Finding the right accelerator can change your startup's trajectory, but with options like YC, SkyDeck, Techstars, and 500 Global, how do you choose? This guide breaks down the major players, explains where Santa Cruz Accelerates fits into the ecosystem, and helps you determine if you are ready to apply or need more preparation first.

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.

Runpod joins Santa Cruz Works as the AI infrastructure partner for the 2025 Accelerates cohort, supporting founders with GPU-first infrastructure. Together, they’re helping startups move from training to production with speed, clarity, and real-world impact—not just pitch decks.

Robotics Cats has been selected to participate in MassChallenge’s Early Stage Accelerator Program.

Videos from the 4th Annual Startup Pitch Contest. 6 startups presented, 3 were awarded fortune, fame, and glory.

LuvMart connects customers with their favorite local and national brands in the United States and Canada

The Epicenter aims to empower youth with a physical and online space that allows them to connect with their authentic selves.

A 4 hour workshop for startups to learn how to perform market validation using the Innovation Within Discovery platform. Recordings available to Santa Cruz Accelerates participants.

SPHERE Therapeutics is revolutionary approach to injury prevention and health promotion.

Belay helps individuals set works hours, earn a steady income, and plan your life.

We are excited to announce our last New Tech of 2021: Startup Rumble. In one fast-paced hour, 5 startups from Santa Cruz Accelerates 2021-22 will compete for Rumble Winner by demoing their solutions — possibly what could be the next Looker or Joby Aviation.

Pare is building a platform that connects startup founders to applicants through qualified referrals. Passive income? Heck yeah.

Better Boxes are multi-functional organizing products that make moving and furnishing a new apartment fun, fast, and affordable.

Space.Org aims to transform the process of deep space exploration by using "production line" techniques to manufacture satellites en masse.

Skyu is a marketplace powered by a mobile app that connects retailers, brands and malls with a network of skilled helpers.

Immergo LLC aims to empower physical therapists to run their own virtual clinics through off the shelf virtual reality headsets, intelligent biomechanical analysis, and playful user experiences.

AirSet is tackling the industry-wide issue of HVAC airflow management.

October 6, 2021 was the launch of Santa Cruz Accelerates 4th cohort. Over 150 people attended our first outdoor event since March 2020. We were thrilled to see your shining faces and to share our exciting short film where we launched Stephen Colbert and Molly Woods to space!

Peregrine Fuels is on the mission to accelerate the use and production of biofuels here in the Santa Cruz area, and in the world beyond.

MediaStorm is an award-winning film production and interactive design studio whose work gives voice and meaning to the most pressing issues of our time.