Editor's note: This year we honored some of the brightest young minds in the Bay Area innovation sector as part of our Inno Under 25 feature. Check out all the profiles from this year's honorees here.
Don’t call her an influencer. More of a connector, facilitator, if you will, of San Francisco’s vibrant tech event scene. Michelle Fang is the go-to cheerleader and promoter of parties catering to tech entrepreneurs and developers on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. She’s only lived in the city a few years, but has already become a mainstay on the scene, hosting get-togethers and directing would-be attendees to the city’s hottest events through her weekly events threads, not to mention garnering mentions in numerous local and industry news items. She has used her clout at IRL gatherings to land a prominent job at Safara, a Sequoia-backed travel bookings startup.
Michelle Fang
- Age: 24
- Education: Bachelor's in finance and economics at William & Mary
- Residence: Hayes Valley (Cerebral Valley), San Francisco
- Role: Head of Social
- Company: Safara
How did you wind up in S.F.?
I grew up in Edison, New Jersey, my entire life, got involved with this startup and moved to Los Angeles, While in L.A., I decided to make a quick trip to San Francisco, and I ended up meeting so many amazing people by going to a few tech events. I just like fell in love with how like genuine and inclusive and vibrant the ecosystem was here.
How would you describe your role in San Francisco’s tech scene?
I want to create a platform for individual community builders and organizations to get more involved in the S.F. tech ecosystem. I was fascinated by all the grassroots organizers here putting on events, so I started posting a weekly list of S.F. tech events on Twitter to help amplify them. I also host my own events and dinners to facilitate more meaningful connections.
How have you seen the SF tech community change recently?
During crypto it was a lot of big sponsored parties and happy hours. With the downfall of crypto, it’s shifted to more intimate, interest-driven events that don’t rely on huge corporate sponsorships. The community has realized networking is about more than just big parties.
Who are some of your tech heroes or inspirations in SF?
Josh Constine of SignalFire who champions the S.F. ecosystem. Eric Bahn of Hustle Fund — he’s always on Twitter, and always advocating for community builders in S.F. Mostly people who have been here much longer than I have and continue to spread positivity.
How did your Twitter following and community building help your career?
Being a connector has boosted my reputation. People recognize me from my event threads. It also allowed me to nail down targeting for my role in marketing and community at my company Safara.
What’s your favorite part of living in S.F.?
How small and familiar it becomes over time. I love walking around and randomly bumping into people I know. It feels like a really tight-knit community.
