Ready to get BIG? We bring brands, agencies, and publishers together for networking and educational events in the San Francisco Bay Area. www.sfBIG.org
It was nearing the end of a dismal 2003 in the San Francisco digital advertising business. The added pressures of developing, understanding and then championing an oft-misunderstood and emerging technology into a more traditional advertising world had taken a toll. The toll was equally felt by marketers, agencies, and digital publishing professionals who were beginning to look to other cities or o
ther markets for better opportunities. Coffee house and dinner table discussions had begun in small groups about how to revive the energy and enthusiasm in what was not-very-arguably the birthplace of this brave new “interactive” world. Leading professionals of the early digital movement worried that San Francisco was losing talent to other markets. Around a breakfast table in the San Francisco Flower Mart, the disparate groups came together one morning to begin the process of identifying the leadership, the mission, the structure and the financing of what would soon become one of the fastest-growing groups of its kind in the country. It was no small feat to select the first Board, which was led by an executive team of John Durham (President), Scot McLernon (First Vice President), Brian Monahan (Second Vice President), Lynn Ingham (Secretary) and Doug Schirle (Treasurer). That early team made two important decisions that helped to quickly solidify a strong working group. One decision was that an all-volunteer Board and an all-volunteer group needed to be strongly funded for a year’s work so as not to be distracted by the constant fundraising that had undermined earlier similar groups. They identified six strong Bay Area companies and fashioned sponsorships that held dominant year-long value, which helped SFBIG to launch with an impressive roster of early year supporters: Google, Yahoo!, MSN, ValueClick, Fathom Online and 24/7 RealMedia. Each year, SFBIG pledged to host six Signature events, one for each major sponsor, which would include both networking and educational opportunities, as well as an additional monthly roster of purely-social meet-and-greets to re-energize the community. It was October of 2004 when the launch event at a unique San Francisco dance club called Mezzanine took place. Because the Board lacked an RSVP system, there was an element of surprise attached to the eventual outcome. Success for the first event was tagged at 300 attendees who would hopefully represent all three important digital communities: brands, agencies, publishers. Hours before the event, the outcome was still unclear. Those who recall that first SFBIG event will remember long lines of people outside the door as the nearly-overwhelmed staff of volunteers started checking people in and handing out name tags. To the first Board’s amazement, the year of planning, talking, hoping, coordinating, and “herding the cats” finally culminated in an unforgettable first evening of more than 600 attendees. SFBIG was a hit from the start, filling an important need in a creative, diverse community of pioneering digital professionals with a long-lasting legacy.
05/06/2025
Thank you to everyone who joined us at sfBIG’s AI Advolution Half Day Summit! 💡 We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to connect, share insights, and spark meaningful conversations around AI. From exploring the fundamentals to experiencing live demos and real-world applications, we hope you left with new ideas and actionable takeaways.
A special thanks to our amazing speakers and panelists for sharing their expertise and stories with us.
04/28/2025
Meet the duo who took home the trophy and glory in 2024—and see why the sfBIG Pickleball Tournament is the can’t-miss event of the year. Whether battling it out on the court or mingling with the Bay Area’s best, Harrison and Jonathan highlight the moments that made the tournament one to remember. Get inspired—and get your paddles ready for this year’s tourney at Bay Club Gateway.
Friday, May 16
10am-5pm
Tickets available at the link in bio.
03/12/2025
The sfBIG March Madness Kick-Off Party is returning, and this year’s event is bigger than ever! With industry professionals coming together to celebrate the start of the tournament, this is your chance to put your brand in the spotlight.
Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this can’t-miss event. Email [email protected] for more details on sponsorship opportunities!
What’s happening? - Drinks & bites - Games & prizes - Pop-a-shot showdown (The leaderboard is calling… but can you outscore Katie and Bradley? Only one way to find out!)
- March Madness Squares (similar to Super Bowl Squares)
📅 Thursday, March 20 ⏰ 1PM - 5PM 📍 Trinity Restaurant and Bar (1851 Union St, SF)
03/10/2025
What a fantastic event diving into one of the most exciting topics in our industry right now—Attention Measurement. Thank you to our insightful panel: Sneha Ghosh, Erika Lamoreaux, Kristie Lee and Sara Owens.
Some key takeaways from the conversation:
🔹 Attention data helps bridge the gap between creative, context, and outcomes.
🔹 Measurement is evolving from quantity to quality of engagement.
🔹 Cost is still a barrier to entry for many brands and agencies - test & learn opportunities with publishers are welcome conversations.
Thank you to everyone who joined us! Up next - half day summit tackling the vast topic of AI on 4/23!
11/07/2024
Celebrating 20 Years of Great CONTENT! We really outdid ourselves this past year, but sfBIG is all about bringing interesting and timely topics to the community through our brilliant thought-leaders and up-and-comers. Be a part of the celebration on Nov 13th and tell us what topics you want to hear about at our CONTENT events in the coming months. https://sfbig.org/event/sfbigs-20th-birthday-bash/
11/06/2024
It's our birthday and we're celebrating 20 years of COMMUNITY! Whether through the BAARC Mentorship Program or our tent-pole events, we aim to enhance our Bay Area Community. Help us celebrate COMMUNITY by joining the party on Nov. 13th. https://sfbig.org/event/sfbigs-20th-birthday-bash/
11/05/2024
sfBIG is turning 20! We are celebrating 20 years of CONNECTIONS. As one of sfBIG's 3 pillars, we have always been really darn good at connecting great people with great people and we look forward to making many more connections in the coming years. Continue building your connections by joining us on November 13th at the Elks Lodge in the Kensington Park Hotel. https://sfbig.org/event/sfbigs-20th-birthday-bash/
Tomorrow, 3pm! We are so excited to bring these amazing women to the sfBIG Community for an afternoon of discussion and networking. https://sfbig.org/event/her-success-2024/