In her weekly roundup of news and notes from the Santa Cruz County business community, Jessica M. Pasko looks at hurdles facing restaurants wanting to keep their pandemic-era outdoor dining spaces, Joby Aviation’s Air Force connection and a loss for the Crepe Place family.
Santa Cruz County business roundup
Posted inFood & Drink
Santa Cruz bars and restaurants sound alarm on city’s new rules for outdoor dining
The City of Santa Cruz issued temporary permits for restaurants to shift to outdoor dining in a hasty response to the statewide COVID state of emergency, which forced the closure of indoor dining facilities during the pandemic. But starting as early as March, business owners will have to go through traditional permitting if they want to keep their outdoor dining spaces. Some restaurateurs say the slow, complicated and expensive process threatens their businesses.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Downtown fees, Goodles funding & skateboard milestone
In her weekly roundup of news and notes from the Santa Cruz County business community, Jessica M. Pasko previews a public hearing on the move to increase what businesses pay to the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz, checks in on the mac & cheese pros at Goodles, rounds up events and more.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Downtown Santa Cruz to hike business assessment fee as city center sees post-pandemic rebound in foot traffic
With a big post-pandemic resurgence underway, the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz wants to hike by nearly 15% what district businesses pay to help support cleaning, safety services, the Downtown Ambassador program and more. A hearing before the city council is set for Sept. 26; if passed, the increase — the first in three decades — would go into effect in January.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Doug Erickson Q&A, Arrow Surf’s move, Ambient Photonics funding
In her weekly roundup of news and notes from the Santa Cruz County business community, Jessica M. Pasko hears from Santa Cruz Works founder Doug Erickson on the local tech scene, AI and more, delivers updates on a temporary change of scene for Arrow Surf & Sport and what’s new with Scotts Valley’s Ambient Photonics, plus local events and recommended reading.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Scotts Valley’s Ambient Photonics raises $30 million for solar cell technology
With its proprietary low-light energy harvesting technology, Ambient Photonics is aiming to replace disposable batteries in devices such as remote controls, keyboards, mice and other connected devices.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz Works’ Doug Erickson on how region’s affordable housing crisis affects local tech economy
The tech sector has been hit hard the past few years, and analysts anticipate that tech layoffs in 2023 will exceed the number in 2022. While recession fears continue to reverberate within the larger tech ecosystem, at the local level we’ve seen some significant growth activity. In an interview with Lookout business columnist Jessica M. Pasko, Santa Cruz Works founder Doug Erickson discusses how the region’s affordable housing woes have affected the growth of the local tech industry — and why AI is about to upend everything.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Expansion ahead after Westside medtech firm raises millions
In her inaugural weekly roundup of news and notes from the Santa Cruz County business community, Jessica M. Pasko has the latest on startup Capstan Medical, job openings by sector, new board members for Visit Santa Cruz County and more.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz medtech company Capstan Medical raises $31.4 million in new funding round, looks to local expansion
Capstan Medical, founded in 2020, is developing a minimally invasive technology to treat mitral and tricuspid valve disease. The Santa Cruz company recently raised $31.4 million in a Series B fundraising round led by Palo Alto-based venture capital firm Eclipse. The funding will help with hiring in four key areas — software and controls engineering, mechanical engineering, clinical and operations.