

Circe Presents: Built to Last | an International Women's Day Party
Circe Presents: Built to Last - An International Women's Day Party
✨ We're celebrating the official launch of Circe, and we want you there.
This is not a conference. It’s a curated gathering of women founders, investors, and operators who are actively building, backing, and shaping the Bay Area ecosystem.
All attendees will receive swag from our sponsors, 1 month of free Lovable credits, and many more surprises along the way!
The Evening
5:00 PM | Doors Open + Activation Rooms Open
Signature cocktail. Curated introductions. Begin floating through our themed rooms.
6:00 PM | Welcome + The Story Behind Circe
A short welcome from Anna & Isa — why we built Circe, who this room is for, and what we’re building long term.
6:15 PM | Launch Panel: Built to Last.
A live, 45-minute conversation exploring power, leverage, capital, and modern growth through three distinct lenses: founder, investor, and operator.
7:00 PM | Activation Rooms + Intentional Connection Continue
The rest of the night is yours. Float between our activation rooms and keep connecting — your next LP, angel, cofounder, or new bestie might be in the next room.
The Launch Panel: Built to Last
This conversation brings together three women who have built, scaled, and backed enduring companies from different seats at the table.
Moderator
Lynda Negron — Founder (Stealth)
Panelists
Helen Min — Founder & Managing Partner, Articulate
Heidi Patel — Managing Partner, Rethink Impact
Rebecca Shostak — Co-Founder & CEO, Flodesk
Together, they represent the operator, investor, and founder lens — each with a distinct view of leverage, blind spots, and durability.
We’ll reserve meaningful time for audience Q&A.
Activation Rooms
We’re taking over the space with intimate, themed rooms you can float in and out of:
Under the Hood of a Startup
Legal, back office, banking, and the unsexy foundations that keep companies alive. Incorporation to term sheet without the fluff.Building Your Personal Brand
Brand, storytelling, investor updates, and distribution: practical ways to make sure the right people know who you are and what you’re building.Burnout, Boundaries & Staying Human
Wellness, face masks, nervous system regulation, products and practices for founders and operators who don’t want to be martyrs.Nothing is Off-Limits: Co‑Founder & Leadership Therapy
A private room with a startup coach for the conversations you cannot have on Twitter. Real dynamics, real stuck points, real advice.
Dress code: Power, but make it fun. Think “if my 22‑year‑old self saw me walk into this room, she’d be obsessed.”
About Circe
Circe is a curated community connecting women founders, investors, and operators in the Bay Area. We’re building the connective tissue between these groups & creating a space where capital, talent, and insight circulate intentionally.
Founders gain access to aligned capital and early talent.
Investors gain trusted deal flow and real operator perspective.
Operators unlock meaningful access, upside, and entry points into startups and angel investing.
Rather than open networking, we prioritize thoughtful introductions, high-trust conversations, and context that carries forward beyond a single event. The goal is relationships that compound.
If you’re actively building or backing and this sounds like your crowd, you’re in the right place.
We are keeping this intentionally intimate. Apply to attend, and we’ll curate the room.
Thank You to our Sponsors and Partners
Bartko Pavia
We are incredibly proud to have Bartko Pavia as a premier sponsor and host for our International Women’s Day celebration. Bartko Pavia LLP is a powerhouse litigation and transactional firm representing both plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes commercial disputes, real estate transactions, antitrust matters, labor and employment litigation, class actions, and bet-the-company cases. The firm is known for combining elite legal talent with a client-focused, service-oriented culture that prioritizes practical business solutions over conventional law firm metrics. Bartko Pavia’s team includes numerous former in-house counsel and business leaders who bring real-world experience to their practice.
In addition to their legal prowess, Bartko Pavia is a true champion of the Bay Area innovation ecosystem. By hosting us at their beautiful San Francisco headquarters, An Ruda Nguyen and the entire Bartko team are providing more than just a venue; they are helping us create a dedicated space where women in tech and finance can connect and thrive. We are grateful for their commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders and for their support in making this launch event possible.
Ankh Impact Ventures
Ankh Impact Ventures (AIV) is a venture capital firm dedicated to backing underestimated founders building breakthrough solutions in climate, health, and inclusive fintech. They don't just provide capital; they serve as a strategic partner for early-stage companies that are intentionally designed to scale and solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
We are especially grateful to Pierre N Rolin and the AIV team for their partnership in building a more equitable and resilient Bay Area ecosystem. By focusing on "Impact Alpha," Pierre and his team identify high-growth opportunities that others often overlook. Their commitment to fostering diverse leadership and sustainable growth makes them a natural ally for the Circe community and our mission to support women-led innovation.
Lovable
We are thrilled to partner with Lovable, the world’s most advanced AI full-stack engineer, to help our community turn their boldest ideas into reality. Lovable is redefining how software is built by allowing anyone to create complex, production-ready applications at lightning speed—moving from concept to code in minutes. Their mission to democratize technical creation perfectly aligns with our goal of empowering women to build ventures that are truly "built to last."
As part of our commitment to supporting your builder journey, we’ve teamed up with the SheBuilds community to offer a special perk for our event. As our dedicated community partner, Lovable is providing one month of free credits to every attendee of our International Women's Day celebration.
Human Interest
Human Interest is a modern 401(k) provider built for startups and small businesses, making it easy to offer retirement benefits without the administrative burden. Their platform integrates with payroll, handles compliance and filings, and delivers a simple, digital experience for both founders and employees.
With new California legislation requiring employers to offer a qualified retirement plan or enroll in the state program, Human Interest helps growing companies stay compliant while providing a competitive, scalable benefit that supports long-term employee financial wellness.
Hughes Marino
Hughes Marino is a commercial real estate firm that exclusively represents tenants and owner-users, helping businesses secure office and workspace solutions that are cost-effective and aligned with their growth. Learn more about what they do
They advise companies on everything from leasing and relocation to workplace strategy, design, and project management, helping organizations expand, renew, or optimize their space while reducing risk, time, and cost.
For founders, this means having an advocate who negotiates on your behalf and guides you through finding and building the right space as your team scales.