Santa Cruz Works’ Accelerator Alumni Shine: CarbonBridge’s CSO Recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30

Sophia Xu

The Santa Cruz entrepreneurial ecosystem is celebrating a major achievement as Sophia Xu, CSO and Cofounder of CarbonBridge, has been named to this year's Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Energy & Green Tech category for the 2026 class.

CarbonBridge, a graduate of Santa Cruz Works’ accelerator 5th Cohort, is recognized for its innovative work in converting waste gases, such as methane and carbon dioxide, into valuable, low-carbon fuels and chemicals like methanol and acetate. The company's technology uses a novel bioreactor design and has raised over $2.5 million.

A Legacy of Accelerator Success

Sophia Xu's honor continues a strong tradition of Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition for companies that have come through the Santa Cruz Works Accelerator.

Climatize Co-founders Will Wiseman and Alba Forns were recognized in the 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Social Impact category. Climatize's platform allows individuals to invest in renewable energy projects.

Immergo Labs Co-founders Aviv Elor and Ash Robbins were selected for the 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Healthcare category. Immergo Labs, a graduate of the accelerator's 4th Cohort, uses artificial intelligence and virtual reality to create a telehealth platform for physical rehabilitation.

In a testament to the broader success of Santa Cruz entrepreneurs, Michael Sikand was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2022 in the Media category. Sikand, a Santa Cruzian and a Santa Cruz Works Titan of Tech award recipient in 2022, is the founder of the business media company Our Future Media Inc. which was acquired by Morning Brew in January 2023.

These achievements underscore the growing influence of Santa Cruz Works and our accelerator program in nurturing and propelling the next generation of successful, high-impact startups.