UC Santa Cruz chemists developed a low-temperature, recyclable method to turn used cooking oil into biodiesel—fast, clean, and efficient. This breakthrough could make small-scale, sustainable fuel production accessible for farms, businesses, and beyond. Read the full story at UCSC News.

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), is emerging, and it's poised to redefine how your business connects with its audience. Learn why you should care and what to do about it.

Ever wanted to design your own surfboard from scratch? Swellcycle’s offering this unique opportunity to build your board and get a mini-replica made!

3DE Club and the Santa Cruz MAH hosted a successful 3D Toy Design Workshop for youth.

Students from several UC’s including the University of California, Santa Cruz played a pivotal role in the 2024–25 CITRIS Aviation Prize, a competition challenging UC students to design a groundbreaking intercampus air transportation system.

Joby Aviation recently shared their impact report for 2024 which shows remarkable progress across key areas: Safety, Environment, People & Community, and Corporate Governance.

The latest passenger rail report crushes long-held dreams with harsh financial realities. Sky-high costs, exaggerated forecasts, and lack of funding make the project unviable. The only practical path now? Railbanking—and maybe finally embracing the Greenway alternative.

Santa Cruz County’s proposed $4.3B ZEPRT train could trigger massive local tax hikes, disproportionately impacting low-income residents. With no guarantee of full grant funding and just 1,750 daily riders projected, critics argue the project is financially risky, regressive, and ill-timed for a county already in a housing affordability crisis.

Joby Aviation, born in Santa Cruz, is achieving major milestones—from FAA certifications to military partnerships. With strong investor backing and soaring stock performance, Joby is shaping the future of air mobility.

Vibe Imaging Analytics, led by tech veteran Ron Hadar, uses machine vision and data analysis to revolutionize food safety. With real-world applications from USDA labs to global farms, VIA blends innovation with thoughtful, strategic growth to scale beyond agri-food markets.

Step up your holiday gifting with custom MERGE4 socks—bold, functional, and actually wearable. Trusted by UCSC, Salesforce, and Coachella, these B Corp-certified socks combine performance, purpose, and design your feet will thank you for.

Fabrana.ai, backed by the City of Santa Cruz, CIED, and Santa Cruz Works, is offering free AI “Sparks” to local teams — custom-built agents that automate tedious tasks, boost creativity, and restore flow. Apply now to join the pilot and spark your workplace transformation.

Robotics Cats, a Santa Cruz Works graduate, has joined Fire Foresight to compete in the XPRIZE Wildfire Autonomous Wildfire Response competition. Their AI-powered system aims to detect and suppress wildfires within 10 minutes, showcasing cutting-edge wildfire management technology.

Joby Aviation doubled its manufacturing capacity, added a new certified aircraft, and ramped up operations in Ohio—driving investor confidence and pushing its stock to a 52-week high amid growing momentum toward commercial eVTOL launch.

Prometheus Fuels, based in Santa Cruz, just achieved a world-first: turning CO₂ from the air into cost-effective, carbon-neutral gasoline using renewable energy. Their full-scale Faraday Reactor is now commercially viable—marking a breakthrough in clean fuel tech with global impact.

Got a big idea but can’t code? Learn vibe coding in this free, 2-hour webinar on July 29—now with 2x the brains and 2x the vibes. Watch ideas turn into apps live, no coding skills required.

Over 30 UC Santa Cruz student teams have joined the first Entrepreneur & Startup Incubator (E.S.I.), a four-week program helping young founders build real businesses with daily mentorship, brand growth, and product development.

Pie Fi is a builder-first launchpad based in Santa Cruz. We support early-stage student and community founders with mentorship, microgrants, and a physical clubhouse designed to help them ship real products.

In today's fast-paced digital world, real-time data isn't just a buzzword – it's a competitive necessity. Businesses need to process and react to information as it happens, whether it's for personalized customer experiences, instant fraud detection, or intelligent automation. This is where Confluent shines.

Santa Cruz County has spent decades and millions chasing a commuter rail dream that was never viable. With mounting costs, outdated infrastructure, and limited impact, it’s time to prioritize a safe, practical, and widely supported solution: a full-width, countywide trail.