About Us — Berkeley Coffee Chat
Berkeley Coffee Chat is a student-led initiative committed to bridging the gap between UC Berkeley's current student body and its powerful, diverse network of alumni. In a world where career advice and mentorship often feel out of reach — especially for first-generation, low-income, or underrepresented students — we believe that sometimes, all it takes is one conversation to change someone's path.
Born from the lived experiences of students navigating complex career decisions without adequate guidance, Berkeley Coffee Chat was built with one mission in mind: to make mentorship more accessible, informal, and scalable for everyone in the Berkeley ecosystem. We aim to create meaningful, one-on-one conversations between students and alumni — modeled after the style of a coffee chat — where real stories, candid advice, and authentic connections flourish.
The Problem We're Solving
Despite having one of the world's largest and most accomplished alumni networks, Berkeley students often face barriers to accessing it in a meaningful way. Traditional networking events, mentorship programs, and LinkedIn outreach can feel intimidating, impersonal, or time-consuming. As a result, many students — especially those without professional networks at home — miss out on critical early career guidance and the confidence that comes from hearing, "I've been there too."
At the same time, many alumni are looking for ways to give back but don't know how to do so in a low-commitment, impactful way. They're busy professionals who want to help but can't take on formal mentorship roles or long-term engagements. That's where we come in.
Our Solution
Berkeley Coffee Chat offers a lightweight, intuitive platform that connects students and alumni for brief, informal, and purposeful conversations — over coffee (virtually or in person), a quick call, or a chat. We call it "mentorship without the pressure."
Here's how it works:
- Students sign up and share a bit about their background, interests, and goals.
- Alumni sign up and indicate what topics they're open to discussing (e.g., industry insights, grad school advice, life after Berkeley).
- Our system matches them based on alignment, and students can request a 20–30 minute chat.
- No long-term obligations. Just one conversation at a time, on their own terms.
We're building a platform that is student-centered, low-friction, and deeply human — a way to democratize mentorship for every Bear.
Student-to-Student Networking
While our primary focus is connecting students with alumni, we recognize the immense value in peer-to-peer connections as well. Berkeley Coffee Chat also facilitates networking between current students across different years, majors, and backgrounds.
This student-to-student component of our platform allows:
- Upperclassmen to share insights with freshmen and sophomores about navigating Berkeley
- Students to connect across disciplines for interdisciplinary projects and perspectives
- Peers to exchange information about classes, professors, and campus opportunities
- Students with internship or research experience to mentor those seeking similar positions
We've found that these horizontal connections are just as valuable as the vertical ones with alumni. Sometimes, the most relevant advice comes from someone who's just a step or two ahead on the same path. By fostering a community where students help students, we're creating a culture of mentorship that will continue as these students graduate and become alumni themselves.
Why This Matters
The transition from college to career is not just about resumes and job applications — it's about clarity, confidence, and community. Many students don't have access to people in their desired industries or even know where to start. Our platform fills that gap by connecting them with someone who's done it before — someone who can say, "Here's what helped me, and here's what I wish I had known."
For alumni, the experience is equally powerful. They get to reconnect with Berkeley, reflect on their own journeys, and make a direct difference in a student's life — all without the time commitment of formal mentoring. Many of them tell us it's the most rewarding 30 minutes of their month.
This isn't just a tool — it's a community. It's a space where students feel seen and supported, and alumni feel reconnected and valued. It's a scalable way to create high-impact mentorship without overcomplicating the process.
For Students
- • Access to industry-specific guidance
- • Confidence in career decisions
- • Expanded professional network
- • Authentic advice from those who've been there
For Alumni
- • Meaningful way to give back
- • Low time commitment
- • Reconnection with Berkeley community
- • Opportunity to reflect on own journey
Our Progress So Far
We've already built and launched a working platform, available at:
https://cal-coffee-chat.netlify.app/
Interest is growing organically among both students and alumni. Early adopters report feeling more confident, supported, and inspired after using the platform. As word spreads, we've received feedback from departments, student organizations, and even faculty expressing interest in integrating this tool into their communities.
Our Ask
To expand this vision, we're seeking support from UC Berkeley and its extended community — including:
- Funding for development, hosting, security, and future integrations
- Institutional partnerships (e.g., Career Center, Alumni Association) to drive adoption
- Outreach support to spread the word to alumni and academic departments
We believe this platform can become a core piece of Berkeley's student experience — a reflection of the university's commitment to equity, inclusion, and lifelong community.
Our Vision
We envision a UC Berkeley where no student has to walk their career journey alone. Where mentorship is as accessible as clicking a link. Where alumni, no matter how far they've traveled, are still part of the campus heartbeat. And where the phrase "once a Bear, always a Bear" means you're always just one conversation away from making a difference.
"Whether you're a freshman looking for direction or an alum eager to give back, Berkeley Coffee Chat is your invitation to connect. To share. To listen. And to help someone take the next step forward."