What makes these more useful than a job board: the ratio of engineers to recruiters is higher than you'd expect, and most events have a 30-minute open networking block before any programming starts. Show up for that window, not after the talk. Bring something specific to say about what you're building or looking for — "I'm exploring PM roles at Series A AI companies" lands better than "I'm open to opportunities."

Practical note: SoMa events have terrible street parking after 6pm. BART to Montgomery or Powell gets you within a 10-minute walk of most venues. If it's at a Dogpatch space, take the T-Third to 22nd Street.

If you only have two hours: hit the pre-event networking block, talk to three people with a specific ask, and leave with at least one follow-up coffee scheduled. That's the whole playbook.