Press Info

TEDxSantaCruz has a limited number of press passes available for events. Interested accredited journalists, photojournalists, photographers, and videographers should request a press pass. TEDxSantaCruz organizers and speakers are available for interviews. If you want more information about TEDx and our events or speakers, please don't hesitate to ask. Contact us in advance for scheduling of interviews or attendance at events.
For further information about TEDxSantaCruz events, to request a press pass, or to schedule interviews with organizers or speakers, please send an email to tedxscruz@gmail.com with ‘PRESS’ in the subject line. 
Please note that TEDx event organizers are not able to speak for the TED Conference. Any journalist seeking comment from TED should contact Melody Serafino at tedxpr@ted.com.
While we appreciate any coverage, we kindly ask that all journalists and/or bloggers be respectful of the difference between the TED and TEDx brands. The ‘x’ in ‘TEDx’ stands for “independently organized events.” Any headline or text which implies “TED” is coming to Santa Cruz is misleading. For more information on TEDx, visit http://www.ted.com/tedx.
Nov 25th, 2013

TEDxSantaCruz Seeks Tech Speakers for March 2014 Event

TEDxSantaCruz is excited to announce an open speaker call for TEDxSantaCruz: Activate. This event will take place at Hotel Paradox in Santa Cruz on March 8, 2014. TEDxSantaCruz is seeking out extraordinary voices in our local community who have a unique idea or an unusual and insightful perspective — and who can convey it in a dynamic way. We are looking to hear from potential speakers from our local tech community who are ready to share their innovative ideas around the theme of “Activate” on the TEDxSantaCruz stage. We challenge you to distill your life’s work or your best idea to its essence and use the TEDx format to powerfully and effectively spread it across the globe.

TEDx celebrates great speakers, thinkers and doers. For many, having their ideas shared online has amplified their work beyond imagination. Some say having their talk posted on TED.com led to new directions in their careers; others say it even changed their lives.  We invite you to become part of the leading local stage for spreading ideas throughout Santa Cruz County…and have the opportunity to showcase Santa Cruz’s tech leadership to the world.

TEDxSantaCruz has already featured many tech speakers at our events on such varied subjects and gamification, sustainable technologies, big data, 3D printing, and more. At TEDxSantaCruz 2011, speaker Jonathan Trent gave a talk on his system to produce sustainable biofuels, clean wastewater, sequester carbon, and produce food and fertilizer without competing for freshwater or land.  He was subsequently selected to present his ideas at TEDGlobal 2012, one of TED’s two main annual conferences. His video has now been viewed almost 400,000 times and his ideas have reached around the globe.

Other technology presenters at TEDxSantaCruz events include Catherine Aurelio, Joe Jordan, Roger McNamee, David Merrill, Jay Silver, Donnie Fowler, Zach Friend, and Chris Yonge. Their videos and the other TEDxSantaCruz videos have been viewed more than a million times. You can watch the videos of all the speakers from TEDxSantaCruz: Open and TEDxSantaCruz: Engage on the TEDxTalks YouTube channel.

Take a look at some highlights from past TEDxSantaCruz live events on our video highlights reel.

TEDxSantaCruz is a stage and platform to share the very best Santa Cruz County can offer, especially the technology innovations happening here. We hope that you will be part of a growing community of change-makers and thought leaders who will activate Santa Cruz on March 8, 2014 by applying to speak, becoming a TEDxSantaCruz sponsor, or being a participant in the audience.

TED and TEDxSantaCruz

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California almost 30 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives.TEDxSantaCruz gathers leading thinkers, makers, and artists to share their ideas that create real change in Santa Cruz and around the world. Located in Santa Cruz County and supported by a dedicated group of volunteers and generous sponsors, TEDxSantaCruz is dedicated to producing events that feature stimulating presentations, discussions, entertainment, and art that spark new ideas and opportunities. Since 2011, we have brought the innovative, energetic enthusiasm of TED and TEDx to the Santa Cruz area through full-day events featuring speakers from many disciplines and an engaged audience of local leaders.

TEDxSantaCruz speakers are chosen through a highly curated process that takes into consideration ideas, speaker styles, and the flow the day. Our team is currently interviewing prospective speakers and will have the complete lineup assembled by early January. The speaker selection committee works with the speakers to prepare and develop their talks, each of which will be from 3 to 18 minutes long. Speakers will need to be available all day on March 7th for rehearsals and must stay all day on March 8th to attend the event and after party. Travel and lodging costs will be the responsibility of the speaker, unless otherwise agreed to in advance.