty innovation.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
Enjoy a delicious lunch while networking with fellow attendees. Don't forget to explore our Female Founder Showroom.
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Chaniah Kelley Keynote - “Leading With Soul: The Blueprint to Authentic Power & Purpose”
An inspiring look at how today’s women leaders can align purpose with performance. Chaniah Kelley explores how self-awareness, resilience, and intentional decision-making create powerful results in both life and business. Through real stories and actionable insights, she shares how to build an impactful brand, lead with clarity, and create lasting success without compromising authenticity.
1:30 PM - 2:05 PM: Female Founder Showcase (Session 2: Papaya, Percy, Eden, Woodpecker)
Another round of innovative project presentations from dynamic female entrepreneurs.
2:15 - 2:35 PM: Speaker Zoe Tjaller - Strategies in Overcoming Barriers
Zoe Tjaller is a Project Manager at TravelOperations and researcher specializing in female entrepreneurship and funding disparities. As a project manager, Zoe has led cross-functional teams to implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP systems across 10+ countries, owning the full project lifecycle from kickoff to handover. A recent graduate of Berkeley's Haas School of Business, Zoe is now diving into research on female entrepreneurship, exploring how technology and strategic approaches can help women founders overcome funding barriers. By blending her practical experience in systems implementation with her advocacy for inclusive entrepreneurial environments, she's working to create meaningful opportunities for underrepresented women in the startup world.
2:35 PM - 3:25 PM: Panel Discussion – Breaking Barriers in Funding
Join an engaging panel featuring successful female founders and investors as they discuss challenges, strategies, and solutions for increasing access to funding in the startup world.
3:35 PM - 4:15 PM: Female Founder Showcase (Session 3: Madina Papel, SmartHer Ventures, U4U, Fleak)
Explore more trailblazing ideas as female founders share their journeys and innovations.
4:25PM - 4:45 Challenges in Making AI Movies
Bai Yu (Fiona) is an actress-turned-writer, director, and producer with an MFA in Producing from the California Institute of the Arts. She founded Palette Pictures, specializing in high-concept Hollywood-style films, streaming series, and social media content for Chinese audiences with international appeal. Her latest movie includes High Forces, which she co-wrote and co-produced, features Andy Lau and premiered in theaters across China, Asia, and the U.S. in November 2024. Trailer: https://youtu.be/GcwLL7BklBM?si=PpAf-6B7jnfwFEIJ
In 2024, she also launched CineAI Founders Hub, a community of founders, filmmakers, creators, and technologists, to empower positive change by democratizing creativity through AI. 🔗
5:00 - 8:00 PM: Appetizers, Networking & Music
Wrap up the event with live performance by Monica Leones, drinks and meaningful networking opportunities, fostering valuable connections and future collaborations.
8:00 PM-9:00: Time to Dance! DJ Music
Goals
With a dynamic agenda that includes networking receptions, thought-provoking presentations, and opportunities to connect with industry leaders, the conference aims to inspire actionable change and create a more equitable future for women in the venture capital landscape.
Founder Showroom
Apply for one of 25 spots available (in registration)
iFocus Health founded by Adi Diner, is an AI-powered objective measures for ADHD and brain health, driving faster decisions, better outcomes, and scalable, efficient care delivery.
WoundScan by Kathleen Reyes is a wound analysis tool designed to help frustrated home health Agency owners and skilled nursing facility directors overcome staffing shortages and documentation burden — to finally recover cash flow using computer vision and Al.
LE VERE by Susan Grella and Marisa Erven helps you know gaps in coverage BEFORE a loss. Add your items, photos and organize them for proof of ownership.
Founder Showcase
If you're a female founder and want to present your startup on stage please book time with Cassandra to apply. 12 companies across industries will be selected to represent the talent present. You must have traction to apply (5min pitch + 3min Q&A).
Agriculture, Katie Bradford, CEO of Rotate8
Rotate8 is designing farmer-first robotics for a healthier world. Our low cost, modular, repairable solutions empower farmers, reduce labor costs, and promote sustainability in the fields.
Consumer Health, Shagun Maheshwari, Founder of Papaya
Papaya creates fully compostable, plastic-free menstrual pads tested with real blood and powered by a natural bio-coagulant that locks in flow and breaks down in any environment—even backyard soil or landfill.
Consumer Data, Claudia Natasia, Founder of Riley
Riley helps you become a true tastemaker, spotting what customers want before anyone else. By instantly connecting feedback from calls, chats, research, and analytics, Riley uncovers the trends, pain points, and opportunities that matter most, so you can confidently lead the market and build products your customers will love.
Entertainment & Technology, Samah Damanhoori, Founder of Madina Papel
Madina Papel creates inclusive animated films, immersive video games, and AI-powered storytelling experiences that help people connect with their true selves. Their mission is to redefine ‘happily ever after’ for the modern world by building magical worlds where everyone belongs.
Sleep, Conner (Wyatt) Herman, BCBA, MBA, Founder of Percy
Percy is bringing science-backed behavior change, innovative technology & deep category experience to the world of sleep.
Enterprise Data, Yichen Jin, Founder of Fleak
Fleak is transforming the future of data infrastructure with adaptive intelligence designed to standardize, enrich, and optimize data in real time. It reduces engineering effort by up to 90% and eliminates maintenance overhead, enabling businesses to accelerate innovation and unlock new opportunities within days.
Capital Markets, Carol Nguyen, CEO of Efficiency
Carol Nguyen spent 10 years at Goldman Sachs as an investment banker leading the Capital Markets team, where she helped hundreds of the top technology companies go public and facilitated billions of dollars' worth of share sales for funds and founders. She left in 2022 to take VinFast ($10bn Vietnamese EV company) public in the US through a deSPAC. Frustrated with the status quo, Efficiency. is focused on modernizing capital markets and investor relations. Beginning in the transfer agent industry, she has built a better, cheaper, and more reliable platform, automating security ownership and transactions for companies and shareholders.
Naomi Rajput is the Co-founder & COO of Eden, a healthcare startup automating administrative tasks in clinical settings to free providers from operational burdens and refocus care on the human experience. At the intersection of medicine and entrepreneurship, Naomi is driven by a mission to build systems that restore dignity, efficiency, and empathy in healthcare.
Currently completing her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience (Pre-Med), Naomi is also an internationally published researcher, with work spanning pediatric health, cognition, and digital health innovation. Her multidisciplinary background bridges clinical insight with startup execution, enabling her to lead with both vision and operational precision.
Amy Meadows has spent 20+ years in corporate environments directing companies and leading teams to success. Her focus on uplifting women founders through increased education, equity, and visibility has lead her to her newest enterprise, SmartHer Ventures, a reality tv show following women founders through the accelerator process.
AI in Healthcare, Gladys Chiang, Cofounder of Woodpecker Copilot, is reimagining AI in healthcare—freeing clinicians to focus on their patients while the platform handles the rest.
Ila Panik Marchetta is an accomplished entrepreneur and product strategist who has built solutions for some of the world’s most influential companies, including Microsoft, Visa and Unilever. With a sharp focus on innovation, systems design, and user impact, she brings a rare blend of creative vision and operational rigor to every venture she leads. Today, she’s the founder of U4U, building a scalable platform that empowers the next generation with tools for emotional wellness and authentic connection.
U4U (u4u.app & u4uteen.com), is a fast-growing digital space offering girls an empowering alternative to toxic social media—one that’s engaging, yet leaves them feeling confident, connected, and in control. A high-impact, financially scalable business at the intersection of health tech, wellness, and social media. With a clear mission and a sharp execution model, U4U is the kind of future-forward solutions today’s teens—and our society—urgently need.
Panelists
Jenny (Ensi Tszie) Jenish kyzy, venture partner of Big Sky Capital VC. Is recognized as a "Community Champion" by the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community and a "Gender Champion" by United Nations Development Program (UNDP). At UNDP Kyrgyzstan, she spearheaded innovation as the 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 at this UN global innovative “Accelerator Lab”.
Breen Sullivan founder of The Fourth Effect. A community-powered networking and matchmaking site where high-impact startups and visionary executives connect to drive growth, innovation, and boardroom success.
Monica Khan, Partner and Head of Digital at Strand Entertainment, is a creator economy multi-hyphenate with 15+ years of experience leading digital strategy, creator partnerships, and platform innovation. She has helped top creators and companies unlock growth across YouTube, Meta, Spotter, and IGN Entertainment. At Strand, she bridges Hollywood and digital to help creators and talent build sustainable, multi-platform businesses. Monica also co-founded the Bay Area Creator Economy and advises companies on creator-led growth strategies.
Jenny Kay Pollock is a dynamic force in Silicon Valley working with female founders as an investor, advisor and fractional CMO. She has extensive expertise in achieving scalable growth and driving monetization for high-tech B2C software companies.
She is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusivity. Jenny co-founded WOMEN x AI — a community dedicated to shining the light on women working with AI. Jenny serves on the How Women Lead Silicon Valley Executive Board.
Hosted by Cassandra McClure, Strategic Advisor & Creative Director of Clean Living Magazine
Presented by EchoHer & Funding Breakthrough Lab
📍 Oakland, Private Downtown Venue | Presented by EchoHer & Funding Breakthrough Lab
🗓️ Date: Thursday, MAY 22nd
👑 Where Bold Women Lead, Clean Visions Rise
Join us for a powerful day of purpose-driven connection and capital access as we launch the Beyond 2: Building a Better Tomorrow , spotlighting clean founders, conscious investors, and groundbreaking technologies across wellness, sustainability, and innovation.
As your daytime host and Clean Living Media Lounge representative, I’m curating a space where impact-focused founders and value-aligned VCs come together to shape the future of ethical entrepreneurship.
💼 Who Should Attend
For Founders:
You’re building in clean beauty, wellness, biotech, consumer health, or sustainable tech
You’re post-traction and seeking capital, press, or mentorship
You want real conversations with investors who fund with values
For VCs & Investors:
You invest in sustainability, health, and women-led innovation
You’re looking for media-ready, scalable, and socially impactful ventures
You want early access to the next wave of mission-driven market disruptors
💡 Why This Event Matters
This isn’t just an event — it’s a launchpad for real momentum:
✔️ 1:1 access to aligned VCs
✔️ Female Founder Showcases with traction
✔️ Clean Living Media Lounge interviews & PR
✔️ Purpose-led panels and documentary screenings
✔️ Networking with community catalysts
🧠 Clean Living Media Lounge
Presented by Cassandra McClure, this dedicated lounge offers:
Founder interviews and content capture
Live reels, photography, and behind-the-scenes storytelling
Editorial features for Clean Living Magazine
Select PR placement and partner coverage
Interested in being interviewed or included? APPLY IN REGISTRATION
🤝 Get Involved
➤ Female Founders – Apply to Pitch in REGISTRATION
12 spots available. You must have traction and readiness.
➤ Brands & Nonprofits – Apply for Showroom in REGISTRATION
25 showcase slots for mission-driven product and community leaders.
Payment plans are available for all tickets! If you know you want to be in the room with us this September, we don't finances to be the barrier. Interest-free payment plans via Klarna or AfterPay allow you to reserve your ticket today. Remember, your ticket purchase is usually a tax write-off for your business as an education expense!
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Cassandra McClure
Event Host | Strategic Advisor | Founder, Clean Living Magazine