Build Gala 2013




Marissa Mayer, Jack Dorsey – Orkut Buyukkokten, Derek Holbrook, Jack Dorsey
This year’s Gala — the first time it took place in San Francisco — was truly an inspirational evening, thanks largely to the examples set by two women honored at the event: Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer, (San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee took the occasion to name May 17, 2013 “Marissa Mayer Day”), and Build alumna Natalee Brahnam.


Amity Millhiser, Erin Glenn – Natalee Branham, Baratunde Thurston
Brahnam’s emotional speech showed the positive impact that Build can have on a young person’s life. “I was expelled from high school because of my temper… but Build stuck with me because they saw something in me I did not yet see in myself.” She is now a budding entrepreneur who appears to have a fantastic life ahead of her.
Marissa Mayer, who received the Pitch Prize for Entrepreneurship, presented to her by Jack Dorsey, summed up the spirit of the evening when she commented that, “We believe ideas paired with passion can change the world, and one person’s life.”


Orkut Buyukkokten, Zachary Bogue, Derek Holbrook – Samantha Duvall, Darren Bechtel


Adam Cahan, Alice Cahan – Shervin Pishevar, Nina Stanford, Scott Stanford, Zachary Bogue


MG Siegler, Megan Quinn – Nina Stanford, Damion Matthews


Shannon Bavaro, Ali Partovi – MG Siegler, Megan Quinn, Anja Manuel, Gregory Manuel


Gideon Yu, Brian Grassadonia – Sarah Lucas, Mayor Ed Lee