SwellCycle Makes AI-Integrated Surfboard
AI-Integrated Surfboard Lets Entrepreneurs Catch Waves and Emails
In a city where startups meet surf breaks, one Santa Cruz company is paddling out with a truly next-level innovation. Meet SwellCycle, the startup behind the world’s first AI-powered, email-connected, fully 3D-printed surfboard —a ride designed for entrepreneurs who don’t want to miss a beat, even mid-barrel.
The brainchild of a team of UCSC grads, pro surfers, and former aerospace engineers, SwellCycle’s flagship board blends cutting-edge tech with an old-school coastal lifestyle. With an embedded waterproof touchscreen, riders can check emails, send Slack messages, and consult ChatGPT while sitting in the lineup. The system’s voice-activated interface allows surfers to dictate updates, schedule meetings, or even get AI-generated advice on investor decks—without leaving the water.
But the truly mind-blowing part? The board uses real-time AI wave detection to alert riders five minutes before the perfect wave arrives. Powered by a proprietary algorithm that scrapes swell data, buoy reports, wind conditions, and satellite feeds, the onboard system sends gentle vibrations and voice prompts, nudging the surfer to the ideal take-off zone with uncanny accuracy.
And if that wasn’t wild enough, SwellCycle has also reimagined how boards are made. Each surfboard is entirely 3D-printed using recycled conch shells, collected from coastal restoration efforts in the Florida Keys. The result is an ultra-lightweight, sustainable material that delivers both strength and flexibility—perfect for both noserides and quarterly report reviews.
“Sustainability is core to everything we do,” said founder Patricio Guerrero, a former Disney robotics wizard turned CEO. “We didn’t want to just make smart boards—we wanted to make smart choices.”
“ When I said ‘Don’t worry, be crappy,’ I didn’t mean your cutbacks. This board lets me stay on top of my inbox and my bottom turns. It’s like having Steve Jobs in your wax pocket—and I mean that in the best way.”
Backing the company as Chief Evangelist is none other than Guy Kawasaki, the legendary Apple marketing guru turned full-time surf addict.
Currently in limited beta, SwellCycle boards are being tested by a select crew of founders, VCs, and product managers who live and breathe both surf culture and startup hustle. A waitlist is now open for pre-orders, with full public release expected by the end of the year—pending some final tweaks to the touchscreen’s saltwater sensitivity and an ongoing discussion with the SEC over whether the boards classify as “mobile offices.”
Whether it’s the dawn of a new productivity frontier or just a Santa Cruz fever dream, SwellCycle’s AI-enhanced surfboard is creating ripples in both the tech and surf worlds.
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