INNOVATION NEWS
We don’t only report the news, we make the news. Check out our news highlights and archive here.
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Interim Trail Survey Results
SCWorks members strongly supported the RTC’s Interim Trail decision. In the no-email survey, 85.6% voted yes and 14.4% no. With email required, support rose to 95.9% yes and 4.1% no overall, showing consistent member backing.
Joby, Metropolis Announce Partnership to Develop 25 Vertiport Sites Across the U.S.
Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) announced a partnership with Metropolis Technologies, Inc., a leader in applied AI for the real world, to develop 25 vertiports across the United States utilizing Metropolis’ extensive network of parking locations.
Santa Cruz Ventures Updates
Santa Cruz Ventures expanded beyond early-stage investing to include select mid-to-late stage deals, reflecting rising Central Coast company maturity. It added Portfolio Company #7, a newly minted unicorn (name forthcoming), and #8, AIO’s $17M Series A, as its inaugural fund nears completion.
Learning or Prompting? A UCSC Senior on AI in School
Drawing from personal experience as a UCSC literature major, we can examine how AI tools are reshaping education.
Joby Announces Plans to Double Manufacturing Capacity in United States
Joby announces plans to increase production activity in its California and Ohio facilities.
A Santa Cruz Startup Tackling One of AI’s Biggest Blind Spots
Santa Cruz startup BrandCapsule, founded by entrepreneur and Stanford lecturer Toby Corey, tackles a growing AI blind spot: models can’t reliably recognize legitimate brands.
Climatize Selected for Prestigious Plug and Play Sustainability Accelerator
Santa Cruz Accelerates program graduate, Climatize, announced its acceptance into the highly selective Plug and Play Tech Center Sustainability Accelerator.
David Deamer and David Haussler Elected Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors
David Deamer and David Haussler have received the highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors.
Force4 Closes Out a Remarkable Year
Force4 capped 2025 with major wins in AI, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and GEO search, elevating clients and strengthening Santa Cruz’s innovation ecosystem while positioning itself for even greater impact in 2026.
Newsworthy.ai Launches Newscrafters
Newsworthy.ai’s new NewsCrafters.com blends AI and human editors to transform press releases into search-friendly articles, bridging paid PR and earned media while helping brands, agencies, and experts build topic authority, visibility, and long-term organic reach.
PAI Palooza Build with Native AI Studio
Build, hack, and show off at PAI Palooza—three days of workshops, demos, and a community-powered hackathon exploring Personal AI. Learn the tools, prototype fast, and pitch your wildest AI creations.
Watsonville Resident Launches Petition as Strict Zoning Enforcement Squeezes Local Street Vendors
Samantha Solis’s petition urges Watsonville officials to reconsider zoning enforcement practices that vendors say undermine their businesses and threaten their ability to operate legally.
A Look at the AHSC Internship Program’s Real-World Impact on Local Businesses
A look at how the AHSC interns are transforming local organizations through fresh skills, digital innovation, and meaningful contributions that strengthen employer capacity.
UCSC Alumnus-Founded Company Confluent Acquired by IBM
UCSC Alumni founded company, Confluent, has been acquired by tech giant IBM.
Book Review: Sentient – Meet Your Maker by Tony J. Hughes
Tony J. Hughes’s Sentient – Meet Your Maker arrives at a moment when society is collectively renegotiating its relationship with artificial intelligence. The book is a speculative psychological thriller, but to treat it as merely fiction would miss its deeper contribution.
Cabrillo College IT Institute Expands into New Pre-Apprentice Certificate
The 6th cohort of the Cabrillo College IT Institute begins January 23, 2026. The IT Institute is an 11-week, fast-paced training program designed to prepare individuals for entry-level roles in Information Technology.
Titans 2025 Nominees
Each week, we're pulling back the curtain to spotlight the incredible individuals that you have nominated for the 2025 Titans Awards. Check out this weeks nominees.
A Clear Path for Santa Cruz: The RTC Finally Moves Toward a Reality-Based Interim Trail
Santa Cruz’s RTC finally approved a buildable interim trail for Segments 9–11, acknowledging financial and engineering realities after years of gridlock. The decision preserves grant funding, improves safety and access, offers clarity for nearby residents, and creates the first real path forward for the corridor.
Looking for Jobs? Here’s 7 Companies That Are Currently Hiring in Santa Cruz County [December 2025]
Are you currently looking for work? Here is a round up of 7 local Santa Cruz County companies who are hiring this December.
Should You Job Search During the Holidays? Why the Answer Might Be Yes
A timely look at why the holidays can be one of the most strategic and opportunity-filled moments to job search, especially as AI-driven skills and shifting workplace trends reshape what employers need.

