Meet the Team
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Ray Beldner
Director
Ray has worked in art education and marketing for the last 25 years with the goal of inspiring people to create, value, and support the visual arts. As an artist, he has exhibited in more than 30 solo shows and over 100 group exhibitions, both nationally and internationally, and his artwork can be found in numerous public and private collections including the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and the Federal Reserve Board, Washington DC; the Saks Fifth Ave Collection, New York; and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, among many others. At several Bay Area colleges and universities, he taught courses in sculpture and installation art, conceptual art, and professional practices for artists. Ray is also a fine art appraiser and art collection manager and advisor. -
Sieglinde Van Damme
Assistant Director
Sieglinde Van Damme is an award-winning artist, economist, and creative entrepreneur with a unique background in business strategy and visual arts. Her work, exhibited across the U.S., Europe, Russia, India, and Japan, explores the intersection of art and possibility. She combines analytical insight with creative innovation, both in the studio and as a former advisor to Silicon Valley startups.
A bestselling co-author of Jumpstart Your New Reality, she developed a signature blueprint for navigating change through creative thinking. Sieglinde holds an MS in Economics from the University of Leuven (Belgium) and an MFA from San José State University, where she also taught. Her work is held in private and corporate collections worldwide, including Sotheby’s International Realty in France-Monaco. At Startup Art Fair, she brings a global lens and a passion for creative disruption.
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Lilah Beldner
Marketing Director
Lilah is the founder of LAB III, a creative agency specializing in social media, design, and influencer collaborations for clients across creative industries.
Whether advising on social strategy or dreaming up creative marketing campaigns, LAB III’s work bridges the gap between artistry and audience, bringing each client’s vision to life through tailored content strategies, brand collaborations, event production, and meaningful online growth.
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Molly Blaisdell
Public Relations & Marketing
Molly brings 25 years of PR experience promoting clients in the tourism and lifestyle sector, including an extensive background in planning and executing strategic public relations and marketing campaigns for destinations, hotels and resorts, attractions, retail centers, and arts organizations, among other industries
Molly received numerous awards and accolades for her creative efforts to promote the Municipal Railway and San Francisco’s tourism initiatives before and after the devastating Loma Prieta Earthquake. In addition, she’s received several honors from and is a member of Bay Area Travel Writers (BATW); Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International; Pacific Asia Travel Association; and Society of American Traveler Writers (SATW).
Past, Present & Passion
Startup empowers independent artists, especially mid-career, re-emerging, and early-career voices, by creating opportunities outside traditional gallery models. Through art fairs, curated exhibitions and direct-to-collector experiences, Startup expands artist visibility while offering collectors access to exceptional contemporary art at accessible price points.
Startup Art launched in 2015 as a bold response to a shifting art landscape. One where gallery closures and a lack of artist-centered opportunities left many creators without meaningful platforms. Co-founded by artist and entrepreneur Ray Beldner, the first Startup Art Fair debuted at Hotel Del Sol in San Francisco, reimagining traditional fairs by transforming hotel rooms into intimate, immersive solo exhibitions. From the start, the fair prioritized quality and accessibility, inviting a rotating jury of curators and art professionals to ensure each edition offered fresh perspectives and high-caliber work.
Since then, Startup Art has grown into a full ecosystem that supports artists year-round. Through curated exhibitions, artist development programs like Startup Studio, collector-focused programming, and an online gallery, Startup empowers independent artists while offering collectors direct access to exceptional work.
With fairs in both San Francisco and Los Angeles and plans underway for future expansion, Startup continues to deliver authentic connections, vibrant experiences, and a refreshing alternative to the conventional art world.
