By: Jonathan Brierre
SAN JOSE, CA. – May 2026 – The Silicon Valley Economic Forum convened an exclusive group of institutional investors, family offices, founders, corporate leaders, and civic stakeholders in San Jose from May 15–16 for a high-level gathering focused on capital formation, economic growth, and the future of Silicon Valley’s innovation ecosystem.
An Invitation-Only Forum Built Around Serious Capital Conversations
Hosted in partnership with the City of San Jose, the forum brought together a curated audience designed to foster meaningful dialogue, strategic relationships, and investable opportunities.
Unlike traditional startup conferences built primarily around ticket sales, sponsorships, or broad founder attendance, the Silicon Valley Economic Forum was structured around intentional curation, investor quality, and transaction-oriented conversations.
Ryan Baird, CEO of institutional investment bank Baird Augustine and founder of the forum, said the event was built to serve serious investors and operators looking for more than surface-level networking.
“The economic forum is a showcase for family offices, CEOs of billion-dollar businesses, elected officials, timely authors, economists, and founders who are building serious companies,” said Baird. “We want to bring together a high-level audience so people can network, reach their business objectives, and return every year because the event creates real value.”
A Model Designed for Investors, Not Just Founders
Baird, a third-generation Silicon Valley native, has spent his career in institutional investing and has hosted investor-focused events since 2009. His approach was developed after recognizing that many startup events, while valuable for founders, often failed to meet the needs of sophisticated investors seeking high-quality deal flow, meaningful diligence, and access to breakout companies.
The forum follows a model Baird has refined over nearly two decades: first identifying institutional investors, family offices, corporate development leaders, CEOs, CFOs, and general partners across alternative asset classes, then curating conversations around breakout companies and the investors backing them.
“At our events, the founder explains the vision and the opportunity,” Baird said. “But for our audience, the more important question is why the investor is spending time and capital on that opportunity. Why now? Why this team? Why this deal out of millions of possibilities? That is the level of conversation that matters.”
By prioritizing institutional investors, family offices, strategic corporate leaders, and experienced operators, the Silicon Valley Economic Forum created a setting for substantive discussions around growth, risk, capital allocation, and long-term value creation.
Reflections From the Room
The Silicon Valley Economic Forum drew more than 250 attendees, underscoring the growing demand for curated forums that bring together capital, leadership, policy, and innovation in one room. Jason Ma, Chair of SVEF and CEO of ThreeEQ, said the experience reflected the caliber and energy of the audience. “Chairing the Silicon Valley Economic Forum 2026 was an honor and a delight,” Ma said. “The energy in the room was exceptional, and it was gratifying to see such a strong mix of family offices, investors, founders, CEOs, executives, policymakers, philanthropists, and AI/tech leaders engage in thoughtful, substantive conversations.”
Ma added that the forum’s programming captured the breadth of issues shaping Silicon Valley’s next chapter. “From the opening fireside chat on philanthropy in the age of AI, to a featured talk with California governor candidate Steve Hilton, to a dynamic panel on single family office trends in the age of AI, SVEF brought together thought-provoking leaders for the kind of forum Silicon Valley needs now: forward-looking, relationship-driven, and focused on innovation and economic growth that can matter well beyond the room.”
Evan Chi, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Founder & Co, said the forum’s influence extended beyond the public stage. “What made Silicon Valley Economic Forum remarkable wasn’t just the speakers on stage, it was the concentration of capital, influence, and decision-makers happening behind the scenes,” Chi said. “Conversations moved seamlessly between technology, markets, policy, and global investment trends.”
San Jose’s Growing Role in the Silicon Valley Economy
The May 15–16 forum emphasized San Jose’s growing role as a strategic base for founders, investors, and companies seeking to build enduring businesses in Silicon Valley. Baird noted that while San Francisco often dominates the broader public narrative, San Jose offers a compelling environment for startups and investors alike.
“San Jose is a very strong partner of ours,” Baird said. “It is often overlooked because of San Francisco, but it is much cheaper to do business in San Jose. As an investor, I would much prefer my portfolio companies and general partners encourage founders to build in San Jose. It is safer, more accessible for many family offices in the Peninsula and South Bay, and it is a great environment for investors to invest and for startups to build lasting trillion-dollar enterprises.”
The forum is part of a broader long-term partnership with San Jose, with plans to continue hosting the Silicon Valley Economic Forum annually for decades to come.
Building Community Beyond the Annual Forum
In addition to the annual forum, Baird Augustine engages its investor and founder community throughout the year through private dinners, curated networking events, investor gatherings, sailing trips, poker events in Atherton, and early morning hikes in the Los Gatos area.
According to Baird, these smaller gatherings help strengthen the relationships and trust required to make the annual forum more impactful.
“Every month, we host a handful of events to engage our community,” he said. “All of those touchpoints help us curate the annual Silicon Valley Economic Forum.”
Rather than centering the experience around entertainment, broad attendance, or casual networking, the forum focused on helping attendees reach concrete business objectives, including identifying strategic partners, developing investor relationships, exploring board or advisory opportunities, and gaining access to high-quality market insight.
Positioning San Jose for the Next Chapter of Innovation
By convening institutional capital, experienced operators, public-sector leaders, and emerging company builders, the Silicon Valley Economic Forum positions San Jose as a more robust hub for the next chapter of Silicon Valley’s economic development.
The May gathering reinforced a central message: Silicon Valley remains unmatched in its concentration of founders, capital, talent, and ambition, and San Jose is poised to play an increasingly important role in that future.
About Baird Augustine
Baird Augustine is an institutional investment bank focused on connecting high-quality companies, investors, family offices, and strategic partners. Led by CEO Ryan Baird, the firm works with founders, investors, and institutions across capital formation, corporate development, and private market opportunities.
Media Contact:
Name: Ryan Baird
Email: ryan@bairdaugustine.com
