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

Register to Attend
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.

After Hours is Joy's way of bringing the founder community together, with sponsors helping make the evening possible. Come for the stories behind the biggest rounds in the room, stay for the conversations after. Doors open at 7:00 PM and the night wraps by 9:00 PM.

Date
December 10, 2026, 7–9 PM
Location
Shack15, Ferry Building
Who's there
Bay Area founders, operators & investors
Format
Cocktails, fireside chat & networking
The vibe

Good drinks, great company, not a mouse in sight.

Cocktails, a fireside chat, and the people worth meeting, in a relaxed setting at the Ferry Building.

Hands clinking cocktail glasses beside a Christmas tree
Cheers to the season
Guests mingling and chatting at an evening event
Great company
Union Square and its holiday tree from above
San Francisco, all lit up
Fireside chat

Hear it straight from the people who lived it.

Vishal Joshi
Founder
Vishal Joshi
Raised $130M+ from GC, Valor, YC, and others.
LinkedIn ↗
Richie Mathews
Investor
Richie Mathews
Active investor and advisor to startups in AI, mobility, fintech, and e-commerce.
LinkedIn ↗
Special Guest
Coming soon
One more voice joining the conversation. Stay tuned.
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
A few minutes from the sponsors backing the night.
8:15–9:00 PM
Networking
Cocktails, cheer, and conversation continue on the floor.
Dec 10, 2026 · Shack15, Ferry Building

Join us the night before the pitch.

Free to attend. Space is limited, so hang your stocking (and RSVP) early.

Register to Attend
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 events year-round, and After Hours is a smaller, more personal format for bringing the founder community together. Sponsors help make the evening possible, which keeps it free to attend. The series also runs in London.

Festive smart casual. Think a good dinner on the Embarcadero with a little extra sparkle: velvet, a bold holiday sweater, or a tasteful tie with reindeer on it are all welcome. No suit required, but leave the gym kit at home.

The evening is at Shack15, 1 Ferry Building, Suite 201, San Francisco. Registered guests will get entry details by email closer to the event.

The Ferry Building sits at the foot of Market Street on the Embarcadero, steps from Embarcadero BART and Muni station and the F-line streetcar. We'd recommend transit or a rideshare over driving. Full directions and any parking notes will go out with your registration confirmation.

Doors open at 7:00 PM. Arrive by 7:15 PM if you want a drink in hand before the fireside chat starts at 7:30 PM.

Yes, attending After Hours: San Francisco is complimentary. Just complete your registration to reserve a spot, space is limited.

Space is limited, so we ask that each guest register individually. If a colleague or friend wants to come, have them register separately.