Santa Cruz Green Tech Rising

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There have been many recent announcements about tech companies investing in housing such as Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, and yes even Facebook.  As much as $1B is earmarked for housing in 2020.  

But what about green tech aka clean tech?  (Note: we use the terms interchangably for companies who have invested in building environmentally safe products and services, including how those products are manufactured).    Santa Cruz Works (“SCW”) is of the opinion that tech startups are increasingly more invested in triple bottom link, social responsibility, and environmental impact - all attributes of green tech.  A few of the fastest growing green tech startups include:

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  • Impossible Foods - from burgers to cheese, this company has gobbled up a good bite of the meat industry.  Investors include Bill Gates, Google, and more. 

  • Choose Energy - a marketplace for clean tech services helping consumers switch to 100% green solutions.

  • Holganix - plant pro-biotics, environmentally-friendly lawn care products that contain natural microorganisms. 

  • Elevate Structure - eco-friendly housing

And here in Santa Cruz, we are seeing a significant movement in green tech.  CruzHacks 2020 was 100% focused on Tech Cares which includes environment and social injustice. Over 60% of the competing projects had a clean green focus.  

On February 19, SCW will host the 2nd annual Green Tech event.  Presenting companies include:

  • Gringgo - SCW welcomes special guest Oliver Pouilion, founder of Gringgo, all the way from Bali, Indonesia. Through their unique image recognition tool, Gringgo aims to accelerate plastic management systems, improve plastic recycling rates, and reduce the amount of plastic dumped in our oceans. 

  • Cruz Foam - transforms chitin, a biopolymer found in shrimp shells, into structural foams with an environmentally friendly process. Essentiallhy, Cruz Foam provides a biodegradable replacement to styrofoam popcorn and packaging. Stay tuned at the Green Tech event for a special announcement from Cruz Foam. 

  • Prometheus Fuels - we will learn how CEO Rob McGinnis is able to create gasoline out of thin air.  

  • Pleasant Robotics - a robotic turtle that intakes micro-plastics, and “poops” green.

  • Blume Distillation - find out why Toby Corey calls Blume the perfect combination of Elon Musk and Willie Wonka. 

  • Microsoft / Ventura Surfboards & Supplies - local David Dennis will give us an update. 

Bates Marshall with new Santa Cruz startup Ambient Photonics had planned to present but got called out of the country last minute. Bates will present at the March 4th New Tech.  See our interview with Bates at: New Santa Cruz Startup: Ambient Photonics.  

Keep charging Santa Cruz!

Neil Erickson