How a scrappy team of ex-Lookers turned Santa Cruz roots into a $1.5B AI-powered data company, and what they learned along the way.

Santa Cruz apparel founder Megan Thorn grew her company from a garage operation into an $8 million business, but disconnected inventory and sales data made fast decisions difficult. By bringing Shopify, wholesale, warehouse and margin information into one daily briefing, Cardyn helped her identify risks earlier, avoid costly stockouts and plan production with greater confidence.

Six months after Santa Cruz Works first introduced BrandCapsule, the AI discovery company has launched, signed paying customers across both B2B and B2C, and is proving out a thesis that’s only gotten more urgent: AI doesn’t just help buyers find brands anymore — it decides which ones they see.

Join Santa Cruz Works March 6, 2026 for a free, fast-paced webinar with world-renowned author Tony J. Hughes (Sentient) and moderator Craig Vachon. Explore how AI is reshaping humanity, agency, and responsibility. Bring questions.

If you’re like most nonprofit professionals right now, you’re hearing about AI everywhere. Maybe you’re curious. Maybe you’re skeptical. You might think it is another tech trend and it’s not important unless it can help you meet next quarter’s fundraising goals. Well… this article is for you!

Nonprofits don’t need big budgets to benefit from AI. This guide shares seven low-cost moves: spot major donors, triage email, draft social posts, personalize stewardship, speed grants, add website chatbots, and auto-summarize meetings. The rule: humans verify, protect data always.

A timely look at why the holidays can be one of the most strategic and opportunity-filled moments to job search, especially as AI-driven skills and shifting workplace trends reshape what employers need.

Fullpower-AI’s multi-year sleep study reveals Daylight Saving Time severely disrupts circadian rhythms—causing measurable declines in sleep quality, heart-rate stability, and recovery. The data echo global findings: time shifts fracture our biological clock far more than they illuminate evenings.

Machine learning enables real-time detection of fleeting anomalies before they fade away.

Did you miss our vibe coding webinar with Ian McHenry and Craig Vachon? Check it out here!

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.

The rise of AI-driven layoffs at major tech companies like Meta, Salesforce, and Workday highlights a rapidly evolving job market where automation is no longer a distant threat but a present reality, forcing workers to compete not just with each other—but with AI itself.

High-quality data is key to reliable AI, addressed through strategies like the ProductOps Approach and OODA Loop.

AI predicts transformative advancements in technology, sustainability, and equitable access for 2025—no time machine required.

This article showcases 2024's top trends in AI, sustainability, and transformative digital apps shaping the future.

Who won the 2024 Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) Start-Up to Watch award? Read to find out!

World Labs' groundbreaking Large World Models (LWMs) transform 2D images into interactive 3D worlds, revolutionizing spatial intelligence through AI.

Perplexity, a rising AI-powered search engine valued at $9 billion, offers real-time, reliable sources for research but faces legal challenges over copyright infringement.

San Francisco-based startup Physical Intelligence has developed the pi-zero AI robot model, designed to perform household chores.

The new A4 lab includes $50,000 of new equipment to give students hands on experience.