Industries:
Tech
The Scene
The new economy centers around companies that have access to high-speed internet, talent, and a community that provides opportunities for economic and social growth. The tech sector in Santa Cruz enjoys access to these vital elements and is driven by the ability to work anywhere, anytime. Our city attracts tech professionals who want to live and work in a place that values their talents and provides options for connection outside the workplace and companies that support their employees' needs.
Our proximity to Silicon Valley creates opportunities for investment and inspiration, yet we maintain our unique Silicon Beach aesthetic.
Our tech community is well integrated and Santa Cruz New Tech Meetup participants gather monthly to celebrate successes and discuss new developments.
Our strong tech ecosystem fosters startups like Looker, which was the first major acquisition by Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian in 2019. Santa Cruz has also has grown Fortune 500 companies like Plantronics (now known as Poly) and leaders in innovation, Joby, through a network of coworking spaces, an independent ISP, a #1 research university that produces local talent, and a strong pool of inventive entrepreneurs who build companies that have a local and global impact.
Nextspace, a co-working space.
The Roots
Notable tech companies like Netflix, Texas Instruments, SCO (Santa Cruz Operation), Seagate, and Borland are among the tech companies that started in the Santa Cruz region. Founded in 1963, Plantronics (now known as Ploy) made the first headset used in outer space, and made history when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon and uttered the legendary words: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" through a Plantronics headset that went on to be worn by astronauts during the NASA shuttle missions.
In 2008, NextSpace Coworking opened in Downtown Santa Cruz and created a collaborative community that revolutionized the nature of work. In 2010, long-established independent ISP Cruzio opened their own coworking space, CruzioWorks. These spaces changed the game in the way tech companies and entrepreneurs work and connect.
As a result, Santa Cruz is a hub for freelancers, startups, as well as small to medium-sized companies who take advantage of the lower overhead and invaluable collaborative experience provided by coworking spaces.
Entrepreneurs from those spaces have built successful companies in Downtown and in other areas in the Santa Cruz region. Fast growing startup Looker (acquired by Google Cloud in 2019) established tech companies like ProductOps, FullPower Technologies, and I heart Jane continue to be core tech companies working in the heart of downtown. The future of our tech sector looks bright as interest continues to grow in relocating or launching in an environment that many traditional tech hubs can’t offer.
3
Coworking spaces
1+
Gigabit Broadband Internet
2.3k
New Tech Meetup Members
Retail
The presence of creative and artisanal goods has promoted a range of retail offerings from boutique outfitters to world-renowned international brands.
Retail
The presence of creative and artisanal goods has promoted a range of retail offerings from boutique outfitters to world-renowned international brands.