Santa Cruz Works News — Updates on Events, Community Stories & Local Innovation

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Doug Erickson 2/7/26 Doug Erickson 2/7/26

Santa Cruz-Based Fortuna Tech Labs Builds the Compliant Backbone for Institutional Crypto

Santa Cruz-based Fortuna Tech Labs is building regulated, AI-driven infrastructure that helps institutions and high-volume traders access digital assets without the usual compliance and operational chaos. Their unified stack streamlines KYC/AML, fiat rails, liquidity, and onboarding.

Guest User 3/30/22 Guest User 3/30/22

Paystand Delivers First Business Expense Card With Rewards Paid Out Exclusively in Cryptocurrency

Paystand – the leader in blockchain-enabled B2B payments – today introduced the first business expense card with native crypto rewards.

September 24, 2026

Santa Cruz Has a Waste Problem. We Built the Fix.

Revida founder Alex Ponik makes the case for a fully managed reusable cup service that helps Santa Cruz events, venues, and workplaces cut single-use waste and costs without changing operations. Revida presents at SCWorks New Tech on October 7, 2026.

West Coast Community Bancorp Begins Trading on Nasdaq

West Coast Community Bancorp has officially begun trading on Nasdaq under the ticker WCCB, increasing its visibility with investors and expanding access to public markets. The Santa Cruz-based bank says the move will support continued growth while strengthening its ability to serve businesses and communities across the Central Coast.

From North Carolina to Scotts Valley: Feanix Bio brings AI-powered dairy genetics to Santa Cruz County

Feanix Bio has moved its headquarters from North Carolina to Scotts Valley, bringing an AI-powered dairy genetics platform that ranks every cow by her value to the farm. CEO Mitchell Angove presents at SCWorks New Tech on October 7, 2026.

The Expansions You Can’t See: How technology has democratized global hiring, but at the same time made it invisible.

Employer of Record providers let companies hire abroad without entities, leases, or filings, making expansion invisible to economic developers. Lukas Sieber's Upsite Systems uses public data to map where companies operate and hire. Upsite presents at SCW New Tech on October 7.

September 23, 2026

Women in Venture Panel and Networking Event

The fourth semi-annual Women in Venture event gathered founders, investors, and allies at UC Santa Cruz on September 17. Four UCSC-affiliated startups showcased, and a Hilary Bryant–moderated panel tackled closing the funding gap, elevating female check-writers, and building intentional mentorship.

Firtop: Stop Deciding on Stale Numbers

Santa Cruz locals Eric and Emily Helbush launched Firtop to give small businesses real-time books. Its agentic layer sits atop QuickBooks, Xero, and existing tools, closing continuously instead of monthly. Firtop presents at the monthly New Tech on October 7.

Employers Wanted: Hire a Local Intern and Get Reimbursed Up to $10K

Applications are now open for Cohort 2 of the AHSC Internship Opportunity program. If you are an employer seeking to host an intern at your organization or business, please apply by October 9.

PVUSD Calls for Industry Partners

More than 3,600 PVUSD students are earning college credits, industry certifications, and real-world skills through Career Technical Education. Local employers and educators are working together to build the Pajaro Valley's next generation of workers, business owners, and leaders. Learn how you can support the intiative.