Santa Cruz Works

The cannabis industry is like a chaotic jungle. You’ve got dispensaries on one branch, brands swinging from another, and customers wandering around trying to find their vibe. Enter Jane Technologies — the Tarzan of this jungle, swinging through with an AI-powered vine and yelling, "I've got this!" Here’s the deal: since 2016, Jane has been building the ultimate toolbox for cannabis retail. It’s like if Amazon and Spotify had a baby, but instead of delivering random socks or curating moody playlists, it helps you find the perfect cannabis product for your unique *you-ness*. The Core: AI That Actually Gets You Jane’s secret sauce is MyHigh, an AI-powered personalization engine that makes everyone in the cannabis jungle happy: Consumers: : MyHigh acts like a chill budtender who knows exactly what you need — pain relief? Creativity? Something to unwind after a terrible date? It uses a massive, AI-curated catalog to recommend products tailored to your preferences. Retailers: With tools like the MyHigh Menu and Recommended Sort, stores can offer super-slick experiences that boost conversions by 20%. More sales, happier shoppers. Win-win. Brands:: Jane’s AI doesn’t just guess who might like your product; it uses data sorcery to connect you with the right consumers at the right time. Imagine click-through rates jumping by 20% and sales climbing by 12% — because that’s what’s happening. Why This Matters Cannabis shopping isn’t like buying a toaster. It’s personal, like picking the right song for your feels. Jane gets that and has spent nearly a decade perfecting its tech to give everyone in the industry — customers, stores, brands — a smoother, smarter experience. In short: Jane isn’t just keeping up with the future of cannabis; it’s building it, one AI-powered solution at a time. The jungle’s never looked so organized. ??

It’s never been easier to become a pundit. All you need to know is one word. Why can’t Congress pass laws and budgets? Polarization. Why can’t Americans reduce shooting deaths? Polarization. Why have lawmakers in a state just hit by two once-in-a-century storms banned government use of the words ‘climate change’? Polarization. What causes polarization in the U.S.? Polarization. Learn why Santa Cruz resident David Apgar wrote a book all about this topic.

Looking for a family-friendly, hands-on night filled with computer science fun for everyone? Join a Computer Science Playground Night! Offering live demonstrations, interactive stations, and more activities.

Cool chemistry achievement alert! UC Santa Cruz chemists have discovered a new way to produce biodiesel from waste oil that both simplifies the process and requires relatively mild heat.

Santa Cruz community member Craig Vachon has rolled out a new book called Rapid Unplanned Disassembly that is a Silicon Valley fever dream meets romantic comedy with a body count. T, the protagonist, is a whip-smart startup CEO whose world shatters in one dizzying night. First, her AI company is swiped by an ex-friend, and then that very ex-friend turns up as a very ex-person, leaving T as suspect number one. What follows is a whirlwind of murder investigations, venture capital scheming, and unexpectedly graceful pirouettes from Al, a lumberyard heir who’s as comfortable in a dance studio as he is in a small-town diner.

Congratulations to CarbonBridge, a leading innovator in sustainable fuels and graduate of Santa Cruz Accelerates 5th cohort, who recently received the 2024 Wallenius Wilhelmsen Orcelle Awards and received a $100k!

Everyone knows Chat GPT, whether that is attributed to its public acclaim or infamy. Studies have pointed out the inaccuracy of Chat GPT, finding it incorrect an astounding 52% of the time when answering computer programming questions and hallucinating fake references for essays. Is there something better that doesn't cross the line?

Joby Aviation announced on November 12, 2024 that it has officially commenced construction on the first vertiport in its planned Dubai air taxi network. Check out the video!

Congrats to Zero Motorcycles, the Santa Cruz based electric motorcycle maker who recently raised $120M!

Here are the final round of nominees for our 8th Annual Titans Awards! Our judges will be reviewing the nominees and selecting award recipients which will be announced next week. Do you recognize any of these faces?