How Founders Can Build Community in San Francisco

The city of San Francisco has long-standing roots as a home for tech. It’s hard to tell which came first, the golden era of tech or the deep community around it. Either way, it’s a city where it’s common for the professional and the personal to blend. It’s not uncommon to get to know people for their authentic selves outside of the office, leaving the transactional aspects of business behind, while still working together. 

You might be at a birthday party and run into someone you recognize from a networking event or hop in an Uber and find out your driver is working on launching a startup of their own. Both of these scenarios have happened to me personally and showcase the unique experiences SF has to offer. They’re reminders of how building relationships, even in the most unlikely of places, can lead to unexpected and valuable connections. I’ve never experienced this elsewhere and it’s one of the things that makes the startup ecosystem here so vital.  

Building Relationships and Supporting Community in SF

One of the markers of a strong startup community is the willingness of its members to help one another. The phrase “What goes around comes around” couldn’t be more applicable to the San Francisco startup community. The people you help along the way are often some of the first to return the favor when it’s your turn. In SF it’s not a matter of trying to find or build a community; it’s already teeming with events and groups eager for you to join. It’s more a matter of showing up, putting yourself out there, and being open to being a resource to others. 

“Show up at events, contribute meaningfully, and be generous with your knowledge and time. In this ecosystem, giving often leads to receiving. The support, advice, and opportunities that come your way will be the result of the trust and goodwill you build long before you need help,” said Dasha Shunina, founder of Women Tech Meetup, and Ambassador for Community and Partnerships at Puzzle. 

Building valuable relationships goes beyond just adding names to your list. Make an effort to foster genuine, long-lasting connections. Whether you’re engaging with investors, mentors, or fellow founders, the strength of your network will directly impact your journey. Alex Kearns, Managing Director, Tech & Innovation Banking at Citizens Private Bank says, “The strength of your network can be one of your most valuable assets.” Seek out those who share your values, challenge your ideas, and will be there to support you through the ups and downs.  

A strong community starts with strong relationships. Invest in both, and you’ll create a support system that truly helps when the going gets tough.  

Bringing Intention to How You Build 

In my opinion, the sprawl of the San Francisco startup community is what poses one of the biggest challenges associated with it. Unfortunately, there is only so much time each day. This means getting selective about how you spend your time. While it would be a dream to attend every event, it’s just impossible due to the size of the startup community. 

At the same time, the strength of the San Francisco ecosystem lies in how deeply connected it is, even across its broad reach. Eli Rabek, Director at Auth0 for Startups, describes it this way: “The San Francisco startup community manages to be both broad and tightly knit at the same time. There are so many opportunities to meet founders here – from startup events to waiting in line at the grocery store – and many times these connections become close friends because of how strong the community is and how great the people are.” 

This is why I recommend being selective with your time. When you find people you click with who are running high-quality events that are in line with the work you’re doing, put your focus there. This will help you get exposure to their audiences, increase the value of your work, and foster collaboration. Leveraging the community this way can help your top of funnel and build trust with other people in the community, too.  

As Ed Giansante, Head of Community, at Persona said, “Be intentional with your network. It’s not just who you know — it’s how you show up. Give before you ask, and the ecosystem will give back tenfold.” 

The same intentionality applies when building your team. The people you surround yourself with early on, whether in your network or in your company, will have an outsized impact on your long-term success. Hiring isn’t just about filling roles, it’s about setting the foundation for your company’s culture and future growth.  

“Culture and talent work as a flywheel: your first ten hires shape your culture, set the tone for the next ten, and ultimately define how your company operates at scale. Founders establish the bar for excellence, but your A-players attract more A-players,” said Ally Schneider, Head of Partnerships & Field Marketing at Vouch.   

Bringing this intentionality to your network and community will help you make the right connections for your journey with people who you’re confident will show up for you when you need it most. 

The Fidelity Private Shares Community 

When we officially launched Fidelity Private Shares into the San Francisco startup ecosystem in November, we focused on supporting the existing community. 

“We build community in SF because we want to be at the center of all innovation and be able to connect the next generation of entrepreneurs here and empower them to do great things through connections,” said Jonathan Chang founder of, SF IRL.  

That same drive to foster meaningful connections is why Fidelity Private Shares saw an opportunity to contribute. In a city where so many people are grinding to launch a business, get their next round of funding, or expand their startup, it can be difficult to foster connections. Our goal is to add the infrastructure needed to help those in the community connect and build relationships at a human level.  

As my friend and colleague DeRonnie Pitts VP, Business Partner Manager at Fidelity, put it, “We're here to help bring stability into the market, which already has a thriving community around startups.” 

I’m proud to say we have a reputation for being high touch with our clients. We’re excited to help support them as they create the technology of the future. One of the best parts of Fidelity Private Shares and its community is that it can be there every step of the way for a business. From the earliest stages of the journey, we’re ready to help offer connections and community, along with the software solutions needed to build and sustain growth. 

One of the best parts of being ingrained in a community is the friends you make along the way. People who start out as business connections can turn into fast friends and those relationships that span decades.  

That being said, I’m always looking to make more connections and build the community. If you’re looking for the same connection and support, reach out to me on LinkedIn and don’t forget to follow Fidelity Private Shares to hear about community events. 

Links to third-party material are included for your convenience. The content owners are not affiliated with Fidelity and are solely responsible for the information and services they provide. Fidelity disclaims any liability arising from your use of such information or services. Review the new site's terms, conditions, and privacy policy, as they will be different from those of Fidelity's sites.
The statements and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. Fidelity cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any statements or data.

1193393.1.0