Sacramento, Calif. – A hypersonic test vehicle, a surgical robot, a firefighter’s helmet and a dry suit built for whitewater are among the eight products set to compete in the championship round of the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in California contest. The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) today announced the Top 4 in each bracket, after Californians cast nearly 100,000 votes to narrow the field.
With every product made in California, this year’s finalists cover a wide range of industries and regions. From the Mojave Desert to Humboldt County, the eight remaining companies show how California manufacturers power space exploration, health care and public safety.
Top 4 Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturers:
- Icon Dry Suit, made by Kokatat in Arcata
- Fiber Optic Gyroscope, made by Northstar Photonics in San Jose
- First Due Fire Helmet, made by Phenix Technology, Inc., in Riverside
- DBATS 5.2, made by Wing Inflatables in Arcata
Top 4 Large Manufacturers:
- MicroGEO Communications Satellite, made by Astranis in San Francisco
- da Vinci Surgical System, made by Intuitive Surgical in Sunnyvale
- Condor-M Satellite Platform, made by Muon Space in San Jose
- Talon-A, made by Stratolaunch in Mojave
“These finalists tell the story of California manufacturing better than any statistic could,” said Lance Hastings, CMTA President & CEO. “Some of these products are headed to orbit, while others protect first responders on the front lines. Each one started with a team that chose to build in California. These manufacturers create high-wage jobs and keep our state at the forefront of innovation. It’s inspiring to see Californians rally behind their favorite products and the people who make them.”
The final round of voting runs Oct. 5-8 at CoolestThingCalifornia.com. Voters can cast up to five votes per day, per device, in each bracket. The winners from each bracket will be announced Oct. 28 at CMTA’s awards ceremony in Sacramento.
California has roughly 45,000 manufacturing firms. Together, they contribute $382 billion per year to the state’s economy and employ 1.2 million workers.
The 2026 Coolest Thing Made in California contest is sponsored by BMO, Solstice Advanced Materials, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, Three29 and The Plastics Guy.
For more information, visit CoolestThingCalifornia.com.
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About CMTA
The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) has advocated for pro-growth laws and regulations before the California legislature and administrative agencies since 1918. The total output from manufacturing in California is $382 billion per year, roughly 10 percent of the total economic output of the state. Manufacturers employ 1.2 million Californians, paying wages more than $25,000 higher than other non-farm employers in the state. For more information, visit the CMTA website at cmta.net.
