There’s a lot happening this week for entrepreneurs and startup founders. We’ve curated a short list below focused on startup-relevant events. For the full rundown, check out this week’s Startup Digest and consider subscribing to get it every Monday morning.
Featured
Startup Happy Hour
Tue, June 23, 5 – 7 PM, Roseville Venture Lab in Roseville
Connect with founders, creators, and startup supporters from across the Sacramento region at this casual networking event. Meet new collaborators, exchange ideas, and take part in an informal AMA conversation with a guest from the local startup ecosystem. Read more.
Science and Startups (Traction Lab Podcast Live)
Thu, June 25, 5:30 – 6:30 PM, Sacramento
Join a live recording of the Traction Lab Podcast featuring candid discussions about customer discovery, startup validation, and what actually drives early-stage traction. Founders, operators, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs are invited to participate in the conversation and connect with others building companies in the region. Read more.
This Week
SBDC at Roseville Venture Lab: Starting Your Business
Mon, June 22, 12 – 1 PM, Roseville Venture Lab in Roseville
Thinking about launching a business? This workshop covers the foundational steps of getting started, including business formation, licenses and permits, bookkeeping, and other essential operational systems that can help new ventures start on solid footing. Read more.
1 Million Cups Sacramento with Assist and RelayTix
Wed, June 24, 9 – 10 AM, Online
Hear two early-stage founders present their businesses and get live feedback from the community at this weekly startup meetup. This session features Assist, an AI operating platform designed to help organizations deploy and govern AI across teams, and RelayTix, a ticketing platform built to improve fees, payments, branding, and check-in experiences for venues and live event operators. Read more.
Personal Branding for Career & Business Growth
Wed, June 24, 6 – 8 PM, HUMANBULB Innovation Center in Sacramento
Learn how to build a personal brand that strengthens your credibility, expands your network, and creates new career and business opportunities. Marketing and media expert Robert Mendoza will share practical strategies for increasing visibility, communicating your expertise, and standing out in a competitive marketplace. Read more.
Weekly Startup Reality Check with JDM and Cam
Fri, June 26, 12 – 1 PM, Online
Bring your toughest startup questions to this live AMA hosted by Traction Lab’s Cameron Law and Josh David Miller. Founders can get candid feedback on customer acquisition, value proposition testing, fundraising readiness, and other early-stage challenges in a practical, no-fluff discussion. Read more.
Plan Ahead
CLTRE Coffee & Conversation
Wed, July 1, 9:30 – 11:30 AM, Aggie Square in Sacramento
Connect with entrepreneurs, investors, creatives, and community leaders at this monthly gathering focused on building relationships, sharing ideas, and sparking collaboration across Sacramento’s innovation ecosystem. It’s a welcoming space to expand your network, discover new opportunities, and engage with people working to strengthen the region’s future. Read more.
AI for Business Workshop: Creating Video Using AI Tools
Wed, July 1, 6 – 8 PM, Roseville Venture Lab in Roseville
Learn how to use AI tools to streamline video creation workflows, from idea generation and scripting to editing, captions, and repurposing content for social media. This hands-on workshop is designed for founders, small business owners, marketers, and nonprofit leaders who want to create better video content without relying on a full production team. Read more.
The SBIR/STTR Playbook: A 3-Part Series
July 7–9, 12 – 1:30 PM, Online
This hands-on workshop series helps deep tech founders prepare to compete for SBIR/STTR funding from agencies including DOD, NIH, DOE, USDA, NSF, and NASA. Participants will learn how to identify the right funding opportunities, develop a competitive proposal strategy, and navigate the path from application to commercialization while building a practical roadmap for securing non-dilutive federal capital. RSVP for each session separately. Session 1 July 7, Session 2 July 8, Session 3 July 9.
Applications
Traction Lab: Investment Readiness Engine
Applications Open
Apply for this 9-month go-to-market acceleration program supporting Sacramento-area founders with B2B sales development, enterprise pilot strategy, investor readiness, and traction-building support. Led by Traction Lab in partnership with Right Box and the Carlsen Center, the program includes $20K in non-dilutive funding and culminates in a $100K SPV Investment Showcase. Read more.
UC Davis NSF I-Corps Customer Discovery Program
Applications due July 22
A short program for STEM founders to validate ideas through customer discovery and refine their value proposition. Read more.
GFN Office Hours – Apply for 1:1 Mentorship
Applications Open | Roseville + Sacramento
Apply for a free one-on-one session with a GFN Entrepreneur-in-Residence and get personalized feedback on your startup idea or business challenges. Sessions are held at the Roseville Venture Lab or Connect Labs at Aggie Square. Read more
Connect
Looking to connect with others? 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.
Resources
Check out the StartupSac Website for information on resources available to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Also check out the NorCal Entrepreneur Hub. From capital to connections and training to talent, find the resources you need to build your business in NorCal.
