Titans of Tech Nominations Are Open

MVPs are Titans too!

Every year, Santa Cruz Works honors the people who have contributed to the growth of the local tech and entrepreneurial community. Traditionally, several of the nominees have consisted of big names like JoeBen Bevirt (CEO of Joby) and Marc Randolf (co-founder and first CEO of Netflix), but this year we have a TWIST! We are also incorporating MVPs and anyone who you believe deserves recognition for their efforts, especially but not limited to the field of technology. Employees are essential to any thriving business and make a tremendous impact in more ways than one and will be the focus of this year’s Titans of Tech.

Nominate yours

This is your chance to nominate the MVP from your company. Who is making a positive difference to the social, commercial, and/or health of your company? Fill out the nomination form below to share more about the individual(s) doing inspiring work or making a substantial impact at your company. We will review submissions and select the top 10 based on merit and overall impact. We will feature nominees in upcoming newsletter articles. Nominations close on November 21st, 2022 at 8am. We will announce the finalists on Monday, November 28.

Finalists will each have 2 minutes to tell us about their journey on December 7 at the 6th Annual Titans of Tech Awards Ceremony. The event will be held at Kuumbwa Jazz from 6pm to 8pm. Come connect and learn about the personal journeys and words of advice from the people that put in the sweat and elbow grease to make our businesses and community even better. As usual, the event will kick off at 6pm with networking and music. Food and beverages are included in the entry fee. Beer and wine can be purchased at the Kuumbwa bar. Tickets will be on sale in November. Keep an eye out in our newsletter for more information.

Nominate a founder, CEO, or MVP from your company!

Previous Titans

February 23, 2017

Ken Kannappan, Plantronics
Ryan Evans, Inboard
Keri Waters, Calliope Waterworks, Inc.
Sol Lipman, Ya Doggie
Jacob Martinez, Digital NEST
Toby Corey, SolarCity/Tesla
Peggy Dolgenos, Cruzio Internet
Drew Meyer, Amazon Web Services
Mohamed Abousalem, UC Santa Cruz Office of Research
Margaret Lawrence Rosas, Looker

January 25, 2018

Darrin Caddes - Plantronics
Doug Erickson - Santa Cruz New Tech MeetUp / Nanigans
Heidi Schriefer - Looker
Ted Holladay - Studio Holladay
Jeremy Almond - Paystand
Bonnie Lipscomb - City of Santa Cruz Economic Development Office
Justis Earle - HANSNAP
Keri Waters - Buoy Labs

Robert Singleton - Santa Cruz County Business Council

JoeBen Bevirt- Joby Aviation

January 17, 2019

John Felts - Cruz Foam
Chrissy Meyer - Partner at Root Ventures
Guy Kawasaki - Chief evangelist, Canva. Board member, Cheeze. Brand ambassador, Mercedes-Benz.
Sara Isenberg - Santa Cruz Tech Beat
Robin Hunicke - Professor at UCSC and Co-Founder at Funomena
Socrates Rosenfeld - Jane Technologies
David Dennis - Microsoft / Ventana Surfboards & Supplies
Orion Melehan - LIFEAID Beverage Co.

January 8th, 2020

March 2nd, 2021

  • Alex Gershenson / Supply Shift

  • Alexander Wolf / UCSC Baskin School of Engineering

  • Becca Fenwick / UCSC

  • Chris Miller / Cloud Brigade

  • Hilary Bryant / Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County

  • James Hackett & Chris Frost / Equal Access Santa Cruz

  • Michael Sikand / Our Future

  • Nicole Beck / 2ndNATURE Software Philippe Kahn / FullPower Technologies

  • Roya Pakzad / Taraaz Research