Jacobs Institute Student Newsletter: November 5th, 2025
Jacobs Institute Student Newsletter
UPCOMING@JACOBS
Jacobs Institute-organized events, news, and announcements—straight from the source.
NOVEMBER MAKERSPACE CLOSURE
Academic holiday (no makerspace access): Nov. 11
Early closure at 3pm (no makerspace access): Nov. 26
Academic holiday (no makerspace access): Nov. 27-30
🧋MAKERSPACE BOBA MIXER WITH YOUR INDUSTRY MENTORS
Friday, November 14 from 4-6pm | RSVP here
Come on down to the Jacobs Institute Makerspace to mix and mingle over a boba with four amazing Design Fellows, our dedicated industry mentors who are here to support you in your career explorations and project and skill development.
Feel free to bring along any works in progress for feedback (class or personal projects, resumes, portfolios) or just drop by to get to know your mentors and and other Jacobs Institute affiliated students
Four of our amazing Jacobs Design Fellows— Darius, Julia, Mason and Dana — will be in attendance, and they are genuinely excited to get to know you and support you in any way they can! You can learn more about them and even book additional time to meet with them here.
SP26 Innovation Catalysts Applications NOW OPEN
Every semester, students bring a wide range of innovative projects to life at Jacobs Hall and throughout Berkeley’s vibrant design ecosystem. The Jacobs Institute Innovation Catalysts, made possible by Deborah Weisser, Ben Gomes, and the Eustace-Kwan Family Foundation, is a student grant program that provides an avenue for these ambitious student innovators to unlock further potential in their projects. Berkeley students are invited to propose projects that they aim to develop over the course of a semester. Selected grantees will work on their projects with the support of resources from the Jacobs Institute and as part of a cohort of fellow student innovators. Learn more and apply today! Application Closes: Wednesday, December 10th, 9AM PST
Upcoming Information Sessions
Monday, November 17 ⋅ 10:00 – 11:00am ⋅ Zoom
DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES DIGEST
non-Jacobs Institute-affiliated events, opportunities, and programs—at your fingertips.
Big Ideas Contest
The Big Ideas Contest at UC Berkeley is an annual, year-long innovation competition designed to support interdisciplinary teams of students who are developing creative solutions to pressing social challenges and real-world problems. Unlike traditional business plan competitions, Big Ideas is focused primarily on social impact, whether through for-profit ventures, non-profits, or ad-hoc teams, and it encourages students to step outside their academic coursework to tackle issues they are passionate about. Learn more and apply here.
Fast Company's World Changing Ideas Awards
Applications are now open for Fast Company's World Changing Ideas Awards, and you can claim our lowest rate through next Friday, November 14, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Below are answers to some of the most common questions we hear from applicants:
What are the World Changing Ideas Awards? This annual program celebrates the products, concepts, companies, and policies pushing the world toward a safer, cleaner, more equitable future.
How competitive is it? If you’ve brought a bold, inventive initiative to life this year that tackles urgent global challenges, you could be a strong contender. Take a look at the 2025 honorees here.
Where are winners published? Winners and finalists will be showcased on fastcompany.com, with many featured in the Summer 2026 print issue.
What are you judging applications on? Judges assess each submission based on impact, design, scalability, and ingenuity.
Is the application process difficult? Not at all. It’s designed to be brief and intuitive. You can submit now to lock in the early rate and continue refining your answers until the final deadline on December 12, 2025.
I still have questions. Who can I ask? Visit here for additional frequently asked questions or just reply directly to this email and we’ll get right back to you.
Don't miss the early-rate deadline: Friday, November 14, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Start your application here.
SXSW Pitch
SXSW Pitch is a premier startup showcase spotlighting the most ambitious entrepreneurs and disruptive technologies from around the world. Now in its 18th year, this dynamic event invites startups to apply through an open call process for a chance to be featured as a finalist.
Join us March 13-14, 2026, as startup innovation takes center stage in downtown Austin. Over two high-energy days, a live audience and a panel of expert investor judges will explore the forefront of emerging technology sectors.
The 2026 SXSW Pitch will feature 45 cutting-edge startups across nine industry categories:
Enterprise & Future of Work
Entertainment, Media, Sports & Creator Content
Healthcare, AssistiveTech & BioTech
Innovative World Tech
Intelligent Systems, Robotics & Multisensory Technology
Smart Cities, Transportation, Manufacturing & Logistics
Smart Data, Security & FinTech
Student Startups
Sustainability, AgTech & Food
Apply now to share your vision, connect with top-tier investors, and gain exposure on a global stage.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————
This newsletter was created with assistance from artificial intelligence to help summarize events and programs.
To add your event to the Jacobs Student Newsletter, please contact Janrey Javier at janrey...@berkeley.edu.
Get your Jacobs Maker Pass and get access to a world-class prototyping and fabrication facility — training and mentorship by professional staff included.
If you require accommodation for a disability for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) or information about campus mobility access features in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Jacobs Institute staff at jacobsi...@berkeley.edu with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event.
The Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation strives to be a welcoming home for all members of the Berkeley community. We value your ideas, suggestions and concerns. Complete our Jacobs Institute Anonymous Feedback Form.