Cruzioworks hosts first ever works members networking showcase.
Bounce Hour, an hour long meeting offered to Cruzioworks members each week as a way to encourage networking and mingling amongst each other, was especially interesting this last Thursday. Calling this unique conference The Showcase, we got to hear five presentations from innovative companies who have been thriving as a part of the Cruzioworks coworking facility. Bounce hour is typically a place for casual rendezvous each week, allowing connections to be built among members who utilize Cruzio’s world class infrastructure as a comfortable space to work. In this case however, the occasion gave Works members the opportunity to talk to a larger audience about their company, advertise their endeavors, and gain valuable exposure among the local community.
The first presentation was given by Pontus Malmberg, from Blix electric bikes. Although there are already numerous people who bike around town, a surprisingly simple dilemma has prevented many from biking to work on a regular basis. It was noted that seven out of ten people would bike to work more often if they didn’t sweat so much on their way over, and often feel the need to change clothes or even shower by the time they arrived. “If sweaty shirts are coming between us and saving the world,” Pontus declared, “We need to have a solution for that.” Blix electric bikes plan to make it easier for people to do so.
Second to present, was Eric Johnson and Tracy Hukill with their creation, Hilltromper. Hilltromper was designed to be an online outdoor guide that posts events and activities happening in the Santa Cruz area. Their goal is to develop a “fun, poetic, and political” website that people can use to learn about state parks, beaches, bike trails and other beautiful nooks across the county. They provide education in environmental news and offer the ability for people to blog about all the enjoyable experiences they have uncovered. By compiling a number of activities to partake in, Hilltromper has helped contribute to the outdoor experience for locals and visitors alike.
The next presentation came from co-founder Robert Singleton, with his startup, Civinomics. The intention of Civinomics is to collect community feedback regarding various issues in the Bay area. Civinomics strives to promote strong civic engagement by urging people to get involved with official City Council Agenda items, and provide an online platform for local voices to be heard. This website makes it possible for local thoughts to be considered on an easily accessible political platform, before policy is actually implemented. Their logo, represented by a combination of a hand and a dove, symbolizes their mission to create peace and prosperity through active participation.
Next up was Jiro Wiseman, who presented his startup that is currently in the beta stage called Lifestyle Living. Lifestyle Living helps consumers find the best-fit match for their future home. It allows users to adjust their preference level in relation to a myriad of different options of available homes on the market, and the amenities that come with them. The website also helps connect real estate agents with consumers who are looking for the right home. Lifestyle Living hits all the right spots to make a customer’s dream house become a reality.
The last presentation of the day came from Steve Yatson with Smith Micro Software. A descendant of its parent company, Smith Micro Software based in Santa Cruz specializes in high quality animation software. Their software is ideal for professionals who want an efficient working system to aid them with films, TV, or infomercials. Proud owners of Poser Game Development, Manga Studio, Anime Studio and other impressive products, their mission is to enhance the creative process by providing a powerful software that’s affordable and easy to use.
Although Bounce Hour had always offered Works members the opportunity to promote their business to fellow members about what they do, there had never been a designed Showcase for this purpose featured before. This allowed Works members to share together in a casual conference setting open to questions, opinions and feedback. One of our members, Sara Isenberg, Founder, Editor in Chief and Publisher of Santa Cruz Tech Beat, was very impressed on how much these local companies had been prospering here at Cruzio. She even saw the showcase as a unique opportunity to publish a story about the occasion on Santa Cruz Tech Beat! Although this was initially a trial run for The Showcase during Bounce Hour, it was such a great success that Cruzio will soon be hosting these much more often!
