Focus on Risk is an exclusive global event series and podcast produced by Baird Augustine and hosted by Ryan Baird, convening visionary founders, family offices, institutional investors, and fund managers in intimate settings built for meaningful connection, candid insight, and high-leverage fundraising.
Curated capital conversations at the edge of innovation, where institutional investors talk risk and founders map the next market disruption.
Focus on Risk is an exclusive global event series and podcast produced by Baird Augustine and hosted by founder Ryan Baird. Since its inception in 2009, it has brought together visionary founders, family offices, institutional investors, and fund managers in intimate settings engineered for meaningful connection, strategic insight, and high-leverage fundraising.
Over more than fifteen years, Focus on Risk has hosted hundreds of invitation-only gatherings across 24 cities and 19 countries, anchored by a flagship presence in Silicon Valley—the beating heart of global innovation. Whether it is a roundtable in Singapore, a panel in London, or a marquee summit in San Francisco, each gathering is designed to foster trust, spark partnerships, and accelerate capital into the companies and ideas reshaping the world. The result is real outcomes: multimillion-dollar investments, global syndicates, and durable alliances between investors and entrepreneurs.
The companion Focus on Risk Podcast extends that mission to a wider audience, exploring how institutional investors manage risk and how founders identify opportunities for market disruption—spanning macro themes such as AI, electric vehicles, energy, and quantum computing.
Founder-focused, investor-centric. Every gathering prioritizes deep engagement, candid dialogue, and direct fundraising outcomes over surface-level networking.
A track record of trust. Backed by Ryan Baird's two decades of experience hosting top-tier events and his leadership of the boutique investment bank Baird Augustine.
Global in scope, local in impact. Rooted in Silicon Valley yet international in reach, building bridges between markets, capital, and talent.
Ecosystems, not just events. These gatherings act as incubators for shared vision, aligned incentives, and collective action.
Follow along. Join the community on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Substack for event updates, episode clips, and market commentary.
Subscribe to the podcast. The Focus on Risk Podcast publishes in both audio and video. Episodes run 60–90 minutes and are recorded on Riverside FM.
Attend an event. Curated meet-ups, investor dinners, sailing trips, poker games, hikes, and summits run throughout the year. View the schedule and reserve a place on the Lu.ma calendar.
Get the newsletter. Subscribe on Substack for insights on market trends, risk management, and emerging technologies.
Ask a question. The inbox is open for feedback, sponsor inquiries, and speaker suggestions at info@bairdaugustine.com.
The podcast and event series feature leaders across policy, technology, entrepreneurship, and institutional investment. Recent highlights include:
Fiona Ma — California State Treasurer and CalPERS Board Member
Ben Narasin — General Partner, Tenacity Ventures
Daniel Springer — former CEO, DocuSign
Matt Mahan — Mayor of San Jose
Lisa Gillmor — Mayor of Santa Clara
Austin & Zach Hurst — Co-founders, Hurst Family Office
The Focus on Risk Podcast features funded founders, fund managers, family offices, and allocators who can share thoughtful perspectives on risk in their respective verticals. Quality is prioritized over quantity—fewer, deeper conversations with high-caliber guests.
Prospective guests apply by completing a short intake form, which helps the team assess fit and prepare tailored questions: apply to be a guest on the Focus on Risk Podcast here.
The guest process. If there is a fit, the team reaches out with a scheduling link, then sends a prep sheet covering sample questions, tech tips, and recording details. Sessions are recorded on Riverside FM and typically open with about 15 minutes of rapport-building, followed by 60–90 minutes of conversation and a brief wrap-up. Afterward, guests receive a follow-up note, a preview clip, and final links when the episode goes live, with encouragement to share it across their networks.
Brands and funds can partner with Focus on Risk to reach a curated community of family offices, general partners, limited partners, and funded founders. Packages include branded podcast segments, co-hosted events, newsletter placement, and social-media promotion. To request the sponsorship deck, email info@bairdaugustine.com.
