Did you miss our webinar with Confluent last week? Check out the recap and recording here to learn aobut Apache Katfka & Data Streaming for Startups.

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH), in partnership with the 3D Entrepreneurs Club (3DE Club), is proud to announce plans for Monterey Bay’s first 3D Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub for Students—a transformative initiative designed to empower young minds with the skills to become future leaders, innovators, and change-makers.

Santa Cruz Ventures has invested in Versa Vascular, a local medtech startup pioneering treatments for tricuspid valve disease. With a $27.3M round wherein Santa Cruz Ventures standing was the only local investor, Versa’s breakthrough technology and strong clinical results spotlight Santa Cruz’s growing innovation ecosystem.

Traditional search is collapsing as AI engines like ChatGPT dominate how users discover content. Businesses must now optimize for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) or risk invisibility.

Act Now! California Competes Tax Credit application period closes August 5th.

Student founders in the E.S.I. incubator are turning bold ideas into real startups. With support from Santa Cruz Works, they’re building apps, AI tools, and robotics—all while learning to pitch, market, and launch. Capstone Week is just ahead.

Bonsai Robotics has acquired Watsonville-based farm-ng, marking a major milestone for Santa Cruz’s tech scene. As one of Santa Cruz Ventures’ first investments, farm-ng’s success validates the region’s potential to produce cutting-edge agtech. The merger combines powerful AI software with versatile robotics to shape the future of autonomous farming.

UC Santa Cruz chemists developed a low-temperature, recyclable method to turn used cooking oil into biodiesel—fast, clean, and efficient. This breakthrough could make small-scale, sustainable fuel production accessible for farms, businesses, and beyond. Read the full story at UCSC News.

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), is emerging, and it's poised to redefine how your business connects with its audience. Learn why you should care and what to do about it.

Ever wanted to design your own surfboard from scratch? Swellcycle’s offering this unique opportunity to build your board and get a mini-replica made!

3DE Club and the Santa Cruz MAH hosted a successful 3D Toy Design Workshop for youth.

Students from several UC’s including the University of California, Santa Cruz played a pivotal role in the 2024–25 CITRIS Aviation Prize, a competition challenging UC students to design a groundbreaking intercampus air transportation system.

Joby Aviation recently shared their impact report for 2024 which shows remarkable progress across key areas: Safety, Environment, People & Community, and Corporate Governance.

The latest passenger rail report crushes long-held dreams with harsh financial realities. Sky-high costs, exaggerated forecasts, and lack of funding make the project unviable. The only practical path now? Railbanking—and maybe finally embracing the Greenway alternative.

Santa Cruz County’s proposed $4.3B ZEPRT train could trigger massive local tax hikes, disproportionately impacting low-income residents. With no guarantee of full grant funding and just 1,750 daily riders projected, critics argue the project is financially risky, regressive, and ill-timed for a county already in a housing affordability crisis.

Joby Aviation, born in Santa Cruz, is achieving major milestones—from FAA certifications to military partnerships. With strong investor backing and soaring stock performance, Joby is shaping the future of air mobility.

Vibe Imaging Analytics, led by tech veteran Ron Hadar, uses machine vision and data analysis to revolutionize food safety. With real-world applications from USDA labs to global farms, VIA blends innovation with thoughtful, strategic growth to scale beyond agri-food markets.

Step up your holiday gifting with custom MERGE4 socks—bold, functional, and actually wearable. Trusted by UCSC, Salesforce, and Coachella, these B Corp-certified socks combine performance, purpose, and design your feet will thank you for.

Fabrana.ai, backed by the City of Santa Cruz, CIED, and Santa Cruz Works, is offering free AI “Sparks” to local teams — custom-built agents that automate tedious tasks, boost creativity, and restore flow. Apply now to join the pilot and spark your workplace transformation.

Robotics Cats, a Santa Cruz Works graduate, has joined Fire Foresight to compete in the XPRIZE Wildfire Autonomous Wildfire Response competition. Their AI-powered system aims to detect and suppress wildfires within 10 minutes, showcasing cutting-edge wildfire management technology.