Heads up-something BIG is coming! Global Entrepreneurship Week is happening in Sacramento November 8-12! We’ll be celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship across the Sacramento Region! Startup Ecosystem builders have been working for months to pull together an outstanding week of founder-focused events! Clear your calendars now — you won’t want to miss out!! The official calendar isn’t published just yet, but the Carlsen Center has begun to add some of the events to its calendar here. Some of the events I’m excited about are: 11/8 (4 PM) Entrepreneurship State of the Union, 11/9 (5 PM) Startup Happy Hour with Riskalyze CEO Aaron Klein, 11/10 (6 PM) Spark Venture Competition, and 11/11 (10:30-Noon) Mentor Sacramento Office Hours Sprint.
Speaking of the 2021 Spark Venture Competition, organized by the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, applications are open now! Early stage ventures interested in competing must apply by October 27. Apply Here. A total of $20,000 in cash awards will be given on Demo Day on November 10 during Global Entrepreneurship Week. There are two tracks – For-Profit and Social Ventures (includes non-profits). First place in each track wins $7500, second place $2500! Details Here.
The Women’s Business Center Pitch Competion is also accepting applications Enter your startup or existing business venture for a chance to win over $2500 in business seed funds. Applications must be submitted online by October 21. The application requires a 3-5 minute video pitch so don’t wait until the last minute! Details here.
Looking to hone your entrepreneurial skills and knowledge? The Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy is currently accepting applications from entrepreneurs for its 2022 cohort.This team-based entrepreneurial bootcamp teaches you to move your project from idea to an actual startup! Find out more and apply now. (let ’em know you heard about it from StartupSac.)
This Week’s Best Bets
Impact Over Output: Why and How Your Startup Can Get Traction Tomorrow, Tue Oct 19 at 11:30 AM: If you’re a startup founder in the idea stage, this workshop is for you! You’ll learn how prioritizing impact over outcome can shift your thinking and give your startup tangible next steps toward traction, funding, growth, and success. Whatever your Big Vision looks like, you’ll come away with a clear impact statement to guide your true north, and you’ll take the next steps in defining your startup’s MVP. Online
Global Diversity & Investment Summit, Fri Oct 22, 10 AM: The summit features an acclaimed lineup of venture investors and BIPOC entrepreneurship experts sharing their views and insights on strategies for entrepreneurs of color on how to start, scale and sustain their new venture, Includes a Black founder pitch contest. Online
Friday Founders – Cowo’s Monthly Showcase and Networking Event, Fri Oct 22 at 6:30 PM: Calling all Tech Startups, Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, Professionals, Freelancers, Creatives, and Game-changers! Join us for an evening of creativity, inspiration, and passionate conversations. This is a great opportunity to connect and make connections with founders, partners, or professionals. In person at Cowo Campus, 918 5th St, Sac.
Plan Ahead
Startup Happy Hour with Marrone Bio Founder, Dr. Pam Marrone, Tue Oct 26 at 5 PM: Dr. Marrone started Marrone Bio to discover and develop effective and environmentally-responsible, biologically-based products for pest management and plant health. In 2013, she led the company’s IPO, raising net proceeds of $56.4 million. Join us for Happy Hour to learn more about Dr. Marrone’s journey and how you can apply her lessons learned to your own startup.
There’s much more going on in the next few weeks–check out all the details in this week’s Startup Digest. While you’re there, consider subscribing. For even more startup information, happenings and resources, check out what’s available on the StartupSac Website.
Want to connect with other founders? Request to join the StartupSac Community Facebook Group, a place where startup founders and those who support the growth of our startup ecosystem can connect and exchange ideas.
Find an Advisor with Mentor Sacramento: Mentor Sacramento is a free online business mentoring platform that connects early stage startup founders and small business owners to volunteer business mentors. Learn more here.
