Applications are officially open for Pitch Elk Grove 2026—Northern California’s premier startup pitch competition—and this year marks a major milestone: the fifth year of launching bold founders into the spotlight.
Note: You do not need to be based in Elk Grove to apply. Pitch Elk Grove is open to eligible startups across the Greater Sacramento region, including founders located throughout El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba counties.
For five years, Pitch Elk Grove has helped showcase the region’s most promising startups, connect entrepreneurs with valuable mentorship, and award meaningful capital to help growing companies scale. Now, the next class of innovators is invited to step up and take the stage.
If you’re building something innovative with technology at the core, whether in software, agtech, biotech, cleantech, AI, or the next category no one has named yet, this is your moment.
Applications are open now through Monday, June 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM PDT.
Apply Now
Applications must be submitted through F6S.
Celebrating Five Years of Startup Momentum
Launched in 2022 by City of Elk Grove’s Invest Elk Grove initiative in collaboration with StartupSac, Pitch Elk Grove was created to spotlight the Sacramento region as a thriving startup hub and give founders throughout the region a real opportunity to accelerate growth.
Now entering its fifth year, the competition has become a marquee regional event where founders compete for funding, exposure, and momentum.
And yes—five years in startup time is basically a century.
$20,000 Prize Pool
Up to eight finalists will pitch live for a share of $20,000 in prize money:
- First Place: $10,000
- Second Place: $5,000
- Third Place: $2,500
- Best Elk Grove Startup: $2,500
Who will take home the top prize this year?
How the Competition Works
The Pitch Elk Grove process includes multiple rounds designed to identify the Greater Sacramento region’s strongest emerging companies:
- Applications Open: April 20, 2026
- Application Deadline: June 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM PDT
- Semi-Finalists Announced: June 26, 2026
- Virtual Semi-Final Pitch-Off: July 23, 2026
- Finalists Announced: July 28, 2026
- Live Finals Event: September 3, 2026
Up to 16 semi-finalists will be selected to compete in the private virtual pitch-off, where judges will choose up to eight finalists to present live on stage in Elk Grove.
Who Should Apply
Ideal candidates are emerging or scaling startups that:
- Use technology to power innovative products, platforms, or services
- Have a working prototype or MVP
- Are generating revenue—or close to it
- Are located in one of these eight Greater Sacramento region counties: El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sutter, Yolo, or Yuba
- Operate as a for-profit business (no nonprofits)
- Can attend the in-person finals event on September 3
- Submit a pitch deck with their application
- Have a company website
- Provide Grant permission for promotional image use by the City of Elk Grove and StartupSac
Note: First-place winners from the 2022, 2023, 2024, or 2025 competitions are not eligible to compete this year, but are warmly invited to attend.
Why Founders Apply
- Funding – Win capital to help move your company forward
- Visibility – Pitch in front of judges, investors, and a live audience
- Feedback – Gain insights from experienced leaders and startup experts
- Connections – Build relationships across the regional innovation ecosystem
- Momentum – Because one great pitch can change everything
Save the Date: Finals Event
Pitch Elk Grove 2026 Finals
When: Thursday, September 3, 2026, 4:30 PM – 8:15 PM
Where: The Center at District56, 8230 Civic Center Drive, Elk Grove
Free to attend
Public registration opens June 15, 2026.
Ready to Pitch?
Whether you’re building in Sacramento, Roseville, Davis, Folsom, Stockton, Auburn, Grass Valley, Woodland, or Elk Grove, this stage is for regional founders ready to grow.
Apply by June 8 at 5 PM PDT and make this the year your startup takes the stage.
Curious who won last year? Find out here.
