Berkeley BCS 2026 AI + Recruiting Summit

Join us for a full day exploring how AI is transforming work, venture capital, infrastructure, gaming, real estate, and entrepreneurship—while meeting the people building what’s next. 🎟️ Register free through September 25 Registration is free through September 25, while tickets remain available. Starting September 26, tickets increase to $15. Your registration includes: A full day of AI talks and conversations TikTok recruiting and career opportunities Light breakfast and snacks Afternoon boba Speaker, founder, investor, and recruiter networking Access to sponsor and recruiting activations Lunch can be added separately for $10 for Berkeley students and affiliates or $15 for industry guests. Space is limited, so register early! 🎫 TikTok Recruiting at BCS + Golden Tickets TikTok recruiters and AI leaders will be onsite to meet attendees, discuss open opportunities, share career advice, and connect directly with potential candidates. BCS × TikTok Golden Tickets A limited number of selected attendees will receive special recruiting access and priority résumé review for relevant TikTok opportunities. Interested in working at TikTok? Submit your résumé when you register so we can share your profile with the recruiting team before the summit. 🎤 Speakers and schedule 9:00–9:15 AM | Opening Remarks Ann HsuFounder & Head of School, Bert Hsu AcademyFounding Board Member, Berkeley BCS 9:15–9:30 AM | Opening Remarks Jike ChongData science executive and author of How to Lead in Data ScienceUC Berkeley EECS PhD and Board Chair, Berkeley BCS 9:30–10:15 AM | Beyond the Headlines: AI Agents and the Future of Work Marco CasalainaVP, Microsoft Core AI What happens when AI agents move beyond the headlines and into how we actually work? Marco will share a practical perspective on the next generation of AI-powered work. 10:15–11:00 AM | Building Infrastructure for the AI-Native Era: From Manual Design to Automated Hardware Discovery Dr. Zhibin XiaoFounder & CEO, ZFLOW AIFormer Founding Team Member, Alibaba Cloud Chip Unit Explore the shift from manual hardware design to automated discovery—and the infrastructure required to support an AI-native future. 11:00 AM–12:00 PM | Featured Talk: AI & Venture Bryce GillelandGeneral Partner, Cal Innovation Fund II A candid conversation about how AI is changing venture capital, fund operations, startup evaluation, and the role of human judgment. 12:00–1:00 PM | Lunch + Networking 🍱 Grab lunch and meet fellow students, founders, speakers, investors, and recruiters before the afternoon program begins. Lunch is available as an optional add-on for $10 for Berkeley students and affiliates or $15 for industry guests. 1:00–2:00 PM | AI in Gaming and Entertainment Zhen ZhaiApplied Science Leader, Blizzard Entertainment How is AI changing the way games are built, operated, and experienced? Join us for a conversation about applied AI, gaming, entertainment, and the future of interactive experiences. 2:00–2:45 PM | AI in the Real World: Reinventing Real Estate with Sidekick Michael MartinCo-Founder & CEO, Sidekick Moderated by JL (Jialing Xie)AI GTM, TikTok/ByteDance; President, Berkeley China Summit A real-world look at how vertical AI is transforming one of the world’s largest and most traditional industries. 2:45–3:30 PM | Featured Conversation with Jianfei Zhu Jianfei ZhuFounding Managing Director, Omnibay AIFormer VP, Barclays Investment Bank Moderated by Grace LiUC Berkeley Haas MBA ’29; Co-President, AI Infra Club at Berkeley A conversation spanning AI, finance, entrepreneurship, global markets, and the opportunities emerging across industries. 3:30–4:00 PM | Building at Berkeley: Startup Resources + Marketing in the AI Era Keith McAleerChief Marketing Officer, Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology Learn about opportunities to grow your startup inside Berkeley’s leading innovation ecosystem—plus a practical look at how marketing is changing in the AI era. 4:00–4:15 PM | Closing Remarks A quick closing reflection before we continue with boba, recruiting, sponsor activations, and networking. Boba Happy Hour 🧋 Stay for boba, recruiting, sponsor activations, and more time to connect with the people you came to Berkeley to meet. All times are Pacific. The schedule and speaker lineup are subject to change. 🧋 Register free now. Get the whole day. Your registration includes every session, light breakfast and snacks, afternoon boba, TikTok recruiting, Golden Ticket opportunities, sponsor activations, and networking with speakers, founders, investors, recruiters, and the Berkeley community. Optional lunch is available for $10 for Berkeley students and affiliates or $15 for industry guests. Come for the conversations. Stay for the boba. Leave with new ideas, new opportunities, and a few people you’re really glad you met—maybe even your next investor, co-founder, customer, or colleague. 📅 Saturday, October 3, 2026⏰ Sessions: 9:00 AM–4:15 PM📍 Pauley Ballroom, UC Berkeley🎟️ Free through September 25 | $15 starting September 26 See you at Berkeley 💙💛