This week, I’m sharing some startup and tech company news with you. These stories are just a few examples of the successes ventures in our region are experiencing! I hope you find them inspirational!
Big Steps
Davis-based Sierra Energy just raised an impressive $33 million to develop and commercialize its FastOx gasification technology, which converts garbage into clean energy.
Electro Scan, Inc., a Sacramento-based pipeline assessment company, landed the biggest contract in its history–$600K– with the Public Utilities Department of Florida’s Hillsborough County right on the heels of winning an important contract with Kansas City. Electro Scan had revenue of about $2 million in 2018 and is expecting to double that in 2019.
Forward Progress
SMUD is using Woodland-based Japa parking software to make its historic parking garage smart. The garage will have an information board at the entrance showing the availability of each specific kind of parking spot.
Rocklin’s Protxx decided to pivot from its sports injury focus to medical diagnostics. The company is preparing to work with several large Sacramento-area medical groups and hospital systems this summer on its diagnostic efforts, and is also looking to raise $6 million to grow the business.
Folsom-based Egeria got some nice press on its newly launched web platform that offers bid and grant searches for California state agencies and federal agencies.
Want more of this kind of news as it happens? Follow StartupSac on twitter (@sacstartup). Got startup news to share? Email me at laura@startupsac.org.
This Week’s Best Bests
This Tuesday, Startup Grind’s guest is Irma Olguin, Jr., CEO and cofounder of Fresno-based Bitwise Industries. She and her team just secured $27 million in funding, among the largest Series A raises ever by a female Latinx founder. The capital will support the company’s goal of activating human potential for the technology industry in underdog cities. Bitwise has made great strides in Fresno in advancing diversity and equity through workforce training in technology skills and this funding will help them expand to other cities. If you get your ticket in advance, it’s $20 and you can save $5 by entering “digest” in the promo code field. Price at the door is $25. Get tickets
Check out the new CoWo Campus location in downtown Sacramento Wednesday morning during 1 Million Cups from 9-10 am. Meet other startup founders over coffee and see presentations from two companies. It’s free to attend. RSVP.
Plan Ahead
Mark Tank, on Thursday, August 22 at the new Allegiant Innovation Center at McClellan Park, is a high energy startup event that includes networking, happy hour with plenty of food & drinks, and the opportunity to watch entrepreneurs pitch to Mark Haney, his investment team, and select angel investors. This is an invite-only event, but you can request an invite from sierra@haneybiz.com.
StartupSac Happy Hour is Tuesday, August 27 and we’re taking a road trip to Old Town Pizza in downtown Roseville. Our AMA guest is Peichen Chang, CEO of Engineered Medical Technologies, the maker tCheck, a device that tests the potency of cannabis products. Since it began selling in 2016, EMT has sold over $1 million in tCheck product. Thanks to our sponsor, The Studio Coworking, we’ll have free pizza! Free to attend. RSVP here.
We’re building community! The StartupSac Community Facebook Group has over 400 members. Now we need you! Request to join here.
Do you want free business mentorship, advising, or consulting? StartupSac and the Capital Region SBDC have partnered to provide free business support mentorship to help Sacramento region entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Learn more and sign up!
There’s lots of great stuff going on in the tech startup community–check out the details in this week’s Startup Digest. If you’d like to receive the digest in your inbox every Monday morning, sign up for free here. And for even more startup information, happenings and resources, browse the StartupSac Website.
If you’ve organized (or know about) an event you think belongs in the Startup Digest, please submit it here for consideration.
