GetVirtual - About, History and Where is it now

Get Virtual. Photo credit: Get Virtual

The Digital Bridge: 

Get Virtual

Where students bring digital skills to local small businesses 

By Ngan Nguyen August 19, 2026

In the new digital world, many businesses struggle to keep up with the rapidly changing technological innovations and trends. It became a crisis for many small and vulnerable businesses that lack resources for digitalization. E-commerce setups, digital marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and the new generative engine optimization (GEO) can be the challenge that “break” a business. 

Get Virtual has entered the picture with a brilliant solution: pairing university students with local merchants for a free of charge digital overhaul. The initiative was founded in Santa Cruz with the help of the United Services Agency.

Get Virtual Internships Founding Team. Photo credit: CIED UC Santa Cruz

United Services Agency & Get Virtual Partnership 

Get Virtual emerged from Santa Cruz as an official affiliate of the United Services Agency. Both Nada Miljkovic (President), and Toby Corey (Vice President) are the co-founders of Get Virtual. They are both deeply interested in utilizing digital tools for activist causes, and serving businesses and consumer experiences. With the background of knowledge on modern digital entrepreneurship, they see a solution within the challenge during the economic fallout of COVID-19. 

Like many other local radical and community-minded ideas, Get Virtual was one of many initiatives receiving support from the United Services Agency, specifically as a fiscal sponsor.

The non-profit organization provides administrative support and framework development for Get Virtual early stages. Today, United Services Agency remained a close partner and client of Get Virtual. 

Get Virtual Basics: A Win-Win Framework

Get Virtual is the new “it girl” at UC, Santa Cruz. While it is an independent program, the team has successfully introduced an official course called CRWN 195-GetVirtual Business Assistance Internship that any students from the University of California system can enroll in. There is a strong incentive for students to join the course and contribute their young talents and advanced technological experiences. Joining Get Virtual not only gives students credits, fulfillment for General Education (GE) requirements, but also hands-on experience that’s highly valuable for career development and resume building.

The course quickly became very popular among students, bringing a strong force of digital knowledge and skills to assist small businesses in Santa Cruz and the Greater Bay Area. The focus of the program is to help any businesses that have connected with Get Virtual with any digital improvement or establishment. Everything is done completely free of charge!

Website Design

Businesses can receive consultancy on existing websites for better SEO and GEO. Students can also learn to create new websites for client who have yet to digitalize their business. 

Digital & Social Media Marketing

Students learn to conduct market research and analysis to best assist businesses with marketing goals. Social media marketing has been a major part of many businesses as an important part of promotion and brand awareness improvement.

E-Commerce Assistance 

Online shopping continues to become more popular, which has pushed many businesses to digital platforms for their products. Get Virtual prepared students with the skills to transform physical businesses into e-commerce, or help elevate businesses that seek to be fully digital.

Get Virtual represents the future of Santa Cruz: collaborative, innovative, and supportive of the local ecosystem. Connecting generations and economic sections, Get Virtual with United Services Agency continues to pursue the local social justice actions to preserve the local sense of community.

For students or businesses interested in joining Get Virtual. Learn more