Santa Cruz Launchpad 2025

Santa Cruz Launchpad, previously known as “Get Hired” features an exciting combination of student business pitch competition plus a community career fair open to the public. This year’s Santa Cruz Launchpad event is proudly hosted by Santa Cruz Works, Cabrillo College, UC Santa Cruz Innovation & Business Engagement Hub, UCSC Career Success, UCSC Baskin Engineering, and CIED.

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND. Parking is free and included with your registration BUT you must park in the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk lot across from the Cocoanut Grove/Neptune’s Kingdom and hold onto your ticket. Ticket validation machine will be available upstairs in the Cocoanut Grove lobby by check in.

SCHEDULE

• 12-4pm: Student business plan pitches (open to the public)
• 4-4:45pm: Employer Table setup
• 5-7pm: Job Fair + Networking (open to the public)

PITCH CONTEST

From 12-4pm, students will compete in a business plan competition for $25,000 in cash prizes. The pitch competition portion of the event typically includes 10 student teams who each have five minutes each to deliver their pitches to a judge panel comprised of UCSC alumni and mentors. Check out 2023 and 2024 winners here. If you are interested in participating in the pitch competition, please sign up here by April 21.

JOB FAIR

From 5-7pm, job seekers will have the opportunity to interact with 20+ local companies offering 200+ jobs and internships ranging from aviation, engineering, marketing, healthcare, project management, sales, customer support, and MUCH more.

This event allows students, job seekers, and professionals of all experience levels and backgrounds the opportunity to show off their resumes, find career opportunities, and make new connections. There is no charge for job seekers to attend the job fair. The job fair is open to the public (you do not need to be a student or pitch contest participant to participate). But all attendees must register in advance!

EMPLOYERS

Sign up for your booth by registering for an Employer Table ticket. Fee is waived for Santa Cruz Works Business Partners (please use Partner Ticket option). For non-profits who are hiring and would like to participate for free, please email malinasantacruzwork.org for a discount promo code as soon as possible. If you are not a non-profit but the registration fee is a significant barrier for your company to participate, please reach out to us to let us know at info@santacruzworks.org. Please sign up by noon May 14 or sooner as space is limited!

Want to volunteer?

We could use your help! Various shifts available. Go to: https://bit.ly/sclaunchpadvolunteer

——-2025 JOB FAIR PARTICIPATING COMPANIES——-

Access 2 Employment

BMO

California Highway Patrol

Capstan Medical

CASA of Santa Cruz County

Central California Alliance for Health

Chef Ann Foundation

Community Bridges

Encompass Community Services

High Rock Security

Hope Services

Jane Technologies

Joby Aviation

K&D Landscaping

La Bahia Hotel & Spa

Oceanside Supported Living

Our Energy

Pajaro Valley Unified School District

Redwood Pipe and Drain

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County Office of Education

Santa Cruz Metro

Santa Cruz Regional 911

SJPD Recruiting

Woodstock’s Pizza Santa Cruz