55 Top startups in Santa Cruz for May 2025

We rank MakerDAO, Future Motion and Gooder Foods in Santa Cruz along with 52 other startups based on an algorithm that scores startups based on total investment, employee count, and quarterly website traffic. Santa Cruz startup ecosystem ranks #109 globally and #35 in United States.

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Unicorns

Exits

Coworking Spaces

Accelerators

Top Unicorn Startups in Santa Cruz for 2025

Prometheus is the only unicorn in Santa Cruz raising more than USD 1.5B. It is the undefined ranked unicorn in North America.
SB Score:232

Prometheus streamlines enterprise asset optimization by integrating planning, scheduling, work management, and analytics for maintenance, turnarounds, and production. Maximize efficiency and minimize downtime with a unified approach.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Software

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

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Total amount:1

Best Startups in Santa Cruz for 2025

SB Score:476

Maker is a decentralized organization on the Ethereum blockchain aiming to stabilize its stable token, Dai, against the IMF's SDR. Founded in 2014 and based in Santa Cruz, Maker seeks to reduce price volatility and provide a reliable digital currency option for users.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Cryptocurrency

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

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SB Score:465

Experience effortless transportation with the self-balancing electric skateboard. Perfect for urban commuters, this innovative board automatically adjusts to your movements for a smooth ride. Say goodbye to cumbersome controls and hello to a fun and easy way to get around town.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Hardware

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

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SB Score:453

Gooder Foods is a manufacturer of innovative processed food products, specializing in veggie-boosted, protein-packed macaroni and cheese. The company empowers customers to enjoy healthier, convenient meal options without sacrificing taste, making nutritious eating accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Industry:
Foodtech
Subindustry:
Food and Beverage

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

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SB Score:405

Capstan Medical develops innovative, minimally invasive technologies designed to treat heart valve disorders. By leveraging advanced techniques, the company aims to enhance patient outcomes and streamline procedures, ultimately improving the quality of care for individuals with cardiovascular conditions.

Industry:
Healthtech
Subindustry:
Health Care

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

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SB Score:399

Cruz Foam is a circular materials company offering certified compostable, protective packaging foam and other solutions.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Manufacturing

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SB Score:380

SupplyShift provides sustainable supply chain solutions for businesses and customers. Streamline your supply chain with our platform for better efficiency and transparency.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Cloud

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7th

MURJ
SB Score:374

Murj develops innovative digital solutions for cardiac care, ensuring patients receive optimal treatment.

Industry:
Healthtech
Subindustry:
Health Care

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SB Score:341

minds.ai is an AI consultancy specializing in deep learning strategy and development. They offer full-service solutions to help businesses harness the power of artificial intelligence.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Artificial Intelligence

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

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SB Score:317

Revolutionize stormwater compliance with a cutting-edge science-based SaaS solution for enterprise cloud. Ensure peak performance and meet regulations with ease.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Cloud

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

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SB Score:317

Unnatural Products is a startup pairing AI with chemistry to create treatments for drug targets. Its AI-enhanced technology platform creates entirely new drugs by engineering passively permeable, macrocyclic peptides that access traditionally undruggable targets. Unnatural Products was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Artificial Intelligence

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SB Score:313

Emboline revolutionizes percutaneous heart valve repair with a groundbreaking device for complete embolic protection. Its innovative technology ensures safety and efficacy during the procedure, setting a new standard in cardiac care.

Industry:
Healthtech
Subindustry:
Health Care

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

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Total amount:55

Top 17 Software & Data Startups in Santa Cruz for 2025

The top three Software & Data startups in Santa Cruz have raised more than USD 106M. Santa Cruz startup ecosystem ranks #156 globally for the Software & Data industry.
SB Score:380

SupplyShift provides sustainable supply chain solutions for businesses and customers. Streamline your supply chain with our platform for better efficiency and transparency.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Cloud

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

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Regional Rank (North America)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:341

minds.ai is an AI consultancy specializing in deep learning strategy and development. They offer full-service solutions to help businesses harness the power of artificial intelligence.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Artificial Intelligence

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

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Regional Rank (North America)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:317

Revolutionize stormwater compliance with a cutting-edge science-based SaaS solution for enterprise cloud. Ensure peak performance and meet regulations with ease.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Cloud

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

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Regional Rank (North America)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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Total amount:17

Top 6 Hardware & IoT Startups in Santa Cruz for 2025

The top three Hardware & IoT startups in Santa Cruz have raised more than USD 102M. Santa Cruz startup ecosystem ranks #68 globally for the Hardware & IoT industry.
SB Score:465

Experience effortless transportation with the self-balancing electric skateboard. Perfect for urban commuters, this innovative board automatically adjusts to your movements for a smooth ride. Say goodbye to cumbersome controls and hello to a fun and easy way to get around town.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Hardware

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

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Regional Rank (North America)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:399

Cruz Foam is a circular materials company offering certified compostable, protective packaging foam and other solutions.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Manufacturing

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

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Regional Rank (North America)

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SB Score:254

LuDela offers a smart candle that enhances ambiance with the warmth of a real flame, all controllable via a smartphone. With its mission to enrich lives through improved lighting, LuDela brings convenience and comfort to users around the globe.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Consumer Electronics

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

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Regional Rank (North America)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

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Total amount:6

Top 12 Healthtech Startups in Santa Cruz for 2025

The top three Healthtech startups in Santa Cruz have raised more than USD 236M. Santa Cruz startup ecosystem ranks #167 globally for the Healthtech industry.
SB Score:405

Capstan Medical develops innovative, minimally invasive technologies designed to treat heart valve disorders. By leveraging advanced techniques, the company aims to enhance patient outcomes and streamline procedures, ultimately improving the quality of care for individuals with cardiovascular conditions.

Industry:
Healthtech
Subindustry:
Health Care

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

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Regional Rank (North America)

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2nd

MURJ
SB Score:374

Murj develops innovative digital solutions for cardiac care, ensuring patients receive optimal treatment.

Industry:
Healthtech
Subindustry:
Health Care

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

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Regional Rank (North America)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:313

Emboline revolutionizes percutaneous heart valve repair with a groundbreaking device for complete embolic protection. Its innovative technology ensures safety and efficacy during the procedure, setting a new standard in cardiac care.

Industry:
Healthtech
Subindustry:
Health Care

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

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Regional Rank (North America)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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Total amount:12

Most Funded Startups in Santa Cruz for 2025

The top three most funded startups in Santa Cruz have raised total funding of more than USD 386M. MakerDAO has 0.07% more funding than Capstan Medical.
SB Score:476

Maker is a decentralized organization on the Ethereum blockchain aiming to stabilize its stable token, Dai, against the IMF's SDR. Founded in 2014 and based in Santa Cruz, Maker seeks to reduce price volatility and provide a reliable digital currency option for users.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Cryptocurrency

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

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Regional Rank (North America)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:405

Capstan Medical develops innovative, minimally invasive technologies designed to treat heart valve disorders. By leveraging advanced techniques, the company aims to enhance patient outcomes and streamline procedures, ultimately improving the quality of care for individuals with cardiovascular conditions.

Industry:
Healthtech
Subindustry:
Health Care

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

View

Regional Rank (North America)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

Browse
View full page
SB Score:399

Cruz Foam is a circular materials company offering certified compostable, protective packaging foam and other solutions.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Manufacturing

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

View

Regional Rank (North America)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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Total amount:55

Top Hiring Startups in Santa Cruz by Employee Number

The top three hiring startups in Santa Cruz have an median employee size that is between [51-100]
SB Score:476

Maker is a decentralized organization on the Ethereum blockchain aiming to stabilize its stable token, Dai, against the IMF's SDR. Founded in 2014 and based in Santa Cruz, Maker seeks to reduce price volatility and provide a reliable digital currency option for users.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Cryptocurrency

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

View

Regional Rank (North America)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

Browse
View full page
SB Score:465

Experience effortless transportation with the self-balancing electric skateboard. Perfect for urban commuters, this innovative board automatically adjusts to your movements for a smooth ride. Say goodbye to cumbersome controls and hello to a fun and easy way to get around town.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Hardware

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

View

Regional Rank (North America)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

Browse
View full page
SB Score:405

Capstan Medical develops innovative, minimally invasive technologies designed to treat heart valve disorders. By leveraging advanced techniques, the company aims to enhance patient outcomes and streamline procedures, ultimately improving the quality of care for individuals with cardiovascular conditions.

Industry:
Healthtech
Subindustry:
Health Care

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

View

Regional Rank (North America)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

Browse
View full page
SB Score:380

SupplyShift provides sustainable supply chain solutions for businesses and customers. Streamline your supply chain with our platform for better efficiency and transparency.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Cloud

City Rank (Santa Cruz)

0

View

Regional Rank (North America)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

Browse
View full page

Total amount:55

Explore the Startup Ecosystem of Santa Cruz

National Rank

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Regional Rank

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42nd

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Global Rank

(WorldWide)

105th

1

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Top Cities for Startups in United States - Ranked by StartupBlink

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
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2025 National Rank CityGlobal RankTotal Score

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Quantity Score
Quality ScoreBusiness Score
1st
0
1st
0
852.643
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2nd
0
2nd
0
315.515
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00.00
00.00
3rd
0
4th
0
139.115
00.00
00.00
00.00
4th
0
6th
-
1
128.476
00.00
00.00
00.00
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