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

INNOVATION NEWS

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NOTE: Our blogs are typically “assisted by AI”. We use AI to assist us in research and style the way a human editor would.

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Malina Long 1/7/26 Malina Long 1/7/26

Innovation & Business Engagement Hub Offering NSF I-Corps Workshop Series

The Innovation & Business Engagement Hub will be offering an NSF I-Corps workshop series beginning February 23 which will focus on training teams advancing university innovations or working on translational and use-inspired research projects.

Malina Long 11/5/25 Malina Long 11/5/25

Applications Open for Venture Program for Planetary Health

Have an idea for a business that will help improve the ocean or climate? Check out this program hosted by the Sustainable Ocean Alliance.

September 24, 2026

New Tech Returns to River Row on October 7

On Wednesday, October 7, at 6 pm, Santa Cruz Works New Tech returns to River Row with four fast-paced presentations!

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.

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.