December 10, 2026, 7–9 PM Shack15, San Francisco

'Twas the Night Before the Pitch An evening at Shack15

After Hours: San Francisco

'Twas the night before the pitch, and all through the room,
founders met investors, and deals started to bloom.

One hour of real stories from the founders and investors behind them, one hour to meet the people who could fund or build with you next. Founders, operators and investors, cocktails at Shack15.

Become a Sponsor

Illustration of San Francisco at night: the Golden Gate Bridge strung with holiday lights, the skyline, a cable car and a Christmas tree in the snow

Shack15

About the event

An evening built for the Bay Area founder crowd.

After Hours: San Francisco brings together founders, operators, and investors at Shack15, the Ferry Building's community hub for entrepreneurs, for an evening of cocktails and conversation. Fundraising usually gets talked about after the fact, so we wanted the real conversation: a founder and an investor on stage for an honest fireside chat about how a round came together, what investors look for, and what each side wishes they'd known. Open networking follows in a relaxed, high-end setting.

Joy plans corporate events year-round, and After Hours is where that work gets personal: a small, curated room where the brands backing the night meet the founders, operators, and investors they want to know. As a sponsor, your brand is woven into the evening itself: signage and branding on-site, a moment in front of the room, and direct face time with attendees who don't usually take a cold pitch.

Date

December 10, 2026, 7–9 PM

Location

Shack15, Ferry Building

Audience

Bay Area founders, operators & investors

Sponsor tiers

$3,000–$10,000

Agenda

What the evening looks like.

7:00 PM

Welcome

Doors open, festive drinks, and networking as guests arrive.

7:30–8:00 PM

Founder fireside chat

A founder and an investor on stage for an honest conversation about raising money: how the round came together, what investors look for, and what each side wishes they'd known.

8:00–8:15 PM

Sponsor spotlight

3 minutes on stage for each Partner and Presenting sponsor to talk about their company.

8:15–9:00 PM

Networking

Cocktails, cheer, and conversation continue on the floor.

Why sponsor this event

Reach the room before it's crowded.

A captive, curated crowd

Guests are drawn from the Bay Area's founder and investor community, gathered in a venue built for it, not a walk-in crowd.

Real face time

An intimate evening format, not a trade show floor. Sponsors get genuine conversations and a moment in front of the room during the fireside chat.

One night, low lift

No booth to staff, no multi-day commitment, no tinsel to untangle. Show up, be part of the festive evening, and follow up on warm conversations in the new year.

The setting

San Francisco, all lit up.

A giant Union Square tree, the Embarcadero waterfront, and a city that does the holidays right.

The giant Christmas tree outside Macy's in Union Square at night — Union Square, all aglow

The Ferry Building and Embarcadero waterfront at dusk — The Ferry Building, on the Embarcadero

Union Square and its holiday tree from above — The Union Square tree and ice rink

Sponsorship tiers

Pick the level that fits, or talk it through with us first.

Includes a panel seat

Presenting Sponsor

$10,000

Everything in Partner
A speaking seat on the panel
5 attendee tickets

Become a Sponsor

Partner

$5,000

Everything in Supporter
3 minutes on stage to talk about your company
Your logo added to the event swag
3 attendee tickets

Become a Sponsor

Supporter

$3,000

Inclusion in the post-event email blast
Sponsor drinks or appetizers, with a stage thank-you shoutout
2 attendee tickets

Become a Sponsor

Sponsor this event

Become a sponsor of After Hours: San Francisco

Tell us a bit about you, pick a tier, and schedule a demo to walk through the logistics of sponsoring.

Sponsor After Hours: San Francisco

Share a few details and pick a tier. At the end you'll schedule a demo to talk through the logistics of sponsoring.

Start Application

⏱ Takes about 2 minutes

FAQs

Questions, answered.

Fundraising, from both sides of the table. A founder and an investor talk through how a round actually came together, what investors look for, and what each side wishes they'd known. It's a conversation, not a pitch session, so expect candid answers.

Joy plans corporate events year-round and connects them with sponsors. After Hours is a smaller, more personal format: an evening where the brands backing the night meet founders, operators, and investors without a cold pitch. The series also runs in London.

At the end of the form, you'll schedule a demo to talk through all the logistics of sponsoring. From there, we'll send over an agreement and get you prepared for the event.

Yes, sponsoring and attending are separate. Visit the attendee page to register, no sponsorship required.

Presenting Sponsor ($10,000) includes everything in Partner plus a speaking seat on the panel and 5 attendee tickets. Partner ($5,000) includes everything in Supporter plus 3 minutes on stage to talk about your company, your logo added to the event swag, and 3 attendee tickets. Supporter ($3,000) includes inclusion in the post-event email blast plus sponsoring drinks or appetizers with a stage thank-you shoutout, and 2 attendee tickets. Full details are in the sponsorship tiers section above, and we're happy to tailor a package on the demo call.

Yes. Sponsoring After Hours: San Francisco also adds you to Joy's sponsor network, so you'll hear about future events that fit your audience and budget.

After Hours: San Francisco

An evening built for the Bay Area founder crowd.

Hear it straight from the people who lived it.

What the evening looks like.

Reach the room before it's crowded.

A captive, curated crowd

Real face time

One night, low lift

San Francisco, all lit up.

Already backing the room.

Pick the level that fits, or talk it through with us first.

Become a sponsor of After Hours: San Francisco

Sponsor After Hours: San Francisco

Questions, answered.