MSIV Hosts 5th North Bay NEXT

On May 6th, MSIV hosted the Marin + Sonoma startup community at the fifth annual North Bay NEXT conference.

More than 350 North Bay leaders came together for inspiration and lessons from those who have built before them. While our speakers represented a wide range of industries and experiences, they all shared one meaningful connection: each was local to the North Bay. No one drove over a bridge or flew in to join us. That common thread, neighbors supporting neighbors as they build their ventures, is what makes this region so uniquely special.

The following recap brings the day to life for those who missed the gathering, and video recordings of the day's sessions will be published throughout June.

Keynotes and Conversations

The theme for this year's content was "Built to Last." The content offered founders practical insights on building companies with lasting staying power amid constant change. While the North Bay startup community spans a wide range of industries and both B2B and B2C businesses, founders share the common challenge of navigating rapid technological evolution. Despite these shifts, the core fundamentals of building great companies remain constant. Our speakers double-clicked on the lessons they've learned and the pathways that led to their success.

The 2026 NEXT program included keynotes from Tim Brown (IDEO), Zach Kushel (MSIV), Ted Paff (Bootstrap Thinking), Chris Hulls (Life360), Chris Slowe (Reddit), Katlin Smith (Simple Mills), Stephen DeBarry (BRONZE), and Eric Ries (Incorruptible, The Lean Startup).

North Bay Startup Showcase Presentations

The NEXT Startup Showcase provided a snapshot into the next generation of entrepreneurs actively building their early-stage companies in the North Bay.

The fifteen showcase founders were given a maximum of five minutes and five slides to deliver a TED-esque talk about their company. This year's cohort of entrepreneurs represented a large cross-section of industries building in the North Bay.

Topic Tables hosted by Executive Network

MSIV Executive Network and selected morning speakers hosted topic lunches for interested community members. These small groups facilitated closer connections and deeper dives into entrepreneurial themes, timely topics, and industries.

Afternoon Reception

Everyone's favorite NEXT tradition! We finished the day outside, enjoying food and drinks while wrapping up with the new connections made throughout the day.

The reception featured North Bay entrepreneurs building companies in the Food & Beverage and Consumer Goods spaces who shared samples of their products. The NEXT reception featured Kiki Milk, Maker Wine, Simple Mills, and Best Day Brewing.

Thank You to Our Community Partners

Thank you to the College of Marin for co-hosting the NEXT 2026 gathering.

We also want to thank our community partners for their support of MSIV's gatherings throughout 2026, without which NEXT would not be possible.

Our 2026 MSIV Community Partners include:

• Founding Level: Redwood Credit Union

• Platinum Level: LePage Center for Global Innovation and Bank of America

• Gold Level: Cerity Partners, 1299 4th Street (San Rafael), Acrisure, Kaiser Permanente, County of Marin