What happens when environmental science, fabrication, art, and community collide? For Sam Mejia, the answer became EcoPress Sacramento, a business built around turning local plastic waste into opportunity, education, and creative expression. What began as a personal frustration with waste has grown into a community-centered venture focused on sustainability, accessibility, and creative reuse. EcoPress has already earned $25,000 from local competitions, including the Calling All Dreamers competition and the Innovator Award at the WPWMA Circular Economy Innovation Competition.

In this Startup Story, Sam shares the experiences that shaped EcoPress Sacramento, the realities of building an interdisciplinary company, and lessons learned through entrepreneurship, resilience, and community building.

From Waste to Opportunity

What inspired you to start EcoPress Sacramento, and when did you first realize this idea could become a real business?

Sam: EcoPress Sacramento started from a mix of frustration, curiosity, and creativity. I kept seeing so much plastic waste generated every day, especially from common household items like bottle caps and packaging, and I began researching ways artists and makers around the world were transforming plastic into usable materials. I have been an interdisciplinary artist for almost a decade, and I have always been bothered by my own waste as an artist. There had to be a better way. As someone with a background in science, art, and fabrication, I became fascinated by the idea of turning waste into something beautiful and functional instead of sending it to a landfill.

The moment it felt like it could become a real business was when I started sharing the concept publicly and saw how strongly people responded to it. People weren’t just interested in buying products, they wanted to participate and learn. They wanted workshops, education, community involvement, and a way to feel connected to sustainability on a local level. That’s when I realized EcoPress could become more than an art project or a personal life mission; it could become a community-centered creative business focused on circular economy solutions in Sacramento.

Before launching EcoPress, what was your personal or professional journey like, and how did it shape the work you are doing today?

Sam: My path has always been very interdisciplinary. I hold Bachelors Degrees in Environmental Science and Museum Studies, and I have worked across art, science communication, and makerspace studios. I have presented my own cephalopod research internationally, studied biodiversity abroad in Argentina, and worked extensively with fabrication tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and ceramics.

A major turning point in my life was surviving a traumatic brain injury from a car accident. I had to relearn how to walk and talk. That experience completely changed how I view resilience, accessibility, and community support. It also made me much more intentional about building work that feels meaningful and connected to people.
I grew up in Sacramento and experienced firsthand how inaccessible arts education could be for many families. Classes were expensive, hard to find, or unavailable in lower-income neighborhoods. That shaped my belief that creative spaces should be welcoming, educational, accessible, and community-driven.
All of those experiences eventually merged into EcoPress Sacramento. It combines environmental education, fabrication, art, accessibility, and community engagement into one mission.

Learning How to Build a Business

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting EcoPress, and how did you work through them?

Sam: One of the biggest challenges was simply learning how to transition from “creative person with an idea” into “founder building an actual business.” There is a huge learning curve involving business structures, funding, pricing, operations, legal requirements, pitching, financial projections, and long-term planning.

Another challenge was confidence. EcoPress is very interdisciplinary, and sometimes that makes it difficult because it doesn’t fit neatly into one category. It’s part sustainability initiative, part art studio, part education space, and part manufacturing concept. Early on, I worried people wouldn’t understand the vision or think it was too complicated.
What helped me work through those challenges was community. Programs like Calling All Dreamers, CLTRE, local entrepreneur networks, and Sacramento’s startup ecosystem gave me mentorship and encouragement. I also learned that you don’t need to have everything perfectly figured out before starting. You build clarity through action.

Many founders struggle with self doubt or uncertainty early on. Was there a moment where you questioned whether this would work, and what kept you going?

Sam: Absolutely. I think almost every founder experiences moments where they wonder if they’re capable of pulling something this big together. There were times when I questioned whether people would take the idea seriously or whether I could sustain the workload financially and emotionally.

What kept me going was seeing how excited people became when they interacted with the project. When community members started donating plastic, asking how they could help, or telling me they had never seen sustainability presented in such an approachable and creative way, it reminded me that EcoPress was filling a gap.
I also think surviving a traumatic brain injury changed my perspective on fear and failure. After rebuilding so much of my life already, taking a risk on something meaningful in my hometown felt worth it.

Building Beyond Products

EcoPress focuses heavily on community impact. Why was it important for you to build a company that goes beyond just selling products?

Sam: I never wanted EcoPress to be just a store. The environmental problems we face can feel overwhelming and disconnected from everyday life, and I wanted to create a space where people could physically engage with solutions in a creative and hopeful way.

Community impact is central because sustainability only works when people feel included in it. I want EcoPress to provide education, workshops, accessible art opportunities, and local environmental engagement, especially for people who may not normally see themselves represented in sustainability or maker spaces.
I also believe local businesses can play an important role in shaping culture. EcoPress isn’t just about recycled products; it’s about showing that waste has value, creativity can drive innovation, and community spaces can inspire real behavioral change.

You recently won the Calling All Dreamers competition and were recognized in the Circular Economy Innovation Competition. What did those experiences teach you about pitching and growing a startup?

Sam: Winning Calling All Dreamers and receiving the Innovator Award at the WPWMA Circular Economy Innovation Competition means the world to me and shows that EcoPress Sacramento is on the right path. These experiences taught me that storytelling is just as important as the business model itself. Investors, judges, and community members connect with authenticity and vision. People want to understand not only what you are building, but why it matters and why you are the person to build it.

I also learned the importance of simplifying complex ideas. Because EcoPress combines sustainability, manufacturing, art, and education, I had to learn how to communicate the concept clearly and quickly without losing the heart of the mission. Most importantly, these experiences gave me the confidence and reassurance I have been missing. Recognition from organizations that believe in innovation and entrepreneurship helped validate that EcoPress Sacramento has the potential to make a meaningful impact. I am really excited for our community to have this resource.

Advice for Founders Taking Their First Step

What advice would you give to other founders or creatives who have an idea but are afraid to take the first step?

Sam: Start before you feel ready. Just jump all in and truly believe in yourself. Most people assume successful founders began with perfect plans and total confidence, but in reality, many businesses evolve through experimentation, failures, and small steps.

You do not need to have every answer before beginning. Share your idea, test it publicly, talk to people, understand why it’s a problem, and what solutions are best, apply for opportunities even if you think you are underqualified, and allow yourself to learn along the way. For every grant or recognition that EcoPress has received, we have twice as many rejections.
I also think creatives sometimes underestimate the value of their unique perspective. Innovation often comes from people who combine experiences across different fields. Your unique background or jobs that seem to not have anything to do with each other, may actually be your biggest strength.

The Surprising Reality of Entrepreneurship

What has surprised you the most about building a startup and becoming a founder?

Sam: I have been surprised by how much of entrepreneurship is emotional resilience. People often focus on funding, marketing, operations or the logistics of the business, but a huge part of being a founder is learning how to handle uncertainty, rejection, constant problem solving without losing your vision, and pivoting when needed.

I have also been surprised by how collaborative Sacramento’s entrepreneurial community can be. There are so many people willing to mentor, connect resources, and genuinely support emerging founders. That sense of community has made a huge difference for me, and I am constantly sharing resources and information with other small businesses.

What is next for EcoPress Sacramento, and what kind of impact do you hope the company will have on Sacramento in the future?

Sam: Right now, EcoPress Sacramento is focused on expanding into a larger community-centered space that combines retail, workshops, fabrication, and sustainability education in the Paperworks building in Old Sacramento. Our grand opening is June 6th, and the Paperworks building will have a grand opening on June 27th. I am also building partnerships with local organizations, artists, schools, and businesses to create plastic collection systems and more opportunities for community engagement. We offer consignment sustainable artists

Long term, I hope EcoPress helps position Sacramento as a leader in creative sustainability and circular economy innovation. I want people to see waste differently and understand that local solutions can have a meaningful impact. Most of all, I hope EcoPress becomes a place where people feel inspired, whether they come in to learn a skill, participate in a workshop, support local artists, or simply realize that environmental action can be creative, accessible, and community driven. My dream would be to inspire the next generation to start their own micro-recycling studios with their friends and have this sustainable effort expand in the Central Valley.

About EcoPress Sacramento

EcoPress Sacramento is a community-centered upcycling studio that transforms local plastic waste into sustainable art and functional goods. Through workshops, demonstrations, fabrication, and community partnerships, EcoPress helps people rethink waste and engage directly with circular economy practices. The company combines environmental education, accessibility, local action, and creativity to create a more sustainable future while empowering community participation.

Additional initiatives led by Sam include Makers Making Change Sacramento, a volunteer-driven effort creating custom assistive devices for people with disabilities, and Accessible Art Studio, which supports artists, educators, and entrepreneurs through creative fabrication services.

Wrap Up

EcoPress Sacramento demonstrates that entrepreneurship does not always begin with a business plan. Sometimes it begins with a problem that feels impossible to ignore. Sam Mejia’s journey highlights how personal experiences, interdisciplinary thinking, and community support can become the foundation for meaningful innovation. For early stage founders, this story serves as a reminder that you do not need every answer before starting. Progress often begins by sharing an idea, staying open to feedback, and building alongside your community.

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