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.
MYNT Lands on Inc. 5000 for Fourth Consecutive Year
Santa Cruz clean energy firm MYNT lands on the Inc. 5000 for the fourth year running.
Versa Vascular Names Bill Shields New CEO, Tops Up Series C to $42M
Versa Vascular, the Santa Cruz medtech company developing a transcatheter treatment for tricuspid valve disease, has named Bill Shields its new CEO.
Santa Cruz County has only permitted 17% of planned homes. Why?
Santa Cruz County has planned for thousands of new homes, but only a fraction have reached permits. This article examines why.
Speak Up by Aug. 22: California Fights Federal Review Threatening Its Coast
California’s coast is under threat again. August 22nd is the deadline to make your voice heard.
Jane Technologies Makes the Inc. 5000 List Again
Santa Cruz based cannabis tech company Jane Technologies has once again earned a spot on the Inc. 5000.
From Berlin to the Grid: How Community Helped Maxwell Philp Find Heron Power
After a global career spanning Stanford, Plug and Play, and Europe’s's EV charging industry, Maxwell Philp moved home to Santa Cruz and found his next role not online, but in a room full of neighbors.
Joby Aviation to Acquire Resonant Sciences To Expand Its Defense Business
Joby signed a definitive agreement to acquire Resonant Sciences LLC.
Two Years In, Santa Cruz Game Devs Are Doing the Most Important Thing: Playtesting
Tyler Coleman's Santa Cruz Game Dev Meetup celebrated its second anniversary at Nextspace with five playable local games and a packed room that included many first-time attendees.
3DE Club’s Kids Activity & Entrepreneurship Showcase at Abbott Square was a Huge Success
More than a dozen local educators, artists, nonprofits, and innovation leaders united to inspire children and families through hands-on experiences in art, music, dance, theatre, technology, and entrepreneurship.
SwellCycle's Delivers Board to Surf Legend Kai Lenny
SwellCycle just proved a plant-based, 3D-printed board can hold up to one of the most demanding riders in surfing, Kai Lenny.
Joby Aviation Establishes Hub at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport
Joby Aviation touches down in Texas with a new 45,000 sq ft hub at Fort Worth's Perot Field.
Craig Vachon Drops Two Books in Two Weeks Because Pacing Is for Other People
Santa Cruz's entrepreneur-investor-author just released Experts Remain Divided, an AI novella narrated by a sixteen-year-old prodigy in short, devastating sentences, one week after publishing Book 2. Chronology matters. Warning: SCWorks attempts to mimic Vachon's’ writing style of clipped, telegraphic fragments; similar to Joyce and Vonnegut, but no one is as funny as Vachon.
A New Calendar and More for Santa Cruz Works
Santa Cruz Works has launched a redesigned website featuring a new community events calendar, clearer membership pages, expanded talent resources and updated member perks.
Only 18% of Homes Lost in the CZU Fire Have Been Rebuilt. Why?
More than five years after the CZU Fire, only 18% of the homes destroyed have been rebuilt. This article examines the county’s early promises, the barriers that slowed recovery, and what the process reveals about housing, permitting and disaster response in Santa Cruz County.
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.

