StartupSac is proud to once again partner with the City of Elk Grove on Pitch Elk Grove, one of the Greater Sacramento region’s premier startup pitch competitions.

Today, the City announced the 17 semi-finalists selected from a record-breaking 109 applications—the largest applicant pool in the competition’s five-year history. The selected startups represent a wide range of industries, from healthcare and biotechnology to AI, fintech, agriculture, and consumer products.

These companies will compete in a private virtual semifinal pitch-off on July 23, where up to eight finalists will be selected to advance to the live Pitch Elk Grove event on Thursday, September 3 at The Center at District56 in Elk Grove. Finalists will receive mentoring and pitch coaching before competing for $20,000 in non-dilutive prize funding.

Congratulations to all of this year’s semi-finalists! We look forward to watching these founders continue their entrepreneurial journeys and wish them the best of luck in the next round.

Below is the official announcement from the City of Elk Grove, including the full list of semi-finalists and competition details.

City of Elk Grove Announces 17 Semi-Finalists for Pitch Elk Grove Competition

Premier regional pitch program receives record-setting 109 applications and will award $20,000 to four winners.

Elk Grove, Calif. – June 29, 2026 – The City of Elk Grove, in partnership with StartupSac and Explore Elk Grove, is proud to announce the 17 semi-finalists for the Fifth Annual Pitch Elk Grove startup competition.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary as a leading platform for early-stage, tech-driven companies, the competition received a record-breaking 109 applications from startups across Sacramento, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, San Joaquin, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba counties.

The 17 semi-finalists will compete in a virtual pitch-off on July 23, where experienced judges will determine the startups advancing to the live finals. Finalists will receive one-on-one mentorship and coaching from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts before taking the stage at the Fifth Annual Pitch Elk Grove live event on September 3 at District56 in Elk Grove. There, they will compete for a $20,000 non-dilutive prize pool, including $10,000 for Best Startup, $5,000 for Second Best Startup, $2,500 for Third Best Startup, and $2,500 for Best Elk Grove-based Startup.

Launched in 2022 as a cornerstone of the City’s Startup Elk Grove Incentive Program, Pitch Elk Grove has evolved into one of the Sacramento region’s premier startup competitions, helping early-stage companies transform innovative ideas into thriving businesses. The multi-stage program provides entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding opportunities, investor exposure, and valuable business connections, strengthening the region’s innovation ecosystem while positioning Elk Grove as a destination for innovation.

“This year’s record number of applications reflects the incredible entrepreneurial momentum happening throughout our region,” said Darrell Doan, Economic Development Director for the City of Elk Grove. “Pitch Elk Grove is a vital launchpad for founders to refine their ideas, connect with investors, and gain the visibility needed to grow. By investing in innovation and supporting entrepreneurs, we’re creating opportunities that strengthen Elk Grove and the entire region.”

“Pitch Elk Grove embodies StartupSac’s mission to help entrepreneurs move from idea to impact,” said Laura Good, CEO of StartupSac. “Each year we’re inspired by the caliber and diversity of founders participating in the competition. Through mentorship, coaching, and community support, we’re helping build the next generation of innovative companies that will drive economic growth throughout the Sacramento region.”

The 17 Semi-Finalists

  • 5D Therapeutics, Inc. (Davis): Developing a new class of metabolic therapies that reduce fat while preserving muscle without appetite suppression.
  • Anchor Point Health (Sacramento): Building the trusted operating environment for intelligent care delivered safely in every home.
  • BillDecoder (Lodi): Physician-founded AI app that analyzes medical bills, flags potential errors, and writes dispute letters for patients.
  • Core Envision Inc. (Folsom): AI-powered 3D modeling and layout tapes for home framing, delivering prefab speed on-site without factory overhead.
  • EnlitenAI (Tracy): Transforming epilepsy care through Neuroliten™, an AI-enabled cloud platform for continuous clinical intelligence.
  • First Bite (Davis): A non-adhesive, more reliable device that secures breathing tubes for neonatal and pediatric ICU patients.
  • GuLP AAC (Sacramento): A communication app for nonspeaking children.
  • Insta Brow (Elk Grove): A patent-pending 30-second brow stain pen that eliminates the daily brow routine for up to five days.
  • Krokos Bio (Davis): Growing high-value botanicals like saffron via plant cell culture—scalable, regional, and climate-independent.
  • Lilypay (Lincoln): A B2B2C funeral financing platform, helping homes say “yes” while giving families dignity, time, and relief.
  • My HR Confidant (Sacramento): A secure platform empowering employees to speak up anonymously—organizations respond with clarity and accountability.
  • Pheronym, Inc. (Woodland): Developing a new kind of pheromone to control agricultural pests in the soil so farmers can grow more food.
  • Purple Door Finders (Sacramento): Making it easy to find and compare senior living and care options on one trusted platform.
  • Sage Atlas (Elk Grove): Building local-first, private AI systems that don’t hand sensitive business data to third-party cloud tools.
  • Secure Scribe (Sacramento): Helps psych nurses chart faster with safer AI clinical notes.
  • The Mindful Five (Elk Grove): Interactive platform delivering five-minute daily practices for intentional living—even if meditation isn’t your thing.
  • Yeast Bay Bio (Davis): Replaces toxic insecticides in the home with a yeast-based alternative, safe for people, pets, and the planet.

As Pitch Elk Grove celebrates its fifth anniversary, this year’s event will also recognize past participants and winners, highlighting companies that have continued to grow, secure partnerships, create jobs, and reach significant milestones since competing.

The City of Elk Grove combines financial investment, public visibility, youth engagement, and ecosystem development through partnerships with StartupSac, Explore Elk Grove, Kaiser Permanente, Republic Services, and the Sacramento Business Journal to support startups, retain talent, diversify the economy, and strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem.

Additional Information

  • Register to attend the Pitch Elk Grove Finals on Thursday, September 3.
  • Learn more about the competition on the Pitch Elk Grove landing page.

Photo from the 2025 Pitch Elk Grove Finals.