Experiential Treks

Boichik Bagels, founded by a New Jersey native, is a celebrated bakery based in the Bay Area, renowned for its authentic, New York-style bagels. Upon opening its first location in November 2019, just four months before the pandemic lockdown, Boichik Bagels spent five years perfecting the recipe. The company’s bagels, crafted with premium, organic ingredients, quickly gained acclaim through pop-ups and have since expanded to six locations and a dedicated factory. Boichik Bagels is committed not only to exceptional flavor but also to ethical practices, ensuring fair wages and benefits for its staff. With a reputation for excellence and innovation, Boichik Bagels continues to bring a taste of New York to the Bay Area.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will explore the Boichik Bagels factory and witness the bagel-making process firsthand. Savor a variety of their signature bagels, made with premium, organic ingredients. Meet their team to learn about their journey from pop-ups to multiple locations and discover the passion behind their Bay Area sensation.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with Boichik Bagels.

Gameheads is a game design training program that equips low-income and underrepresented youth with the tech and life skills they need to succeed at school, in their careers, and beyond. Based out of Oakland, CA, Gameheads uses video game design, development and DevOps to engage, prepare, and youth ages 15-24 in the Bay Area for careers in tech and video game industries. Through a powerful medium that youth are familiar with and passionate about, students learn how to code, design, manage projects, work in teams, lead, and create interactive projects that tell stories to enrich us all.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will tour the Gameheads office and hear from professionals across various roles, including communications, program management, and program coordination. You’ll gain firsthand insights into how these experts engage and empower low-income youth through video game design and development.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with Gameheads.

Google is a global technology leader known for its search engine, digital advertising solutions, and innovative products. It focuses on organizing the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful. Google’s mission extends across various domains, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will visit the Google office, participate in a panel discussion, and explore their cutting-edge technologies and products. You’ll gain insights into Google’s approach to innovation and problem-solving in the tech industry.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with Google.

Heirloom Coffee Roasters is the first specialty coffee brand to offer 100% regeneratively sourced coffees including the first ROC™ Certified coffee ever commercially available. Heirloom Roasts in its state-of-the-art coffee roastery in Oakland, CA using a proprietary culinary roasting style to enhance the flavor of their coffees and introduce sweetness in every cup.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will get to explore the backstage view of Heirloom Coffee Roasters and hear from select leaders across a range of roles and areas such as sustainability, business administration, imports, operations and more.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with Heirloom Coffee Roasters.

Intuit is a leading financial software company dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses with innovative solutions for managing their finances. Known for its flagship products like TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Mint, Intuit aims to simplify complex financial processes and deliver exceptional user experiences. The company focuses on leveraging technology and data to provide users with tools that streamline tax preparation, accounting, and personal finance management.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will visit the Intuit headquarters, engage in a panel discussion, and explore their work in financial technology. You’ll gain insights into their approach to product development and innovation in the fintech space.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with Intuit.

The Kapor Capital is an Oakland-based venture capital firm that invests in companies at the Pre-Seed, Seed, or Series-A stage. Since 2011, Kapor Capital has invested exclusively in “impact” startups, creating new economic opportunities across every sector, including education, work, finance, justice, food, health, and more. We are proud to be pioneers in gap-closing investing, identifying and investing in companies that provide both market and social equity growth.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will delve into the Kapor Capital’s efforts to merge racial justice with technology. Meet with experts to explore their initiatives in advancing tech equity, supporting diverse startups, and enhancing access to STEM education.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with Kapor Capital.

NPR is an independent, nonprofit media organization that was founded on a mission to create a more informed public. Every day, NPR connects with millions of Americans on the air, online, and in person to explore the news, ideas, and what it means to be human. Through its network of member stations, NPR makes local stories national, national stories local, and global stories personal.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will tour NPR’s office and hear from professionals in sales, IT, and communications. These experts will share their experiences and discuss how their roles contribute to NPR’s mission of informing the public.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with KQED Radio.

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is a multidisciplinary museum in Oakland, California. Established in 1969 through the merger of three institutions, OMCA is dedicated to exploring and celebrating the art, history, and natural sciences of California. With a vast collection of over 1.9 million objects, the museum offers a diverse array of exhibitions, educational programs, and community events for visitors of all ages. OMCA’s mission is to inspire Californians to engage with their state’s rich cultural heritage, foster dialogue and understanding, and envision a vibrant future for themselves and their communities.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will tour OMCA’s dynamic campus and engage with experts in art, history, and natural science. Learn how their work supports the museum’s mission to inspire understanding and connect communities through California’s rich cultural and environmental stories.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with the Oakland Museum of California.

Calling all soccer fans and sports enthusiasts who are passionate about Sports Medicine, Health and wellness, and Community Engagement, the Oakland Roots trek is for you!

Oakland Roots is a relatively new soccer club with a strong emphasis on community engagement and social impact. The club aims to bring together the diverse communities of Oakland through the sport of soccer and use the platform of sports to create positive change in the community.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will get to hear from one of the founders of Oakland Roots and learn more about health and wellness, business, operations, and more.

Learn more and register for the Spring 2024 E-Trek with Oakland Roots.

The Oakland Zoo is a renowned wildlife conservation center and family attraction with over 100 acres managed by the Conservation Society of California. The zoo is home to over 850 native and exotic animals, representing more than 270 species, housed in naturalistic habitats. It’s particularly noted for its excellent elephant exhibit and the expansive California Trail exhibit, which showcases native Californian animals and provides stunning views of the Bay Area.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will get the opportunity to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes at the zoo and hear from select leaders & administrators across a range of roles and areas such as life sciences, business administration, operations and more. Careers at zoos cover a wide range of disciplines, reflecting the diverse needs of animal care, conservation, education, and administration.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with the Oakland Zoo.

Onto Innovation Inc. is a leading provider of process control, inspection, and metrology solutions for advanced semiconductor manufacturing and other high-technology industries. The company’s mission is to enable its customers to achieve advanced levels of performance, productivity, and reliability in their manufacturing processes.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will get to explore how semiconductor chips are made, programmed and more. You will hear from select leaders across a range of roles and areas such as engineering, business administration, manufacturing and more.

Learn more and register for the Spring 2024 E-Trek with Onto Innovation.

Port Labs drives innovation in their maker space by hosting communities of entrepreneurs, creatives, engineers, designers, and business experts. Professionals from across industries and with all kinds of backgrounds can use Port Labs space in downtown Oakland to ignite their next big idea. Port Labs offers commercial space for use, access to amenities, and the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded great thinkers.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will get to explore the space Port Labs offers to its members and potentially hear from select leaders across a range of roles and areas such as entrepreneurs, engineers, designers, and business experts.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with Port Labs.

Salesforce is a leading customer relationship management (CRM) software company that provides a wide range of cloud-based solutions to help businesses and organizations manage their customer relationships, sales processes, marketing efforts, and more. The company is known for its innovative approach to CRM and its commitment to helping businesses connect with their customers in meaningful ways.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will explore Salesforce’s dedication to using technology for social impact. Tour their office and meet with experts to see how Salesforce promotes tech equity, supports diverse communities, and enhances access to opportunities through innovation.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with Salesforce.

SPUR — the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association — is a nonprofit public policy organization. They bring people together from across the political spectrum to develop solutions to the big problems cities face. Based in San Francisco, San José, and Oakland, SPUR is recognized as a leading civic planning organization. They practice urban policy, developing and advocating for ideas and reforms to bring about systems change. SPUR also focuses on governance because it’s how communities organize themselves to achieve collective goals and because they believe in the power of government as a force for good.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will tour SPUR’s office and engage with professionals working across diverse policy areas such as housing, planning, transportation, and economic justice. Each speaker will provide insights into how they tackle complex urban issues and advocate for sustainable solutions that benefit communities.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with SPUR.

TCHO is a chocolate maker that places a strong emphasis on the quality and sourcing of its cacao beans. The company is dedicated to creating delicious and sustainable chocolate products while fostering direct relationships with cacao farmers around the world.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will get to explore the backstage view of TCHO and hear from select leaders across a range of roles and areas such as the Chief Chocolate Maker, business administration, operations and more.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with TCHO Chocolate.

Zoox was founded to make personal transportation safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable—for everyone. To achieve that goal, the team created a whole new form of transportation. Zoox will provide mobility-as-a-service in dense urban environments. Zoox will handle the driving, charging, maintenance, and upgrades for its fleet of vehicles. The rider will simply pay for the service. In 2020, Zoox joined forces with Amazon. And in the process, solidified their future in the autonomous vehicle industry.

What to expect on this E-TREK: During this Trek, you will visit the Zoox office, participate in a panel discussion, and explore their cutting-edge work in autonomous transportation and upcoming ride-hailing services.

Learn more and register for the Fall 2024 E-Trek with Zoox.