Round 5: Titans of Tech Nominees
We are accepting nomination submissions for our 2023 Titans of Tech. Every week or so we will share some of the submissions we’ve received. If you don’t see your nominee this week, keep an eye out for the following week. Keep reading to see some of the inspiring folks who have been nominated already and click the button below to nominate someone who inspires you! Nominations are due by December 15. Best viewed on desktop.
Ethan Rublee
“Secured a significant $10.05 million in Series A funding, with Acre VC leading the investment round.Farm-ng is a cutting-edge robotics company specializing in versatile farm robots designed to facilitate sustainable agricultural practices. Their collaborative efforts encompass partnerships with small and medium-sized farms, organic cultivators, research institutions, academia, and industry associations, all dedicated to advancing and championing best practices for specialty crop farming. The farm-ng robotics platform boasts full configurability and can be augmented with the Amiga Development Kit (ADK), empowering developers and agricultural technology companies to create innovative products and services built upon the farm-ng robotic platform. The company is headquartered in Watsonville, California.”
Alexi Sevastopoulos
“Since buying a house and moving to Santa Cruz with his family a few years ago, Alexi has embraced the Santa Cruz startup ecosystem with energy and enthusiasm. He joined Santa Cruz Works, became a member of the board, and most recently co-founded Santa Cruz Ventures to help identify, fund, and develop the most promising early stage ventures in the area that are focused on sustainability and planetary health.” - Morgan Slain
Round 5 Nominees
Sri Hastuti Kurniawan
“Professor Sri Kurniawan [is] a leading voice in the academic community for assistive and accessible technologies as a Professor and Prior Chair of the Computational Media Department at UC Santa Cruz, but she's also way more than just an academic. To me, Sri is a real visionary who's transforming assistive technology and making huge strides in how we approach emerging technologies for everyone from the metaverse to serious games.
What sets Sri apart is how committed she is to making technology inclusive for everyone while also mentoring and accelerating the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs as the director of ASSIST Labs. Her lab isn't just about cutting-edge research, its about translating this work into the real world to support those with accessibility needs and everyone else who can benefit from such inclusive design. Her work goes beyond academia in that it impacts the lives of those in Santa Cruz (e.g. Hope Services, Cabrillo College Stroke and Disability Learning Center, Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust, Teen Kitchen Project, more). [Sri’s] work demonstrates how striving in research towards tech for good can change people's lives forever. Whether its empowering older adults, helping kids with serious games for accessible and free health benefits, creating opportunities for those with disabilities, and training the next generation of researchers, Sri redefines how we can approach tech for good…[Sri] isn't just shaping tech in Santa Cruz, she's the shaping the tech leaders of the future.”- Aviv Elor
Ash Seymour Robbins
“…I've known Ash for nearly a decade where we first met working on optimizing Simultaneous Localization and Mapping Algorithms for Aerial Drones at NASA AMES within the DANSER Labs at the UC Santa Cruz Baskin School of Engineering. Since then, I've seen Ash grow into a true mad scientist. He has designed novel soft cable driven tensegrity exosuits, humanoid flexible shoulder joints for robot arms, AI algorithms for inferring a users full body position with minimal data (a core innovation with Immergo Labs), control algorithms for all these autonomous systems and even utilizing biological cells such as Organoids to create living neural networks in the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute (I'm sure there's more I'm missing here). Between all these mad science projects, Ash has become a leading scientist publishing in some of the most prestigious peer reviewed journals in the world for robotics and AI from IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, the International Conference on Ubiquitous Robots (UR), the international conference on rehabilitation robotics (ICORR), and Frontiers in Virtual Reality. All the more, he has mentored over 20 undergraduate students in these mad science projects to train the next generation of researchers and is a key leader at Immergo labs in defining our core AI technologies and pipeline to support the accessibility of immersive physical rehabilitation tools. At Immergo alone he has developed an internship program which has supported over 12 interns from the UC Santa Cruz CITRIS and Cognitive Science programs, lead numerous patents, and developed novel AI algorithms towards giving physical therapists superhuman capabilities of analysis and inference to support patients around the world…”
Michael Ora Powell
“In short, I believe Mike is a true Titan of Tech for his dedication towards enhancing accessibility in physical rehabilitation technologies, mentorship of numerous students over the past years from Immergo to UC Santa Cruz, and contributions to the field of AI and immersive experiences for healthcare. [Mike] dove into a PhD in Computer Engineering teaching himself programming, hardware design, and AI from the ground up. [Mike] grew into a lead mentor and lab manager for DANSER Labs at UC Santa Cruz where he collaborated and supported numerous students (not to mention teaching hundreds of students Computer Systems and Assembly from UCSC undergraduate courses always going above and beyond to support students from staying late in lab to redesigning lab content)…
[When] the COVID19 pandemic hit, we worked together to explore how we might translate some of this research to support one of the most challenging times for healthcare practitioners around the world. Mike led interviews with over 100 physical rehabilitation professionals and worked to develop novel biomechanical models and pipelines which eventually sparked the formation of Immergo Labs. With this journey, he has also mentored over 12 interns from the UC Santa Cruz CITRIS and cognitive science programs, spoke at numerous student events and panels, publishing over 3 scientific articles in biomechanics and AI to understand physical rehab movements, and shared Immergo's technology…”
David Welch
“…David has worked tirelessly to maintain a valuable resource to the tri-county area. As of January first, a local radio station that had live, local programming, and a history of being a resource to the area in times of emergencies, lost nearly all of its broadcasters. It laid them off. They did not disappear, though. They banded together to create a new internet radio station. They have been on the air, live and local, since February. This is possible in large part due to David's technical contributions to the effort.
David used his skills with computer software and hardware to evaluate possible online broadcasting solutions. He set up a virtual radio station at his dining room table, and spent well over an hour testing what would work best. He learned as he went, adding this new expertise to the rest of his high-tech knowledge. Then he documented it all, creating materials used to train a large group of broadcasters, some with little technical ability, to be able to act as their own sound board operaters while they act as on-air hosts at the same time. He also presented the training, successfully.
Santa Cruz Voice is now on air each weekday, from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm or later….”-Bill Wolverton
ROUND 4 NOMINEES
Shanta Bodhan
“[Shanta] exemplifies the qualities of a Titan of Tech in two key areas…Firstly, in her role as a Customer Success and Experience Leader, Shanta meticulously selects startup companies that prioritize products with a meaningful impact on the human experience. Her choices reflect core values which, in part, were cultivated during her time at UCSC and representative of the Santa Cruz community. These values center around diversity, sustainability, and continuous learning and are highlighted in her work with local companies like SupplyShift, where she focused on bringing sustainability transparency to multinational supply chains, to her current involvement in the Virtual Reality space with ArborXR and Talespin, creating immersive educational experiences for all ages, regardless of economy or geography…Secondly, in her free time Shanta has been a mentor to women of color, non-binary students, and people of color, showcasing her dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. Her involvement as a mentor for Built By Girls, her founding mentorship role in the Women in Customer Success program, and her unofficial mentorship support to numerous customer success managers and tech students highlight her profound commitment to nurturing the next generation of tech leaders… She understands the historical underrepresentation of women, non-binary individuals, and people of color in technology and is determined to help them overcome imposter syndrome and self-rejection, ultimately playing a pivotal role in shaping technology for the greater good… -Yigal Uriel
David Lee
“David T. Lee is an award-winning assistant professor of Computational Media at UCSC, where he directs the Tech4Good Lab on research in social computing, human-AI collaboration, and the design of technologies for augmenting education, work, and community engagement. David founded several innovative programs that provide experiential learning opportunities in tech to students –with any level of background – and to connect those experiences to supporting non-profits and community needs in Santa Cruz. Together, the Tech4Good Collaboratory, the Course-Based Community Consultancy, and the Exploratory Reading Groups provide experiential, passion-driven learning opportunities to thousands of students and exposed them to how technology can be used for the public interest through community-engaged projects in partnership with and for the benefit of non-profits in the Santa Cruz community.”
ROUND 3 NOMINEES
Holger Schmidt
“…Professor Schmidt and his team represent a decades-long body of research on optofluidic chips towards diagnostic devices. This work is not only scientifically groundbreaking, demonstrates the technology’s real-world application and impact. Professor Schmidt’s dedication to translational research and contributing to societal impact is invaluable and inspiring, and this alone is deserving of the Titans of Tech title. Add to it his incredibly collaborative approach, always willing to explore new and useful ways to apply his expertise in support of his colleagues and making new discoveries, and his exceptional mentorship, dedicated to his students’ success and uplifting our campus community –Professor Schmidt is without doubt deserving of this award…”- Andrea Pesce
Cameron Pye
“As the Co-Founder & CEO of Santa Cruz-based Unnatural Products (UNP), Cameron Pye has shown exceptional leadership and vision. Under his guidance, the company has made remarkable strides in the pharmaceutical industry. With an impressive fundraising achievement of over $30 million from leading venture capitalists and strategic investors, UNP stands as a testament to Cameron's commitment to bridging the gap between advanced scientific research and practical therapeutic applications…Cameron's contributions to the scientific community extend beyond his entrepreneurial success. He is a prolific author and co-author of numerous scientific publications, showcasing his deep understanding and continuous contributions to the field of chemistry. Moreover, as an inventor on multiple patents, he has proven his ability to not only generate new knowledge but also translate these insights into practical and innovative applications.” - Ryan Sharp
Susana Ruiz
“Ruiz is applying technologies and digital media in a new way that will allow communities to share our histories, cultures, and other stories using a deeper, immersive experience and thus facilitating higher-impact. Ruiz is one of three founding partners of the multiple award-winning Take Action Games (TAG), an artists’ studio with a portfolio traversing games, art, justice activism, and storytelling. Her collaborative work at UC Santa Cruz and TAG has garnered multiple accolades and contributed to global human rights movements. Besides the creative value that this innovative work can inspire, Ruiz’ motivations to contribute to paving the way for creative multimedia in uplifting social justice is incredibly admirable and inspiring, and beyond deserving of recognition as a Titan of Tech.” - Andrea Pesce
ROUND 2 NOMINEES
Jorian Wilkins
“Jorian Wilkins has worked tirelessly in the last 18 months to advocate for more funding for the downtown district of Santa Cruz. The assessment that funds our organization and district was severely underfunded, because the funding source was 30 years behind the current economic basis. As a result, the staff was severely underpaid, stretched thin with resources…Jorian launched a successful marketing campaign to persuade the majority of stakeholders in the district…that increase of fees were necessary to the vitality of our downtown district. Her strong leadership, strategic planning abilities and charismatic partnership skills, are absolutely the reason why our district's campaign for better funding was approved by the City Council and downtown businesses. The district will now have funding to provide better, safe, cleaning and welcoming services...” -Shiri Gradek
Clint Cowden
“Dean Clint Cowden should be nominated as a Titan of Tech due to his exceptional leadership in career technical education and workforce development. As the dean of these crucial areas for Hartnell College, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to the college's mission of delivering career technical education, job training, and workforce development. Clint oversees the operations of the Alisal Campus and plays a pivotal role in planning, evaluating, and developing CTE programs. His ability to coordinate across various components ensures student and program success…” - Danny Bernstein
Ed (Richard) Green
“It’s a rare individual whose work can bring peace to a grieving family, solve cold crimes, play a role in Nobel-winning research, and fuel a growing local industry. Ed Green, associate professor of biomolecular engineering in the Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz, has founded, or co-founded, no fewer than three companies in Santa Cruz. Astrea Forensics applies DNA technology to forensics identify human remains and suspects, Dovetail Genomics, now part of Cantata Bio, provides tools for researchers’ understanding of human, plant, and animal diseases and genomics, ClaretBio’s tools are the key to extract useful information from degraded DNA samples.
Green developed his interest in paleogenomics and ancient DNA while working with Nobel laureate Svante Pääbo at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. It was there that he discovered a new way to extract and sequence ancient DNA leading to headlines for making the genetic connection between Neanderthals and early humans. Solving the technical challenges of sequencing small amounts of highly fragmented DNA from ancient bones was the foundation of his highly impactful work in forensic genomics…”
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WEEK 1 NOMINEES
Annie Morhauser
“Creating art from the heart has always been her passion. Her “special tech” in glasswork has found a place in the hearts and homes of newlyweds and the world.”- Matthew Swinnerton
Marco Rolandi
“Marco developed the world's 1st compostable/biodegradable foam that replace EPS (Styrofoam) and EPE (Expanded Polyethylene)!” - Toby Corey
Tammie Weigl
“Tammie has served Santa Cruz County for many, many years and has been at the forefront of broadband expansion. Working with local ISPs and the Central Coast Broadband Consortium, Tammie has done as much to expand digital access in our region as any individual. She is the definition of a public servant and a true titan of local tech.” - James Hackett
Juliane Farrand
“Juliane Farrand, Head of People, should be a 2023 Titan of Tech for being the backbone of Joby Aviation’s success from the very early days of when we were just beginning.” JoeBen Bevirt, CEO of Joby Aviation
Please note that not all nominees will be selected as Titans. Nominations will be reviewed by Santa Cruz Works board. We will announce the Titans in December!
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Sign up using the Nomination Form. Please double check that your nominee has not already been selected as a Titan of Tech in the past.
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