Santa Cruz Works is a 501c6 nonprofit organization that strengthens Santa Cruz County’s innovation economy by connecting students, job seekers, employers, startups, small businesses, and community partners through community events, paid internship program, a startup accelerator program, and free newsletter.

We serve entrepreneurs and startups, students and young adults, job seekers, local businesses, employers seeking local talent and brand exposure, as well as educational institutions like UC Santa Cruz, Cabrillo College, and community partners with a focus on collaborating on regional workforce initiatives.

We host numerous community events, coordinate the AHSC Internship Opportunity Program, and run a startup accelerator program. We also put out a weekly newsletter sharing the latest innovation news happening along the Central California Coast and we help connect individuals and businesses to local mentors and resources.

The Santa Cruz Accelerates program is an equity-free accelerator that supports startups and entrepreneurs with mentorship, community connections, and resources to grow high-impact ventures. New cohorts launch periodically — follow our newsletter for updates.

Membership perks include discounted and waived event tickets, exclusive networking opportunities, access to clinics and trainings, a weekly newsletter, perks through The One Valley Passport platform, and connections to local companies and talent pipelines. See the full list of benefits here.

No — while Santa Cruz Works has strong ties to the region’s innovation economy, our programs support businesses and individuals across sectors and helps local companies of all types build skills, expand their network, and get access to critical resoures.

In June 2025, the City of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Works, and Digital NEST launched the Santa Cruz AHSC Workforce Development Grant Internship Opportunity Program (IOP) to fund paid internships for young adults (ages 18-24) in underserved Santa Cruz County neighborhoods. The program provides employers up to $10,000 to cover internship compensation. Santa Cruz Works reviews employer applications each cohort, while Digital NEST recruits and screens eligible candidates and provides a qualified pool for employers to interview and select from. Santa Cruz Works and Digital NEST check in throughout the internship, and both the employer and intern complete a brief survey at the end. All participants sign an agreement, with additional details provided upon acceptance.m description