Over the last five years, I was often asked, “what’s missing from the Greater Sacramento entrepreneurial ecosystem?” My answer was always twofold, “pre-seed funding and an accelerator.” And now those boxes are checked, thanks to Mark Haney, Monique Brown, and Rick Spencer, with the Growth Factory and the Growth Factory Ventures fund. Last week, the trio announced the launch via Mark Haney’s podcast. I encourage you to listen to it here.
Growth Factory Ventures is an early stage venture fund to invest into founders with world class potential who are leading high growth startups from the Greater Sacramento region. The Growth Factory is a nonprofit accelerator to support the companies that the fund invests in with capacity building programs, and a community of partners, mentors, customers, advocates, and other founders. They are accepting applications for the September 2021 Cohort here. Growth Factory Ventures and the Growth Factory are designed to accelerate 100 local founders with world-class potential over the next 4 years.
Speaking of world-class companies, did you hear that West Sacramento-based Origin Materials (Nasdaq: ORGN) went public on Friday with a market capitalization of just under $1 billion? I first met John Bissell, co-founder and co-CEO, in 2012 when the company was still called Micromidas. John had a vision then to enable the world’s transition to sustainable materials. Over the past 10 years, he and Origin Materials developed a platform for turning the carbon found in non-food biomass into useful materials, while capturing carbon in the process. Learn more about their journey to IPO here.
This Week’s Best Bets
[IN PERSON] Sacramento Entrepreneur Club Welcome Back Mixer, Mon Jun 28 at 6 PM: Business Owners need to connect with other Business Owners — so let’s get together and mingle. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. The proceeds go directly to Bennett’s to support them for hosting. Location: Bennett’s Kitchen Bar Market, 1595 Eureka Road, Roseville.
California Female Founders: Dare & Take The Leap Into Entrepreneurship, Tue Jun 29 at 4 PM: Join us in the discussion on starting a business as a female founder, mental health, struggles & pressures of the industry, career journeys, standing out in a crowd and so much more! Each speaker will share their importance/understanding of mental health, career struggles, and what it takes to start a startup. Sacramento entrepreneurs Marian Lichtenstern, Cheryl Beninga, and Janine Yancey are on the panel.
1 Million Cups Sacramento, Wed Jun 30 at 8:45 AM: Two startup companies present their businesses in 6 minute presentations that are followed by 15-20 minutes of questions, feedback and advice from an audience of their peers. Presenters: 2BKIND is bringing healthcare to personal care through microbe management. Nutrible is an all-in-one virtual platform that patients use to access dietitians who provide culturally competent nutrition education and deliver healthy food to their doorsteps.
Plan Ahead
Women in Tech Breakfast, Fri Jul 16 at 9:30 AM: Join this interactive breakfast for Women in Technology & Entrepreneurship that features Sacramento women in tech to give their insight on how they reached their level of success, advice on navigating the workplace, and how we can help the next generation of women in tech.
Things are slowing down a little because of the upcoming July 4 holiday but there are still some solid events for startup founders happening this week and next – check out 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.
Deadlines
July 11 Applications due for FourthWave Accelerator for women-led tech startups
July 12 Nominations due for Sacramento Region Innovation Awards.
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.
