Outset brought approximately 800 guests to SVN West in San Francisco on September 24, 2026, for its inaugural Outliers research festival. Keynotes, breakouts, and networking filled the ballroom, first-floor showrooms, and rooftop before a special live performance closed the day. NPU supported event layouts, venue logistics, vendor referrals, permitting, and beverage service.

This past September, Outset brought research and insights professionals to SVN West for its inaugural Outliers research festival to explore how AI is changing the way companies understand their customers. Speakers from Microsoft AI, Anthropic, Uber, Google DeepMind, and other companies joined for a day of presentations, breakout discussions, and networking, with a very special rooftop performance to close out the event.

Coffee, Keynotes, and Conversations Across the Building

Registration and coffee gave guests time to settle in before gathering in SVN West’s ballroom for the opening keynote. There, Microsoft AI’s Mike Davidson joined Behzod Sirjani for “The Future Favors the Curious,” starting the day’s conversations about where research is headed.

From there, attendees split into breakout sessions across the ballroom and both first-floor showrooms. Discussions explored emerging uses for product and market research, delivering insights faster, and connecting research across disciplines.

Lunch brought guests onto the rooftop patio before another round of afternoon breakouts indoors. The rooftop stage also hosted speaker sessions, including an additional keynote, extending the conference program outdoors.

Creating a Rooftop Oasis

Upstairs, artificial turf, cabanas, and lounge seating gave SVN West’s rooftop a festival makeover. Guests could grab lunch from the food stations, catch up over drinks, or squeeze in a game of cornhole between sessions. With speakers taking the rooftop stage and plenty happening around it, the patio became a central gathering spot throughout the day, bringing guests back together between breakouts across the venue.

From Speaker Sessions to Rooftop Concert Venue

As the conference program wrapped, the teams had limited time to prepare the rooftop for its final act: a live performance by Vanessa Carlton.

They quickly reworked the daytime layout to accommodate the reception and concert, opening up room in front of the stage for the crowd.

Carlton’s set carried the festival spirit through the close of the day, with “Ordinary Day” and “A Thousand Miles” bringing guests together for a nostalgic rooftop singalong.

Working Through the Details with NPU

Getting the most out of SVN West started with the layout. NPU worked with the Outset teams through several iterations to find the best arrangement for presentations and crowd flow. The plan needed to accommodate large keynote gatherings, smaller breakout groups, and guests moving between floors throughout the day.

Our team also helped the organizers understand the venue’s requirements, connected them with vendors, and handled beverage service.

The rooftop concert was central to the Outliers team’s vision. Making it happen required an outdoor amplified sound permit, which can typically be challenging to secure for a downtown San Francisco event. NPU worked with the Outset teams to move the approval process forward and get the permission needed for the performance. With that approval in place, the organizers could move ahead with the finale they’d wanted, backed by a venue team that understood both the building and what they hoped to do with it.

A Big Debut Takes the Right Venue and Team

Outset wanted to make a splash with its inaugural research festival. That called for a venue with room for the full experience and a team that could help make it happen. SVN West gave the organizers space to get creative, while NPU helped work through the practical details behind their plans. Together, the teams brought Outliers from an ambitious idea to a memorable day of learning, connection, and a rooftop finale worth singing along to.

Have a big idea for your next event? Explore SVN West and NPU’s other San Francisco venues, then tell our team what you’re planning. We’ll help you find the right fit and get to work on the details.