An annual report from crowdfunding and fundraising platform GoFundMe spotlights big generosity from our small county, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look at local business. She’s also got news on real estate trends, dates, names and numbers to know and more.
Jessica M. Pasko
Jessica M. Pasko has been writing professionally for almost two decades. She cut her teeth in journalism as a reporter for the Associated Press in her native Albany, New York, where she covered everything from plane crashes and arts & culture to state politics, including assisting with the coverage of former New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s resignation. After getting her master’s degree at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she moved to the West Coast and covered crime and breaking news for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. She has also worked for KION and written for a variety of local, regional and national publications on both coasts, including Evanston Patch, The Good Times, Santa Cruz Waves and many others.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Riding high on ‘Shark Tank’ success, Santa Cruz-based Surf Skull aims to make safety fashion-forward
Head and neck injuries are one of the most common and potentially serious injuries for surfers, and yet helmet use remains relatively rare. That’s what the team behind Surf Skull hopes to change with their take on a surf helmet that pairs function with fashion.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Surf Skull’s new take on a surf helmet; considering The Catalyst; latest tourism stats
Jessica M. Pasko dives into the story behind the surf helmet a Santa Cruz company pitched on a recent episode of “Shark Tank,” explores The Catalyst’s iconic status and highlights numbers, names and events to know on the local business scene.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Demolition, relocation eyed for Catalyst; Westside revitalization story; new wine district moves forward
A Silicon Valley developer has proposed demolishing the historic downtown Santa Cruz home of The Catalyst nightclub and erecting a new seven-story, mixed-use building, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly survey of local business. She’s also got news from the Westside, on the local wine industry and more.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
Santa Cruz Roller Palladium still provides timeless fun after 75 years
Little has changed about the Santa Cruz Roller Palladium since it opened in 1950, and for Diane Ethrington, who bought it with her husband from the original owners in 1986, its perennial appeal lies in its simplicity.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Roller Palladium marks 75 years; Joby accuses rival of stealing trade secrets
The timeless charm of the Santa Cruz Roller Palladium remains a strong pull as it hits a milestone, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look at local business. She’s also got news on Joby Aviation, a labor deal in Watsonville and names, numbers and dates to know.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz’s Joby Aviation sues main rival Archer, alleging corporate espionage
Air taxi company Joby is suing rival Archer in Santa Cruz, alleging a former Joby employee leaked confidential terms of a real estate deal when he joined Archer earlier this year. Archer has denied the allegations. The case is unfolding as both companies rush to pursue FAA certification for their electric aircraft and launch commercial air taxi services.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Midtown business improvement district on pause; Santa Cruz city workers OK deal
A business improvement district for Santa Cruz’s Midtown area is on hold to allow for more discussion, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look at local business. She’s also got an update on a new contract for some unionized city workers, a deal for the Santa Cruz startup that appeared on “Shark Tank” and plenty more.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Local fintech company’s latest acquisition; startup pitches surf helmet on ‘Shark Tank’
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on Paystand expanding payments to include some types of cryptocurrencies, previews a local startup’s appearance on “Shark Tank” and notes the debut of the Lookout List.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
With Pie Fi, Pleasure Pizza owners seek to build local hub for AI development
Having navigated the restaurant business after buying Pleasure Pizza in 2023, Sol and Erica Lipman opened Pie Fi around the corner in downtown Santa Cruz, a physical location for working, learning and meeting, a digital platform for building artificial intelligence projects and an accelerator program all in one.