The 2026 TRACE Conference was a curated, one day conference focused on teams shipping production AI. This future-facing gathering designed for leaders across artificial intelligence, creative technology, and emerging systems brought together AI builders and Braintrust employees for workshops, demos, keynotes, and networking across multiple spaces within the California Academy of Sciences.

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Produced for an AI-focused client ecosystem, the conference positioned itself as a space where innovation, ethics, and applied intelligence converge—with the venue being selected specifically to support the CEO’s keynote in the Planetarium, where the full-dome projection delivered an immersive 360 degree experience.

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Throughout the venue, spaces were designed to flex between co-working, content, and community: attendees could drop into workshops in African Hall, catch Trace Talks in the Piazza, meet with the Braintrust team in the lobby, or settle into the Chill Zone in Grand Hall and Piazza between sessions. Food and beverage were included in the flow of the day, with grab‑and‑go lunch options, snack stations, a BOBA bar, a donut wall, and a Sightglass specialty coffee cart. To close the day, the space transformed from a conference environment into an evening party. Live music was provided by a DJ, stationed and passed dinner offerings, and a full‑service open bar—supported networking and end of day relaxation and fun.