Santa Cruz Works, a nonprofit dedicated to cultivating a robust innovation ecosystem in Santa Cruz County, and Digital NEST, a nonprofit empowering underserved California youth with career-launching tech skills, are advancing their partnership to provide valuable workforce development opportunities for young adults through the AHSC 2025–26 Internship Opportunity Program.

Funded by the City of Santa Cruz through the California Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant, the program supports paid internships for underserved youth and local businesses, strengthening both career pathways and the regional economy.

The AHSC grant—part of California’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—promotes healthier communities by linking affordable housing with sustainable transportation and equitable economic opportunity. This new internship program advances that mission by connecting local talent to local jobs, reducing commute distances, and fostering a more resilient economy.

Through the program, ten local businesses have welcomed interns for six-month, paid positions. Each participating company receives up to $10,000 in grant funding to compensate their interns—lowering financial barriers for small businesses and startups eager to mentor emerging talent.

Santa Cruz Works recruits participating companies, while Digital NEST handles intern recruiting, training, and case management. Many interns come from bizzNEST, Digital NEST’s youth-powered creative agency, where participants gain paid experience in digital marketing, software development, and design through real client projects.

“This grant is a game-changer for our community,” said Bonnie Lipscomb, Director of Economic Development and Housing for the City of Santa Cruz. “It levels the playing field for residents who have faced systemic barriers to employment, while also eliminating cost concerns for businesses that want to mentor and grow local talent.”

“The earn-and-learn model is a proven solution to youth employment challenges,” said Cathy Wright, VP of Partnerships & Innovation at Digital NEST. “By providing paid experience, mentorship, and credentials right in their own communities, we’re preparing young people for wealth-building careers and a more equitable future.”

“We’re thrilled by the talent and energy these interns are bringing to local companies,” said Malina Long, Business Development and Programs Manager at Santa Cruz Works. “Their impact will ripple across our community for years to come.”

Participating Companies and Interns

• Climatize – Julian Guerrero, Video Production Intern

• Nurbli – Yuliana Morales-Galvan, Software & Development Intern

• X Academy – Fernanda Jordan, Marketing Intern

• Mission Hill Creamery – Julian Cabadas, Marketing Intern

• Siena House – Elsa Tamayo, Marketing Intern

• Go Ask Alice – Melanie Kate, Social Media Marketing Intern

• Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery – Edgar Robledo-Salgado, Video/Digital Storytelling Intern

• Innovation Within – Jared Esquivel, UX Contractor

• Clean Oceans International – Emily Ramirez, Social Media & Outreach Intern

• Senior Legal Services – Katherine Sarna, Communications Intern

The partnership between Santa Cruz Works and Digital NEST represents a model for community-driven workforce development—one that strengthens local companies, diversifies the talent pipeline, and ensures the next generation can build meaningful, sustainable careers right here in Santa Cruz County.

About Santa Cruz Works

About Digital NEST

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Santa Cruz Works is proud to announce a new partnership with Runpod, a leading GPU-first cloud provider that supports early-stage companies by delivering powerful GPU resources on demand. This collaboration will give startups in the Santa Cruz ecosystem seamless access to scalable, high-performance compute infrastructure—eliminating the complexities of building and managing AI infrastructure so founders can focus on innovating and bringing their AI models into production faster.

Runpod specializes in providing fully-loaded GPU-enabled environments that can be spun up instantly, running workloads with low latency across more than eight global regions. With dynamic real-time workload adaptation and a pay-as-you-go pricing model, Runpod makes it effortless for AI builders to train, fine-tune, and deploy models without upfront infrastructure investment or cold start delays.

John Tran, COO of Santa Cruz Works, highlighted the critical need for accessible infrastructure: “One of the biggest opportunities we see is building world-class AI companies by connecting tool builders, top researchers, and our local talent pool. Many leading AI companies already count UC Santa Cruz alumni among their co-founders and engineers. Our goal is to help that talent move faster by removing one of the most significant barriers they face: access to GPUs. With that hurdle gone, founders and entrepreneurs can focus entirely on building consequential AI companies.”

The platform is already trusted by major AI innovators such as Replit, Hugging Face, Perplexity, Cognition, Cursor, and OpenAI—making it a proven and reliable resource for cutting-edge AI development. Startups using Runpod can rapidly serve inference for image, text, and audio; fine-tune custom models on proprietary datasets; build intelligent agent-based workflows; or run compute-heavy tasks like rendering and simulations.

Zach Gulsby, Head of Partnerships at Runpod, emphasized the value of this partnership: “At Runpod, our mission is to remove the technical and financial barriers that often slow down early-stage AI companies. By partnering with Santa Cruz Works, we’re making it possible for founders to tap into world-class GPU infrastructure from day one, so they can focus on innovating instead of wrestling with infrastructure. Santa Cruz has a deep bench of AI talent and entrepreneurial energy, and we’re excited to help turn that potential into breakthrough products and companies.”

As foundational models like Claude continue to advance, John Tran explained the evolving relationship between models and AI agents: “Foundational models such as Claude are rapidly improving due to well-understood scaling laws—mathematical relationships predicting performance gains as parameters, data, and compute increase. This predictable growth sets the stage for increasingly capable AI agents that leverage these models to perform complex, autonomous tasks like long-horizon planning and multi-agent orchestration.

Customization is becoming more efficient thanks to parameter-efficient fine-tuning techniques such as LoRA and adapters, which update only a small subset of parameters. This enables startups to tailor powerful models without the heavy costs of full fine-tuning. Runpod’s platform supports these advances by providing scalable, cost-effective compute, empowering startups to fine-tune models and deploy sophisticated agent workflows at scale.”

John Tran added on the broader vision for the partnership: “This partnership marks the first step in building out the Santa Cruz Works AI platform’s early-stage stack. Runpod’s GPU cloud infrastructure unlocks incredible agility and scale for startups here—eliminating infrastructure barriers and empowering builders to move fast with parity to larger startups and even comparable to enterprises.”

Over the coming months, Santa Cruz Works will continue expanding its AI ecosystem with new strategic partners, reinforcing Santa Cruz’s position as an emerging hub for AI innovation and entrepreneurship.

Zhen Lu, CEO of Runpod, concluded: “Runpod’s goal has always been to become the platform where builders can create and deploy AI systems that scale. Our partnership with Santa Cruz Works is a natural extension of that mission: putting world-class GPU infrastructure into the hands of founders and researchers from day one. By removing infrastructure barriers, we’re enabling the Santa Cruz startup community to move faster, experiment more, and turn ambitious ideas into AI systems that can make an impact at global scale.”

Startups interested in leveraging Runpod’s platform through Santa Cruz Works can learn more and get started by signing up via the link below—be sure to mention Santa Cruz Works to access exclusive benefits.

Learn more about Runpod: https://www.runpod.io/startup-program

Learn more about Santa Cruz Works: https://www.santacruzworks.org/news/run-pod-santa-cruz-works-accelerator

Signup for Runpod GPU-first Compute Credits as a Santa Cruz Works Member

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At 10 AM PST on Wednesday, July 23, WORLD BLUE MIND DAY, a paddle out from Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz will celebrate the life of marine scientist, author, and Blue Mind innovator Wallace J Nichols, who passed away in 2024 at the age of 56.

Paddlers are encouraged to show up on the sand by 9:45 AM. The first 900 paddlers will receive a blue marble, which J frequently held up to eye level to represent our blue planet, for the event. Friends and family will also be on the Team O’Neill catamaran and the Chardonnay sailboat, and a program will be conducted.

Those not able to get into the water can view the event from the west side of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf as well as along West Cliff Drive. It will be an official Get Into Your Sanctuary activity in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and there will be proclamations from elected officials, and a cleanup will be conducted at Cowell Beach immediately after.

About Wallace J. Nichols

Wallace J. Nichols (1967 –2024) was born in New York and graduated from Barrington, Illinois High School in 1985. He studied biology and Spanish at DePauw University and in 1992 obtained a master's degree in economics at Duke University.

In 1993 and 1994 he studied marine biology at Northeastern University then became a Fulbright Fellow and received a Marshall Fellowship while studying at the University of Arizona, Tucson where he received his PhD specializing in turtle genetics, migration, and conservation.

He and his colleagues tagged a loggerhead turtle named Adelita, then tracked her movement by satellite as she swam from California to Japan. This was the first animal to be recorded crossing an entire ocean basin, and Nichols’ thesis that resulted from this famous work was entitled "Biology and conservation of sea turtles in Baja California, Mexico."

In 2025, J appeared in the feature documentary The Definition of Happiness, which explores the human connection to water and emotional well-being. The film was completed shortly after his passing and was dedicated to his memory.

Nichols lived on the Santa Cruz North Coast (which he and Dana nicknamed The Slow Coast) until the CZU Lightning Complex Fires in 2020. After the fire, J and his eldest daughter Grayce wrote the children’s book Dear Wild Child, which is a letter from a father to his daughters, filled with memories and observations about the ocean.

J is survived by Dana and his daughters, Grayce and Julia.

About World Blue Mind Day

World Blue Mind Day is celebrated every July 23 to raise awareness about the benefits of spending time near, in, on, or under water. More about the event: https://lu.ma/okeaz4v9

Press Logistics

There will be excellent viewing from the Santa Cruz Wharf, and a PA system will project sound from the boat. To make other specific arrangements, please contact Dan Haifley at (831) 234-8148.

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Santa Cruz Works, in collaboration with UC Santa Cruz and Seymour Marine Discovery Center, is excited to host Blue Innovation Day 2024 on October 6, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This family-friendly event, open to the public, will feature over 40 interactive exhibits and activities designed to promote awareness of ocean and water sustainability through innovative technologies and creative solutions.

Visitors can experience cutting-edge underwater robots, learn about energy generated from ocean waves, and view unique ocean artwork. Additionally, the event will showcase 3D-printed surfboards and whale bones created using recycled plastics, highlighting the potential of sustainable materials. Activities for all ages include sea life tours, a scavenger hunt, and a book reading focused on marine life and environmental protection.

Attendees are encouraged to ride their bikes and take advantage of the bike valet service provided. There will be workshops addressing critical environmental issues such as sea level rise, coastal erosion, and sustainable fisheries. A special session will be led by Verdagy, a green hydrogen company, showcasing their innovative solutions for clean energy.

The event is supported by prominent sponsors, including the UC Santa Cruz Center for Coastal Climate Resilience, O'Neill Sea Odyssey, City of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Metro, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Santa Cruz County Office of Education, and Santa Cruz Works. While admission is FREE for outdoor activities, access to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center’s indoor exhibit hall requires a ticket. Tickets are automatically entered into prize giveaways.

For More Information

Contact: Email Contact

Website: Blue Innovation 2024

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Santa Cruz Ventures is excited to announce its inaugural investment in farm-ng, securing a significant $10.05 million in Series A funding. The funding round was led by Acre Venture Partners with participation from Xplorer Capital, and ten other institutional and individual investors. This investment reflects the confidence and support of the investor community in farm-ng’s vision, strategy, and the potential for transformative impact on sustainable agriculture.

“We are eager to continue our journey in revitalizing agriculture with our robotics and AI platform thanks to the support of our lead investors Acre Venture Partners and Xplorer Capital," said Ethan Rublee, CEO and Founder of farm-ng. "This Series A funding will enable us to accelerate manufacturing to meet market demand, fund the development of more autonomous farm capabilities, scale our go to market, and develop an ecosystem of applications that help farms thrive for generations to come. At farm-ng, we are committed to cultivating a future where everyone has access to healthy food grown in an ecologically and economically sustainable way.”

Built for multiple environments, tasks, and crops, the Amiga helps farms reduce operational costs, increase yields, and realize a rapid return on investment. Its open and extensible software allows for integration into farming applications and endless customization through developers and partners. In less than 18 months, over 100 Amigas have been deployed to execute a range of farming tasks from seeding, precision spraying, pest management, and compost spreading to phenotyping and geo-tagged data collection, visualization, and analysis.

Growers face significant labor challenges. In the U.S. alone, $90 billion is spent on repetitive, hazardous, manual farm tasks. Labor shortages are exacerbated by reduced immigration and rising wages. Climate-related costs are thinning profit margins and farm management lacks the data it needs to make precise decisions and scale operations.

farm-ng is squarely focused on addressing the issues the farming industry experiences with its robotics and AI solutions. The company aims to deliver three game-changing outcomes for its customers:

1. Productive, resilient farming operations: With cost-effective access to farm-ng solutions, farms can become more productive by significantly reducing manual labor, maintenance, and fuel costs. With automation, they can be more resilient to labor shortages, economic shifts, and climate shocks.

2. Inclusive, sustainable farming practices: The Amiga is simple for anyone on the farm to operate. With the automation of labor-intensive tasks, farms can operate more efficiently, increase yields, and invest in sustainable practices that deliver more profit to growers and healthier food to more people.

3. Quick ROI with appropriate robotics and AI: Because the farm-ng platform is open and modular, it offers infinite customization options that enable farmers to easily adapt to various crop types for increased food production. The Amiga’s versatility not only provides a quick return on investment, but evolves with the operation over time.

“We are eager to continue our journey in revitalizing agriculture with our robotics and AI platform thanks to the support of our lead investors Acre Venture Partners and Xplorer Capital. This Series A funding will enable us to accelerate manufacturing to meet market demand, fund the development of more autonomous farm capabilities, scale our go to market, and develop an ecosystem of applications that help farms thrive for generations to come. At farm-ng, we are committed to cultivating a future where everyone has access to healthy food grown in an ecologically and economically sustainable way.” Ethan Rublee, CEO and Founder of farm-ng.

JOIN US: Ethan Rublee, CEO and Founder of farm-ng, was selected as a Titans of Tech 2023. Join us on February 01, 2024 to learn from Ethan about his journey.

About farm-ng

farm-ng empowers small- and mid-sized farms with affordable, adaptable robotics and AI solutions so they can adopt more productive, profitable, and sustainable farming practices. Its modular electric robot, the Amiga, and its on-board AI computer is built for multiple environments, tasks, and crops to help farms reduce operational costs, increase productivity, and realize a rapid return on investment. Its open and extensible software allows for integration into farming applications and endless customization through developers and partners. The Amiga won the 2023 Small Farm Innovation Challenge and was selected as a 2024 Top 10 New Product by World Ag Expo.

About Acre Venture Partners

Acre partners with companies providing the breakthrough technologies and critical infrastructure necessary to enable a greatly improved food ecosystem - one in which positive outcomes for human and climate health are prioritized alongside profitability.

About Xplorer Capital

Xplorer Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in talented entrepreneurs and disruptive technologies that transform industries on a global scale. Our portfolio companies drive advancements in AI, robotics, and automation to improve industries such as logistics, manufacturing, agriculture, and sustainability.

About Santa Cruz Ventures

Santa Cruz Ventures is the first institutional venture firm dedicated to funding and supporting the top technology startups in the Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. SCV primarily focuses on startups across clean tech, biotech, robotics, and health/wellness and beyond, aimed at propelling their journeys from audacious ideas to disruptive billion dollar companies.

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The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) held its inaugural Chancellor’s Innovation Impact Award Program dinner on May 30, 2023. The program acknowledges the contributions of UCSC’s staff, students, faculty members, and community partners in innovation and creativity in education and technology.

Russell Corbett-Detig, Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering at UCSC, and his team were awarded the Innovator of the Year for their development of a computational tool called UShER. This tool tracks the SARS-CoV-2 virus in real time and identifies new virus lineages. Corbett-Detig states, “I’m thrilled to receive the Innovator of the Year award. This recognition highlights the incredible innovation that is possible through collaboration with colleagues and students.”

David Deamer and Mark Akeson, both Research Professors Emeriti of Biomolecular Engineering, received the Lifetime Achievement in Innovation award for their nanopore sequencing research that revolutionized DNA and RNA reading. “We are honored to receive this award,” says Mark Akeson. “Our work has always been about pushing the envelope of possibility, and it gives us great pride to know that we have made a difference.”

Santa Cruz Works (SCWorks), a nonprofit organization supporting regional economic prosperity through entrepreneurship and innovation, received the Community Changemaker award for their efforts in aiding the university to connect with PPE-producing companies, expanding their digital footprint, and developing entrepreneurial skills for students and innovators, among others.

SCWorks played a vital role in bringing events such as Launchpad '22 and Blue Innovation '22 to campus. These events are designed to support stakeholders interested in water management and ocean climate solutions. “We are humbled to receive this award. This award belongs to every teacher, professor, mentor, every daring entrepreneur, every disruptive startup, and every innovator in our community. It is a tribute to those who foster the dreamers who then transform their vision into reality to make a better world,” says Doug Erickson, executive director of SC Works during their acceptance speech.

The Chancellor’s Innovation Impact Award Program highlighted the efforts of individuals and organizations that have contributed to the growth and sustainability of technology and education in Santa Cruz. This program is committed to recognizing those who have made significant contributions to promoting innovation and creativity.

For more information about the Chancellor’s Innovation Impact Award Program and upcoming events, visit the University of California, Santa Cruz’s official website.

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