I’m excited to invite you to attend Pitch Elk Grove on March 31! This is a free, in person event where eight outstanding pre-Series A startups will pitch to a panel of judges (mostly investors) to win some serious prize money! First Place is $10K, Second Place is $5K, and Audience Favorite is $2500. The evening promises to be the most engaging and dynamic pitch competition in the region. Veteran serial startup founder Sonny Mayugba will be amping up the energy of the audience and the startups throughout the evening as emcee of the event. Additionally, the event will be catered by Cafe Elk Grove and also feature wine from Christopher Cellars and local craft brews from Flatland Brewing. Learn more and Register here.

New Offering: Intro To Lean Startup: NSF I-Corps Method is a free online one-week course based on Steve Blank’s Lean LaunchPad. The three evening sessions teach you to identify and refine your value propositions and customer segments, which is essential to de-risking your idea and achieving product-market fit. Anyone based in California with an early stage startup or startup idea is elegible to apply. Applications are due by March 25 to participate in the April 11-18 program.

Applications Due

There’s a lot going on this week for entrepreneurs in our region! Check out this week’s Startup Digest for a full listing (plus you can sign up to get the digest weekly in your inbox while you’re there!).

This Week’s Best Bets

Designing It Right: Moving from Idea to Prototype, Tue Mar 15, 5 PM. Startup Grind Sacramento will be hosting a free virtual workshop featuring JDID Founder, Jubal DeLong. Jubal will discuss how to take your idea to prototype including the best practice for concept and product design.  Online

1 Million Cups Sacramento, Wed Mar 16, 8:45 AM. Two founders will present their companies in 6-minute presentations and then get feedback and advices from an audience of their peers. Presenters:. ezPro is a direct booking servic) for contractors. AgriNerds focuses on integrating software and hardware solutions for the poultry industry and beyond. Online

Plan Ahead

Startup Happy Hour with Luxer One Founder, Arik Levy, Tue Mar 22 at 5 PM. Meet a successful startup founder Startup Happy Hour! Arik Levy is the Founder of Luxer One®, Laundry Locker® and Drop Locker®. As a serial entrepreneur, Levy has revolutionized the use of 24-hour, self-service lockers in the package delivery and dry-cleaning industries. Online

Introduction to Social Innovation, Tue Mar 22, Noon. Are you someone who has thought about starting a business to do good in the world? Do you want to know how to be an entrepreneur and create social impact in your community? If so, the Intro to Social Innovation is for you. This is a free 90-minute Zoom workshop that will provide you with many of the answers to those questions and more regarding social impact and entrepreneurship. Online

Connect

Looking to connect with other entrepreneurs? Join the StartupSac Community Facebook Group! Startup founders and those who support the growth of our startup community connect and exchange ideas in this private moderated group.

Looking for an advisor? Mentor Sacramento is a great place to connect with an experienced advisor who through their experience, can help you advance your business. It’s free to participate. Check it out here.