Nine startups took the stage, but only one could advance to the global competition. On October 20, Yeast Bay Bio, led by co-founder and CEO Nazzy Pakpour, won the Startup World Cup Sacramento Regional, earning the opportunity to represent Sacramento at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco, November 4 through 6, 2026.

Hosted by StartupSac,  Traction Lab, and the Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, the event brought together more than 100 attendees, including entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and members of Sacramento’s startup community. The competition was part of the inaugural Sac Tech Week, showcasing innovative companies and emerging technologies being developed across the region.

Yeast Bay Bio Takes First Place

Yeast Bay Bio is developing a yeast-based RNA interference (RNAi) platform designed to target specific pests without relying on traditional chemical insecticides. Its first product is a cockroach bait that uses engineered yeast to deliver a biological pest control solution. The technology is designed to provide a more targeted approach to pest management and could eventually be adapted to address additional pest species.

The company is led by co-founder and CEO Nazzy Pakpour, a scientist and entrepreneur with extensive experience in entomology, microbiology, and biotechnology. Pakpour studied entomology at UC Davis, earned her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed postdoctoral research in mosquito biology at UC Davis. She also worked at Novonesis, where she gained experience engineering microbial strains and scaling biological processes for commercial applications.

Drawing on her scientific background, Pakpour co-founded Yeast Bay Bio to develop more targeted and environmentally sustainable pest control solutions. Her experience in both academic research and commercial biotechnology has helped shape the company’s approach to bringing biological pest control technology to market.

As the Sacramento Regional winner, Yeast Bay Bio received $10,000 in non-dilutive funding from the Carlsen Center and $10,000 in general counsel legal services from Witan Law Group. The company will now represent Sacramento at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco, where startups from around the world will compete for a $1 million investment prize.

Nine Startups Showcase Sacramento’s Innovation

The competition featured 9 startups developing solutions to challenges across multiple industries. Each finalist had the opportunity to present their business to a panel of experienced investors and startup ecosystem leaders.

  • Demotu: A coaching platform using smartphone-based 3D movement analysis to help trainers assess clients’ movements.
  • Elven Technologies: Developing lightweight, flexible fire-protection solutions for lithium-ion batteries.
  • Forager Fuels: Converting forest waste into low-carbon hydrogen and biochar through relocatable refineries.
  • Invasive Species Corporation: Developing biological solutions to control invasive species.
  • Krokos Bio: Growing high-value botanical ingredients, including saffron, from plant cells.
  • Lilypay: Developing payment and financing solutions to help families manage funeral expenses.
  • Matrubials Inc.: Developing milk-inspired therapeutics to address infectious diseases.
  • Pheronym: Using pheromones to improve biological pest control through beneficial nematodes.
  • Yeast Bay Bio: Developing RNA-based insecticides for targeted pest control.

Together, these companies demonstrated the diversity of Sacramento’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and the potential for locally developed technologies to address challenges in markets around the world.

Experienced Investors and Business Leaders Judge the Competition

The finalists presented their businesses before a panel of investors and experienced startup leaders who evaluated the companies and selected the regional winner.

The judging panel included:

Their participation provided the finalists with an opportunity to present their companies to individuals with experience in venture capital, investment, and business development.

Sacramento Heads to the Global Stage

The Sacramento Regional competition may have concluded, but the journey continues for Yeast Bay Bio. From November 4 through 6, the company will represent Sacramento at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco, competing alongside startups from around the world for a $1 million investment prize.

Congratulations to Nazzy Pakpour and the Yeast Bay Bio team on their victory, and to all 9 finalists for showcasing the innovation and entrepreneurial talent emerging from the Sacramento region. StartupSac looks forward to following Yeast Bay Bio’s journey and continuing to support the founders, startups, and organizations helping strengthen Sacramento’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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