INNOVATION NEWS
We don’t only report the news, we make the news. Check out our news highlights and archive here.
Not on our mailing list yet? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Interested in getting 10,000+ eyeballs to view your company’s content? Become a Santa Cruz Works Partner or, see 3rd party content Sponsors.
The Life You're Not Paying Attention To: Dave Evans at Bookshop Santa Cruz, August 27
Dave Evans, Stanford Life Design Lab co-founder, EA co-founder, and Santa Cruz Works board member, discusses his new book "How to Live a Meaningful Life" at Bookshop Santa Cruz, Thursday, August 27, 7pm. Free.
Atoms and Joby Team Up to Build Out America's Vertiport Network
Atoms and Joby Aviation are teaming up to build America's air taxi infrastructure, starting with landing hubs in Florida, New York, Texas, and California.
The Surf Brand That Outgrew Its Own Success
Santa Cruz apparel founder Megan Thorn grew her company from a garage operation into an $8 million business, but disconnected inventory and sales data made fast decisions difficult. By bringing Shopify, wholesale, warehouse and margin information into one daily briefing, Cardyn helped her identify risks earlier, avoid costly stockouts and plan production with greater confidence.
How Google’s AI Search Shift Could Change Online Visibility
Google is reshaping Search around AI-generated answers, changing how users discover websites and how businesses measure online visibility. As more research happens directly within search results, companies will need clear, detailed content that AI systems can understand, reference and recommend.
X Academy Celebrates World Championship Win and Feature in Santa Cruz Vibes
From a garage to a world championship to the pages of Santa Cruz Vibes, X Academy is celebrating and you're invited
SUP Shack Celebrates 15 Years on the Santa Cruz Harbor
SUP Shack is celebrating 15 years in Santa Cruz with a ribbon cutting on August 28, an open house on August 29 and a Decorate Your SUP event on August 30.
The Three R's: Lessons from a Serial Entrepreneur on Platform Shifts, Failed Ventures, and the AI Revolution
Did you miss our CEO Works event with Toby Corey? Check out the recording and recap here.
Calling Santa Cruz Startups: New Flex Space Coming to the Westside
If your company is outgrowing its current space, or you’re searching for the right home to grow into, we want to hear from you.
Nine Projects Receive Seed Funding from UCSC’s Genomics Institute
Nine bold new research projects, from decoding fungal networks to mapping the genetic secrets of aging, just got seed funding from the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute, and a new wet lab partnership with SCWorks could soon give them all a home.
UC Santa Cruz to Host UC Systemwide Bioengineering Symposium, August 22–23
The 2026 UC Systemwide Bioengineering Symposium returns to showcase the latest advancements in bioengineering research and innovation.
The Weird, Wonderful Machine of Making Games — and Why It Just Grew a Home in Santa Cruz
After two years of Santa Cruz Game Dev Meetups, host Tyler Coleman of Retra Games is throwing open the doors at Nextspace on July 30 — play local games, meet their makers, and meet the Game Grove Incubator's first cohort.
DART and Vets to Drones Create New Career Pathways for Veterans
DART and Vets to Drones are teaming up to connect military veterans with training, certifications, mentorship and high-wage careers in advanced air mobility.
You Cannot Flourish Alone
Guy Kawasaki and Daniel Coyle explore why flourishing depends less on individual achievement and more on community, shared growth, and learning through imperfect, collaborative work.
The Lost Coast Isn't Lost. It's Just Getting Started.
Two retired Silicon Valley executives — a former Hulu CTO and a Fortune 500 division president — are building an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Humboldt County. Santa Cruz has seen this movie before. It works.
Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County Hosting Board Connect Mixer
Want to make a difference at a Santa Cruz County Non-profit? Find your fit at Community Foundation’s annual mixer!
Joby Aviation Locks In Major UK Deal with Virgin Atlantic
Santa Cruz's Joby Aviation just locked in a deal to bring electric air taxis to the skies over London and Manchester.
New Member Perk: Save on Coworking at NextSpace Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Works members get to save even more on coworking with an exclusive discount from Nextspace!
Light Links: Why Santa Cruz Ventures Just Bet on Invisible Light
Santa Cruz Ventures makes Light Links its 11th portfolio investment — a Santa Cruz Works accelerator graduate and Launchpad 2025 winner using infrared light to give robots what Wi-Fi never could: certainty.
From Maple Syrup to the Salad Bowl: Farmblox Brings Its Farm Automation Platform to Santa Cruz
Boston-born ag tech company Farmblox has relocated its headquarters to Santa Cruz, bringing a sensor-agnostic farm automation platform to the heart of California's specialty crop country — with ambitions well beyond the farm gate.
Downtown's Next Anchor Institution Needs You: Why Local Businesses Are Investing in the New Library
As the new Downtown Library begins to take shape, members of the community have a unique opportunity to be a part of positive, local change.

