News Highlights

We don’t only report the news, we make the news. Our news highlights and archive here.

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Doug Erickson Doug Erickson

What Recession Means for Santa Cruz Startups

Amid tariff-induced economic uncertainties, Santa Cruz has historically shown resilience by spawning innovative startups during tough economic times. Companies like Looker and PayStand exemplify how recessions can spark creativity and groundbreaking business models.

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Doug Erickson Doug Erickson

Beaches, Books, Budgets, Bots | April New Tech Recap

Beaches, Books, Budgets, and Bots brought together innovators, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs for an unforgettable evening of insight, tech demos, and dynamic discussion. From political impacts on education and climate to cutting-edge AI startups, the event sparked ideas, collaboration, and meaningful connections at the beautiful Chaminade Spa & Resort.

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Doug Erickson Doug Erickson

Santa Cruz Ventures Invests in Swellcycle

Santa Cruz Ventures has announced a pre-seed investment in Swellcycle, a Santa Cruz-based startup that is redefining how composite products are made—starting with surfboards.

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Doug Erickson Doug Erickson

SpaceX and Jane Technologies Announce “High Frontier”

SpaceX and Jane Technologies have revealed plans to launch High Frontier —the first-ever cannabis dispensary in space. Designed to serve future Mars colonies and research the effects of zero gravity on cannabis cultivation, the venture promises to boldly go where no bud has gone before.

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Doug Erickson Doug Erickson

SwellCycle Makes AI-Integrated Surfboard

In a city where startups meet surf breaks, one Santa Cruz company is paddling out with a truly next-level innovation. Meet SwellCycle, the startup behind the world’s first AI-powered, email-connected, fully 3D-printed surfboard —a ride designed for entrepreneurs who don’t want to miss a beat, even mid-barrel.

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Doug Erickson Doug Erickson

Why Do Humans Fear AI?

Humans fear AI not for its imperfections, but for its unsettling similarities and potential superiority. As AI approaches truth more objectively than we do, it challenges our identity, forcing us to confront the myth of human intellectual supremacy.

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Doug Erickson Doug Erickson

Microsoft's AI Gamble

In late 2022, Satya Nadella made a wager that could define not just his tenure, but Microsoft’s identity for the next decade: a multibillion-dollar alignment with OpenAI and a wholesale reorientation of Microsoft around artificial intelligence. Will his wager pay off?

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