Startup Accelerators

If you run a manufacturing business in California, finding time to sharpen your strategy or fix supply chain gaps often falls to the bottom of the list. NorCal SBDC and Roadmap 4 Innovation are running two no-cost cohort courses from May through July. Both are designed for manufacturers who need practical frameworks without the typical seminar fluff. The timing matters. These are cohort programs, which means you learn alongside other operators facing similar challenges. That peer context is often more valuable than the curriculum itself. What makes these worth considering: No cost. That removes the usual budget approval friction. Cohort format. You get exposure to how other manufacturers are solving problems you might be stuck on. Focused scope. Strategy and supply chain. Not a general business course trying to cover everything. If you're handling operations and strategy yourself, or if you've been putting off a closer look at your supply chain because you don't have a clear starting point, this is a low-risk way to get structured guidance. Most small business owners I work with struggle to carve out time for anything that isn't directly tied to revenue or customer delivery. But the manufacturers who consistently grow are the ones who block time to work on the business, not just in it. Applications are open now. Courses run May through July. If you know a California manufacturer who would benefit, share this with them. https://www.santacruzworks.org/news/free-training-courses-now-open-for-california-manufacturers …more

You’ve heard of SBDC and SBIR/STTR, but probably not APEX. APEX Accelerators are government-funded programs that help small businesses win federal, state, and local contracts at no cost. We have an APEX Accelerator in Monterey Bay that is well connected and can get your technology in front of the right government orgs. If you’re rethinking growth channels and want practical next steps, send me a message. #govcon https://montereybayapex.org/ …more

AI is reshaping the job market. Universities must do more than prepare students for jobs; they should act as incubators for entrepreneurship, teaching critical thinking, curiosity, ethics and product skills. I’ve seen first hand how SpartUp at SJSU has helped students, the university and the community. From launching programs and startups, three practical lessons stand out: use project-based coursework, embed experienced mentors, and run low-risk pilots that let students ship and learn. If you’re an early-career professional aiming for product or operations roles, start by building a short project, finding one mentor, and proposing a campus pilot. https://www.santacruzworks.org/news/the-case-for-universities-as-startup-incubators …more

SJSU students: this is a practical way to get involved and experience entrepreneurship while you're in college. If you're an early-stage founder or curious about startups, join SpartUp Founder Fiesta on 3/12 for a panel discussion hosted by the SpartUp Incubator. As a founder and long-time mentor, I've learned that early customer feedback and mentorship shape are the fastest way to go to market. Want to connect there? Send me a message. #startups https://luma.com/nnxlhtzj …more

Looking for experienced professionals and entrepreneurs to mentor early-stage teams as they prepare for Launchpad on May 13, 2026 at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Mentors will help sharpen pitches, validate ideas, and build founder confidence before the live competition and job fair. I'm also building my list of Mentors for Santa Cruz Accelerates Cohort 7 (mentoring seed-stage startups with traction) From my experience, targeted feedback early brings clarity and faster decision making for teams and fresh perspective for mentors. If you can help, send me a message. #mentorship https://www.santacruzworks.org/news/launchpad-2026-mentors-needed …more