Jacobs Institute Student Newsletter: November 13th, 2025
Jacobs Institute Student Newsletter
UPCOMING@JACOBS
Jacobs Institute-organized events, news, and announcements—straight from the source.
SHOW YOUR WORK AT THE JACOBS WINTER DESIGN SHOWCASE
Per tradition, this semester’s Jacobs Design Showcase will feature DES INV undergraduate courses, Jacobs Hall-affiliated courses as well as courses from the MDes graduate program—BUT ALSO independent projects by students, researchers, clubs, staff and faculty!
Exhibition sessions are 90 minutes long, and through exhibiting you’ll have a chance to 1) user test and 2) receive valuable feedback, and 3) make friends and connections. (And yes, there are sometimes opportunities to show for multiple sessions.) Priority placement and timing is first come first serve, so apply now (and before November 20) if you wish to participate! We will follow up with any answers to questions you might have, as well as a timeslot and other logistics.
ALSO: You can also RSVP now to attend the Showcase on December 8 & 9!
🧋MAKERSPACE BOBA MIXER WITH YOUR INDUSTRY MENTORS
TOMORROW! 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
BERKELEY MASTER OF DESIGN ADMISSIONS APPLICATION TIPS
Tuesday, November 18th, 4-5 PM PST via Zoom
This virtual event is designed to help you craft a strong application for the Berkeley MDes program. The session will start with a short presentation of application requirements and tips, before transitioning to an open Q&A.
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.
Applications are now open for UC Berkeley’s Spring 2026 Fung Fellowship.
This one-semester program invites rising juniors (Class of 2027) and rising seniors (Class of 2026) from all majors to work on impact-driven projects alongside community and industry partners focused on health equity and sustainability innovation.
Information to apply:
Learn more about the program at: fungfellows.berkeley.edu
RSVP for an info session: bit.ly/FFInfoSp26
Sign up for our interest form: bit.ly/FFInterestSp26
Access our application: bit.ly/FFSp26App
Deadline to apply: Sunday, December 14, at 11:59pm PT
The Fung Fellowship accepts all majors into the program and there is no GPA requirement, as applications will be reviewed holistically.
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.
Berkeley Student Professional Development Fund - Fall Application Open
The Student Opportunity Fund Committee is pleased to announce that the Student Opportunity Fund (SOF) application for the 2025-2026 school year is open.
The Student Opportunity Fund provides funding for professional development opportunities for students. SOF funding is awarded to individual students or RSO applicants who are seeking funding (up to $2000) for opportunities outside of the classroom (e.g. visiting speakers, forums on topics of general interest, conferences, etc.) to further their career or professional goals.
The deadline for Fall 2025 applications, for any opportunity taking place between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025, is December 1, 2025 at 11:59pm.
The application will open again in Spring for opportunities taking place between January 1, 2026 and June 30, 2026. More information to come.
The application form is here.
SOF Guidelines and FAQs are here.
Note that, at this time, SOF funding is only available via reimbursement, after the opportunity has taken place. (Applications are welcome before or after the opportunity.)
Applications will be reviewed by the student-led Student Opportunity Fund Committee on a monthly basis.
Reach out to s...@berkeley.edu with any questions.
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.
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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.
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