Resources

Money, space, and people — where to find them.

A working list of the programs and organizations most useful to hard tech companies in this county. If something is missing, tell us.

Standing resources

Start here

Federal agencies

SBIR / STTR

Non-dilutive R&D funding from agencies including NSF, DOE, NIH, and DoD. Often the single best first source of capital for a hardware company.

State of California

California Competes / GO-Biz

State incentives, tax credits, and site-selection support for companies growing or relocating in California.

U.S. Small Business Administration

SBA loan programs

7(a), 504, and microloan programs — the 504 program in particular is built for equipment and facility purchases.

Regional trade organization

Santa Cruz Works

Events, a job board, and the connective tissue between local technology employers and talent.

UC Santa Cruz

UCSC Baskin School of Engineering

Research collaborations, capstone project teams, and the engineering talent pipeline.

SBDC Network

NorCal SBDC

The wider network behind this program — advising, training, and specialty centers across Northern California.

Through the SBDC

Programs that come with membership

Santa Cruz HardTech is one program of a much larger network. These siblings are open to you at no cost, and most founders here do not know they exist.

Northern California SBDC

The network's venture platform for technology startups — market mapping, customer discovery, commercialization, IP and financial strategy, and help pursuing grants. Founders are matched to an advisor by sector and stage. Since 2012 it has worked with more than 700 California startups. No cost, no equity.

California SBDC with CMTC

Small business manufacturing support

Delivered with CMTC, California's NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership centre. Covers automation and Industry 4.0 adoption, supply chain and reshoring, workforce and apprenticeships, export support through the STEP grant, and capital routes including SBA 504 and IBank guarantees. Free to small manufacturers.

Application

Apply to Tech Futures Group

TFG is selective rather than open enrolment — you apply and are paired with an advisor if accepted. Worth doing early; the advising is unlimited once you are in.

From the program

Guides and write-ups

No guides published yet

Resource posts added from the admin area will show up here.