If you are an entrepreneur (or want to be one), next week is dedicated to you! Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) has been held around the world every November since 2008. In the Sacramento region, over fifty entrepreneurship-focused events are happening this year between November 14-18. And unlike the last two years, many, even most, of these events will be held in person.

I’ve rounded up my Hot Picks for GEW 2022 in the “Plan Ahead” section below. But you’ll want to check out all 50+ events on the official calendar here.

Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy

SEA is accepting applications for its 2023 cohort. This comprehensive entrepreneurship program meets in person on Saturdays from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Academy sessions will start January 14, 2023 and conclude on May 6, 2023. The program will be held in-person. Applications are due by December 10, 2022. Learn more here.

Application Deadlines

There’s a lot going on in our community! Check out the events highlighted below and for a full listing, check out this week’s Startup Digest! While you’re there, you can sign up to receive the digest in your inbox every Monday morning!

This Week’s Best Bets

Norcal SBDC Finance Center Presents: Access Capital for Early Stage Businesses, Tue, Nov 8, 10:30 AM – Noon. Accessing Capital for Early Stage Companies and Start-ups is designed for new companies looking to raise their first outside money. The webinar will cover equity and debt and feature a panel of experts. Online

1 Million Cups Sacramento, Wed, Nov 9, 8:45-10 AM. Founders present their companies in 6-min presentations and get feedback from the audience. Presenters:BrainScanology is a SaaS shape-analysis software for medical diagnostics that deploys a freemium subscription model.Scopi is the first point-of-care diagnosis tool for chronic rhinosinusitus. Online

Plan Ahead for Global Entrepreneurship Week

Here are my Hot Picks for Global Entrepreneurship Week, happeing Nov 14-18. Check out all 50+ events on the official calendar here.

Insider tip: If you register in advance (at least the day before) for any of the events being held at the Carlsen Center at Sac State, they will provide you with a code for free parking for the full day in which the event is taking place.

Sacramento Entrepreneurial State of the Union, Mon, Nov 14, 5-7 PM. This signature event will highlight a keynote speaker, Jason Grill, in a presentation and fireside chat where he will discuss the Right to Start and its framework for “unleashing entrepreneurial opportunity for everyone, we all benefit from more homegrown jobs, higher incomes, greater productivity, lower inequality, stronger communities, and less poverty.” In addition to the keynote, this event will elevate various elements of how we as a Greater Sacramento region can remove barriers to ensure all in our region have the right to start a business through an empowering panel discussion. In person at the Carlsen Center at Sac State

Startup Happy Hour with Azra Games’ Sonny Mayugba, Tue, Nov 15, 4:30-7PM. Startup Happy Hour’s featured AMA (ask me anything) guest is serial entrepreneur Sonny Mayugba, cofounder and COO of Sacramento-based Azra Games! Happy Hour is a monthly get-together where entrepreneurs can connect, socialize and learn from each others stories and journey Our featured guest will tell a little of his story and then invite you to ask your questions about launching or scaling a company. In person at the Urban Hive Down Town

FourthWave – Women Taking the Lead in Business, Tue, Nov 15, 5-6:30 PM. This event will include both a celebration of our cohort of female founders as well as a panel Women Taking the Lead in Business. We’ll discuss leadership and entrepreneurship as well as how the increase in women-founded companies will lead the way to a brighter post-pandemic world. Online

1 Million Cups Sacramento, Wed, Nov 16, 8:45-10 AM. After more than a 2 year hiatus, 1 Million Cups Sacramento is having an in-person meetup! It’s going to be SWAG-tastic! Come in person and get your free travel mug, or win a t-shirt, ceramic mug, or other swag in our drawing! Presenters: Modern Football Technology exists to solve the business problems of coaches. TAP Wine Lounge is a restaurant bar featuring Black boutique wine and beer wit tapa style food options and charcuterie boards. In person at the Carlsen Center at Sac State, also on Zoom

Selecting The Right Entity for Your Startup, Wed, Nov 16, 11:30 AM – 1 PM. One of the first major decisions a startup founder makes is selecting an entity structure. Each type of entity has its own advantages and disadvantages. The most advantageous choice of entity, or combination of entities, will depend on your particular business, your tax situation, the nature of your current and future financing needs, and other factors. In this StartupSac Office Hours session, Justin Borrowdale, attorney at Weintraub Tobin, will help you navigate the process of determining which legal entity type is right for your business. Online

Virtual Mentor Sprint, Wed, Nov 16, 1:30-3 PM. Powered by StartupSac and the Carlsen Center, Mentor Sprint is an opportunity for founders to connect with 3 different mentors. In a 45-minute period of time, founders will speak to 3 mentors for 15 minutes each. The mentors are experienced startup or small business advisors that will be able to support you in navigating the challenges in your entrepreneurial journey. Sign up by November 14 to participate! Online

Gaining Traction and Growing Your Startup, Wed, Nov 16, 4:30-5:30 PM. Hear from a panel of founders who have experienced the early stage startup journey, have raised capital, and built teams to grow a successful venture. In person at the Carlsen Center at Sac State

Spark Venture Competition, Wed, Nov 16, 5-7:30 PM. The Spark Venture Competition is an annual venture competition hosted by the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship for early-stage startups and social impact ventures. A total of $20,000 in cash prizes will be awarded. In Person at the Carlsen Center at Sac State

The 7 Mistakes Developers Make Starting Their First Business, Wed, Nov 16, 6:30-8:30 PM. Every developer thinks about building their own business. Whether it is a cool new app, or a technology service or a SaaS, we’ve all got the chops to build them, but often we don’t have the business experience to avoid the pitfalls. Find out the 7 most common ‘gotchas’ technical developers and engineers face when trying to leverage their technical skills into the business world. Online

Funded and Scaled in Sacramento, Thu, Nov 17, 5:30-7:30 PM. Hear from a panel of seasoned founders who have experienced the early stage startup journey, have raised capital, and built teams to scale a successful venture. This event is brought to you in partnership with Moneta Ventures and the Growth Factory. In person at the Roseville Venture Lab

Startup Grind with Mark Haney, Fri, Nov 18, 11 AM- 1 PM. Startup Grind Sacramento in partnership with Startup Folsom and Granite City Coworking is hosting this lunch and learn event. Grab a slice of pizza and be part of a fireside chat with the Growth Factory’s Mark Haney during your lunch hour. In person at Granite City Coworking in Folsom

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.

Startup Photo of the Week

Growth Factory Cohort 1

Introducting the Growth Factory’s Cohort 1! Learn more about them here.