DiscovHER
DiscovHER is the premier event for women entrepreneurs to gain game-changing insights and network with investors—whether launching their first venture or scaling an existing one. Hear from top VCs about what they look for, learn from trailblazing female founders who’ve built and thrived, and connect with organizations offering free resources to help you grow. If you're ready to take your business to the next level, DiscovHER is where bold ideas meet real opportunities. 🚀✨
Sponsors
Held at 500 Global's HQ in Palo Alto and sponsored by Unusual Ventures, the amazing speaker line up will be followed by a fair of booths offering free services to women entrepreneurs.
Hosts
Agenda
1PM-1:30PM — Keynotes. Get fired up.
1:30PM-3:30PM — Panels. Learn from the top.
3:30PM-5PM — Resource Sharing. Get free help.
Following the agenda, we'll be enjoying beverages courtesy of Unusual Ventures and mixing around the various booths to learn from amazing organizations specifically there to offer free support to female entrepreneurs.
Some of our Speakers and Panelists
Aytakin Aliyevais is a community builder and the Founder of the Femigrants Foundation. At Femigrants, she creates unique event experiences that bring together a community of diverse female immigrants working in investment, startups, and tech companies. She has held roles with major tech firms including Instagram, Facebook, NVIDIA, and HTC VIVE. She holds double gold awards from Women Changing the World Awards 2023 in London. She was honored as a 2024 Top 100 Women in Tech by KSV. Her work has been widely covered by major outlets, including Forbes, Business Insider, Economic Insider, Yahoo Finance, AP News, the London Daily Post, the Washington Times, the US Times, Intuit, HuffPost, and more.
Mariane Bekker is a tech executive with over a decade of experience in building high-performing engineering teams at leading startups like New Relic and Mindbody. She is currently the Managing Partner at Founders Bay, a premier venture studio for AI startups in the Bay Area, where she connects a community of 45,000 founders and VCs through events, virtual workshops, and fundraising resources. Mariane also runs Women Founders Bay, one of the largest communities of female tech entrepreneurs in the Bay Area, providing vital resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to empower women founders.
Sruti Patnaik is a transformative technology leader with a track record of driving innovation and business growth across multiple industries. As Chief Information Officer at Camping World, she led IT strategy across automotive, retail, and insurance, focusing on revenue generation, cost optimization, and IT monetization. Previously, she served as CIO at Sportsman’s Warehouse, where she launched e-commerce platforms and digital engagement strategies, and spent 20 years at Ross Stores, rising to SVP, IT Executive. Beyond tech, she is the Founder and President of Twinkle Academy, a nonprofit dedicated to children's education. Her expertise spans AI/GenAI, M&A, and digital transformation.
Nina Lu is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with deep expertise in venture capital, private equity, and healthcare innovation. As a Principal at Dell Technologies Capital, she focuses on identifying and supporting high-growth technology companies. Previously, she was a VP, Investor at BDT & MSD Partners, and co-founded Comet Healthcare (YC S’21), bringing a founder’s perspective to investing. With experience at Kleiner Perkins, TPG Capital, and Amazon (via PillPack’s acquisition), Nina has a track record of driving strategic growth in startups and established firms. She holds an MBA from Stanford GSB and specializes in scaling companies at the intersection of healthcare and technology.
Niamh O'Donnell is a dynamic venture capital leader with deep experience across investment, portfolio management, and startup acceleration. As Director of Programs at Unusual Ventures, she spearheads educational initiatives, portfolio operations, and strategic partnerships for a firm managing over $1B in early-stage investments. Previously, she was Co-Investor Relations Lead at 500 Global, supporting a $2.7B fund and a portfolio valued at over $300B. With a background in Enterprise Ireland and private sector strategy consulting, Niamh has guided startups from pre-seed to Series A. An award-winning entrepreneur, she is passionate about innovation, AI, and supporting female founders.
Lu Zhang is a distinguished venture capitalist, serial entrepreneur, and Stanford Engineering alumna, shaping the future of deep tech investments. As Founder and Managing Partner of Fusion Fund, she leads a premier Silicon Valley firm investing in AI, edge computing, and data privacy, supporting groundbreaking startups like Otter.ai, You.com, and Lyft. A first-generation immigrant from Inner Mongolia, Lu built and sold a medical device company for Type II diabetes before launching Fusion Fund in 2015. Recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, she frequently speaks at Davos, Web Summit, and Stanford, driving innovation at the intersection of AI and enterprise technology.
Jing Kuang is a visionary investor, entrepreneur, and brand strategist with a global perspective on venture capital and business growth. As Founding Partner at Y+ Ventures, she invests in early-stage startups with disruptive technology and market-leading potential. She also serves as a Lecturer at Peking University, teaching entrepreneurship to the next generation of innovators. With deep expertise in M&A and cross-border investments, she led Yongjia Capital, a subsidiary of one of China’s top financial groups. A former Procter & Gamble brand leader, Stanford MBA, and startup advisor, Jing bridges cultures and industries to turn visions into ventures and investments into impact.
Ariel Ganz is a precision health scientist and entrepreneur dedicated to integrating mental health and wellness into clinical medicine. Ariel is a Founding Partner at Arben Ventures and Xthena Partners, supporting startups at the frontier of health and wellness innovation. Passionate about unlocking human potential, she envisions a future where mental and physical health are seamlessly connected. As a Postdoctoral Fellow in Genetics at Stanford, she researches non-pharmaceutical approaches to improving depression, anxiety, and overall well-being through multi-omics and mind-body interventions. With a PhD in Molecular Nutrition from Cornell, she explores the intersection of nutrition, mental health, and precision medicine.
Martha Josephson is a seasoned executive search leader, strategist, and board advisor with a distinguished career spanning venture capital, consulting, and leadership development. A former Senior Partner at Egon Zehnder, she spent over 26 years specializing in senior-level executive roles in high-growth and turnaround companies across technology, financial services, and consumer sectors. Previously, she was a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Co. and an investment banker at First Boston. Currently, Martha is a Stanford DCI Fellow and Co-Head of Stanford Women on Boards, guiding top professionals on their boardroom journeys. She holds an MBA from Columbia and a BA from Princeton.
Sophie Ren is a serial entrepreneur and AI-driven product innovator with a passion for transforming knowledge-sharing and personalized learning. She is Co-founder & COO of ChatSlide.AI and a leadership board member of Stanford Alumni Impact Women's Network. Previously, she founded DouXing, an AI-powered e-learning platform used by major brands like Bank of China, Dunkin' Donuts, and Yum Foods. Recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30, Sophie’s research in cognitive science and AI-driven learning methodologies has revolutionized corporate training. A Stanford-affiliated leader and investor, she actively supports startups and AI innovation through Velocity Capital and Stanford Founders.
Beatriz Stix-Brunell is a former First Soloist with The Royal Ballet in the UK. After an 11-year ballet career, performing iconic roles like Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, she transitioned to Stanford, studying Symbolic Systems with a focus on Biomedical Applications. She has since gained experience in investment at Evommune and at Stanford Management Company. Beatriz embodies the boldness of stepping away from a successful career to forge a new path, a journey relatable to those considering taking the plunge into entrepreneurship.
Lindsey Mignano is a trailblazing attorney, entrepreneur, and investor dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities in law, business, and venture capital. As co-founder of SSM, she built a boutique corporate law firm into a 20-attorney powerhouse, specializing in startup formation, M&A, and venture financing. A Stanford alumna, Lindsey is deeply involved in Bay Area legal and community organizations, serving on multiple boards and co-chairing Stanford WIN. Beyond law, she founded Venture Betches and Syndicate Betches, funds designed to empower female and BIPOC investors and fund managers.
Serena Allen is an expert at aligning technology with legislative opportunities. She is founder and CEO of AirVitalize Innovations, where she is tackling the global air pollution crisis. A Larta Institute Venture Fellow, Mercedes-Benz beVisioneers Fellow, and Planet Tech Fellow, Serena has been recognized internationally for her contributions to climate innovation and policy-driven entrepreneurship. Beyond her startup, she mentors young inventors and advocates for environmental policy advancements. Her career exemplifies how science, policy, and entrepreneurship can intersect to create large-scale environmental impact.